Tento Na Língua – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Carolina Deslandes, iolanda

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and 'Tento Na Língua' by Carolina Deslandes and iolanda is a perfect song to start with Portuguese. The song's clever use of the idiomatic expression 'ter tento na língua' offers a great opportunity to understand the nuances of the language. More than just a catchy pop tune, this song is a powerful statement about female empowerment and authenticity, making it a culturally significant and inspiring piece to learn with.

[English]

Oh, if only I were quieter

Or if I spoke more slowly

Oh, the conversation gets boring

Careful, you won't handle it

Oh, if only I were more reserved

Oh, if only I were skinnier

Oh, if only I were quieter

Or had more tact

Order a bottle, on Good Friday

Drink the house wine, we'll toast to the girls

Today's for celebrating, leaving here late

Light the cigar, I'll fan you in Havana

If I already apologized, sorry for that

Today I'm busy, I'll call you mañana

You wanted to be casual, today you want commitment

But I'm too much sand for your little cart

You wanted me quiet and well-behaved

I only pass through the kitchen on my way to the living room

His mother is sensible, she never got along with me

I'm not a housewife, I'm the owner of the cube aiai

Oh, if only I were quieter

Or if I spoke more slowly

Oh, the conversation gets boring

Careful, you won't handle it

Oh, if only I were more reserved

Oh, if only I were skinnier

Oh, if only I were quieter

Or had more tact

Here she comes with phrases about politics

Wants to be on a magazine cover and write four books

I'm the cause of the problem and the solution you demand

I'm everything you want and nothing I said

Today I don't even waste time, I lose friends

Every time I go out I hear what people say

That I'm more convinced if I know what I'm saying

Goodbye, see you someday and thank you very much

They wanted me quiet

I come from another place

I learned early on to say what I feel

They wanted me well dressed

That was in Sweden

Today I'm wearing a sweatshirt, 'cause I have no patience (shhhhh)

Oh, if only I were quieter

Or if I spoke more slowly

Oh, the conversation gets boring

Careful, you won't handle it

Oh, if only I were more reserved

Oh, if only I were skinnier

Oh, if only I were quieter

Or had more tact

Look at this thing, so beautiful, so full of grace

The woman who sways as she leaves the house

Doesn't need anyone, doesn't need anything

Look at this thing, so beautiful, so full of grace

The woman who sways as she leaves the house

Doesn't need anyone, doesn't need anything

Oh, if only I were quieter

Or if I spoke more slowly

Oh, the conversation gets boring

Careful, you won't handle it

Oh, if only I were more reserved

Oh, if only I were skinnier

Oh, if only I were quieter

Or had more tact

Oh, if only I were quieter

Or if I spoke more slowly

Oh, the conversation gets boring

Careful, you won't handle it

Oh, if only I were more reserved

Oh, if only I were skinnier

Oh, if only I were quieter

Or had more tact

[Portuguese]

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais calada ♪

♪ Ou se falasse devagar ♪

♪ Ai que a conversa fica chata ♪

♪ Cuidado não vais aguentar ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse reservada ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais magrinha ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais calada ♪

♪ Ou tivesse tento na língua ♪

♪ Manda vir uma garrafa, sexta feira santa ♪

♪ Bebe o vinho da casa, a gente brinda às manas ♪

♪ Hoje é pra festejar sair daqui às tantas ♪

♪ Acende o charuto, eu abano em Havana ♪

♪ Se já pedi desculpa, desculpa por isso ♪

♪ Hoje eu ‘tou ocupada, ligo-te mañana ♪

♪ Querias ser casual, hoje queres compromisso ♪

♪ Mas sou muita areia pa’ tua carripana ♪

♪ Queria-me caladinha e bem comportada ♪

♪ Só passo na cozinha a caminho da sala ♪

♪ A mãe dele é sensata, nunca se deu comigo ♪

♪ Não sou dona de casa, eu sou dona do kubiko aiai ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais calada ♪

