Nu Pára – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Tony Fika

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heartfelt sounds of Tony Fika's "Nu Pára," a captivating blend of Kizomba and Ghetto Zouk that offers a window into the emotional complexities of relationships. This song, sung in Cape Verdean Creole, provides an excellent opportunity for language learners to immerse themselves in the rhythm and nuances of the language through its poignant lyrics and melodious delivery. What makes it special is its ability to convey deep emotions of struggle and hope, making it relatable and musically rich.

[English]

It's always the same story

But we fight every day

Look at that fine line

Our family knows how to live

In our minds, we're not fighting

But our hearts are aching

With the children suffering

Our love is dying

We need to talk

Hey, hey, hey, hey

We need to talk

Hmm...

We need to talk

Hey, hey, hey, hey

We need to talk

Hmm...

Let's, let's stop

Help us, just the two of us

Let's, let's stop

Look at our relationship

Let's, let's stop

Help us, just the two of us

Let's, let's stop

Look at our relationship

We need to stop fighting

So we don't hurt my dear

My dear

We have to stop fighting

So we don't hurt my dear

My dear

We need to talk

Hey, hey, hey, hey

We need to talk

Hmm...

We need to talk

Hey, hey, hey, hey

We need to talk

Hmm...

Let's, let's stop

Help us, just the two of us

Let's, let's stop

Look at our relationship

Let's, let's stop

Help us, just the two of us

Let's, let's stop

Look at our relationship

Without your hugs

We won't last

Far from our children

We won't last

Without your warmth, my love

We won't last

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

Hey, hey, hey, hey

Hey, hey, hey, hey

Hey, hey, hey, hey

Hey, hey, hey, hey

My life begins now

After I stumbled

You are the sun that warms

My life begins now

After I stumbled

You are the light that illuminates

My life

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

Hey, hey, hey, hey

Hey, hey, hey, hey

Hey, hey, hey, hey

Hey, hey, hey, hey

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

My love, stay, let's put an end to this

[Portuguese]

Tudu tempo mesmu storia

Ma she briga tudu dia

Oja kel linha di kavi

Família sabe vidra

Di kabeça ka sa briga

Coração sa ta binta

Ku mininu sa ta sufri

Nos amor sa ta mori

Nu mesti fala

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Nu mesti fala

Humm...

Nu mesti fala

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Nu mesti fala

Humm...

Nu nu para

Bu djudu nso nsolu nsom

Nu nu para

Bu odju nu relason

Nu nu para

Bu djudu nso nsolu nsom

Nu nu para

Bu odju nu relason

Nu mesti para di briga

Pa nu ka danha nha miga kré

Nha miga kré

Nu ten ki para di briga

Pa nu ka danha nha miga kré

Nha miga kré

Nu mesti fala

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Nu mesti fala

Humm...

Nu mesti fala

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Nu mesti fala

Humm...

Nu nu para

Bu djudu nso nsolu nsom

Nu nu para

Bu odju nu relason

Nu nu para

Bu djudu nso nsolu nsom

Nu nu para

Bu odju nu relason

Sem bu abraços

Nu ka krefika

Longe di nos fijos

Nu ka krefika

Sem bu calor mo

Nu ka krefika

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Nha vida ganha agora

Dipos kin coxa

Bo é sol ki ta kenta

Nha vida ganha agora

Dipos kin coxa

Bo é lus ki ta ilumina

Nha vida

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Ê, ê, ê, ê

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Nha kré krefika nu anula

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
briga /ˈbɾi.ɡɐ/ A2	verb - to fight, to quarrel (present tense, 3rd person singular) noun - a fight, a quarrel
fala /ˈfa.lɐ/ A1	verb - to speak, to talk (present tense, 3rd person singular or imperative) noun - speech, talk
para /ˈpa.ɾɐ/ A1	verb - to stop (present tense, 3rd person singular or imperative)
amor /ɐˈmoɾ/ A1	noun - love
sufri /suˈfɾi/ A2	verb - to suffer (Cape Verdean Creole form of 'sofrer')
coração /koɾɐˈsɐ̃w̃/ A2	noun - heart
vida /ˈvi.dɐ/ A1	noun - life
mesti /ˈmɛʃ.ti/ A1	verb - to need, to have to (Cape Verdean Creole form)
relason /rɛ.lɐˈsɔ̃/ B1	noun - relationship, relation (Cape Verdean Creole form of 'relação')
sol /sɔl/ A1	noun - sun
lus /luʃ/ A1	noun - light (Cape Verdean Creole form of 'luz')
ilumina /i.lu.miˈnɐ/ B1	verb - to illuminate, to enlighten (present tense, 3rd person singular)
mori /ˈmo.ɾi/ A2	verb - to die (Cape Verdean Creole form of 'morrer')
danha /ˈdɐ.ɲɐ/ B1	verb - to damage, to harm, to spoil (Cape Verdean Creole form of 'danificar')
abraços /ɐˈbɾa.sus/ B1	noun - hugs, embraces
calor /kɐˈloɾ/ A2	noun - heat, warmth
família /fɐˈmi.li.ɐ/ A1	noun - family
kré /kɾɛ/ A1	verb - to want, to wish, to love (Cape Verdean Creole form of 'querer') noun - will, desire
krefika /kɾeˈfi.kɐ/ A1	verb - to stay, to remain, to become (Cape Verdean Creole form of 'ficar')
storia /ˈstɔ.ɾi.ɐ/ A1	noun - story, history (Cape Verdean Creole form of 'história')

Key Grammar Structures

• Di kabeça ka sa briga

  ➔ Negation with Progressive Aspect

  ➔ This line shows the negation of an action in progress. The word "ka" is the general negation marker placed before the verb. "sa" indicates an ongoing action, similar to the English "-ing" form. So, "ka sa briga" means "is not fighting."

• Coração sa ta binta

  ➔ Progressive Aspect

  ➔ This illustrates the progressive aspect in Kriolu, indicating an action that is currently happening. "Sa ta" is a common construction for this, formed by the auxiliary "sa" (from Portuguese 'estar' - to be) and "ta" (indicating continuous action) followed by the main verb. So, "sa ta binta" means "is beating/pulsing."

• Nu mesti fala

  ➔ Modal Verb and Infinitive

  ➔ This phrase demonstrates the use of the modal verb "mesti" (meaning "to need" or "must") followed directly by a verb in its infinitive form ("fala" - to speak). This structure is equivalent to "we must speak" or "we need to speak" in English.

• Nu mesti para di briga

  ➔ Phrasal Verb 'para di' with Gerund Equivalent

  ➔ This sentence uses the phrasal verb "para di" (to stop from, to stop doing something), where "para" means "to stop" and "di" acts as a preposition linking it to the action being stopped. "Briga" here refers to the act of fighting. It combines with the modal verb "mesti" (must/need).

• Pa nu ka danha nha miga kré

  ➔ Purpose Clause with Negation

  ➔ This line uses "pa" to introduce a purpose or intention clause, meaning "in order to" or "so that." The negation "ka" is placed before the subject pronoun "nu" (we) and the verb "danha" (to harm), indicating that the purpose is to *not* do something.

• Sem bu abraços

  ➔ Preposition and Possessive Determiner

  ➔ This phrase combines the preposition "sem" (without) with the possessive determiner "bu" (your, informal singular), which precedes the noun "abraços" (hugs). This structure indicates lack or absence.

• Nu ka krefika

  ➔ Simple Negation

  ➔ This line shows the basic negation structure in Kriolu. The negation marker "ka" is placed directly before the verb "krefika" (a common Kriolu contraction of "kre fika," meaning "want to stay" or "want to remain"). This indicates "we do not want to stay" or "we won't stay/remain."

• Dipos kin coxa

  ➔ Temporal Conjunction and Subject Pronoun Contraction

  ➔ This line features "dipos" (after), acting as a temporal conjunction. It is followed by "kin," which is a common contraction of "ki n'" (where "ki" is a conjunction like "when," and "n'" is the contracted form of the first-person singular pronoun "eu"/"I"). So, "kin coxa" means "when I limp" or "after I am weak."

• Bo é sol ki ta kenta

  ➔ Verb 'to be', Relative Pronoun, and Habitual/Progressive Aspect

  ➔ This sentence uses the verb "é" (is), which is the third-person singular form of the verb "ser" (to be). "Ki" acts as a relative pronoun, similar to "who," "which," or "that," introducing a subordinate clause. "Ta kenta" uses "ta," another common Kriolu aspect marker indicating habitual or continuous action ("is warming" or "warms").

• Nha vida ganha agora

  ➔ Possessive Determiner and Present Tense Verb

  ➔ This phrase shows the use of "nha" (my), a possessive determiner that precedes the noun "vida" (life). "Ganha" is the verb "to win/gain" in the present tense. Kriolu verbs often have simple or invariant forms, making the present tense straightforward.