♪ Ou se falasse devagar ♪

♪ Ai que a conversa fica chata ♪

♪ Cuidado não vais aguentar ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse reservada ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais magrinha ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais calada ♪

♪ Ou tivesse tento na língua ♪

♪ Lá vem ela com as frases sobre politiquices ♪

♪ Quer ser capa de revista e escrever quatro livros ♪

♪ Sou a causa do problema e solução que exiges ♪

♪ Sou tudo o que tu quiseres e nada do que eu disse ♪

♪ Hoje eu já nem perco tempo, eu perco amigos ♪

♪ De cada vez que saio ouço o que a malta fala ♪

♪ Que tou mais convencida se sei o que digo ♪

♪ Adeus até um dia e muito obrigada ♪

♪ Queriam-me caladinha ♪

♪ Eu venho de outro sítio ♪

♪ Aprendi desde cedo a dizer o que sinto ♪

♪ Queriam-me bem vestida ♪

♪ Isso foi na Suécia ♪

♪ Hoje eu vou de sweat,que eu tou sem paciência (shhhhh) ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais calada ♪

♪ Ou se falasse devagar ♪

♪ Ai que a conversa fica chata ♪

♪ Cuidado não vais aguentar ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse reservada ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais magrinha ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais calada ♪

♪ Ou tivesse tento na língua ♪

♪ Olha que coisa mais linda, mais cheia de graça ♪

♪ A mulher que balança a sair de casa ♪

♪ Não precisa de ninguém, nem precisa de nada ♪

♪ Olha que coisa mais linda, mais cheia de graça ♪

♪ A mulher que balança a sair de casa ♪

♪ Não precisa de ninguém, nem precisa de nada ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais calada ♪

♪ Ou se falasse devagar ♪

♪ Ai que a conversa fica chata ♪

♪ Cuidado não vais aguentar ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse reservada ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais magrinha ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais calada ♪

♪ Ou tivesse tento na língua ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais calada ♪

♪ Ou se falasse devagar ♪

♪ Ai que a conversa fica chata ♪

♪ Cuidado não vais aguentar ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse reservada ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais magrinha ♪

♪ Ai se eu fosse mais calada ♪

♪ Ou tivesse tento na língua ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
calada /kɐˈlaðɐ/ B2	adjective - silent, quiet
falar /fɐˈlaɾ/ A1	verb - to speak, to talk
chata /ˈʃatɐ/ B2	adjective - annoying, boring
cuidado /kujˈðaðu/ A2	noun - care, caution
reservada /ʁɨzɨɾˈvaðɐ/ B2	adjective - reserved, private
magrinha /mɐˈɡɾiɲɐ/ B1	adjective - skinny, thin
língua /ˈlĩɡwɐ/ A1	noun - tongue, language
manda /ˈmɐ̃dɐ/ A2	verb - to send, to order
festejar /fɨʃtɨˈʒaɾ/ B1	verb - to celebrate
ocupada /ukuˈpaðɐ/ A2	adjective - busy, occupied
querer /kɨˈɾeɾ/ A1	verb - to want, to love
problema /pɾuˈblɛmɐ/ A2	noun - problem, issue
solução /sulusˈsɐ̃w̃/ B1	noun - solution, answer
tempo /ˈtẽpu/ A1	noun - time, weather
sinto /ˈsĩtu/ A2	verb - to feel, sense
linda /ˈlĩdɐ/ A2	adjective - beautiful, pretty
graça /ˈɡɾasɐ/ B1	noun - grace, charm

Key Grammar Structures

• Ai se eu fosse mais calada

  ➔ Conditional sentences type 2 (unreal present/future)

  ➔ This line uses the conditional "se" (if) followed by the imperfect subjunctive "fosse" indicating a hypothetical, unreal situation. "Se eu fosse" translates to "If I were".

• Manda vir uma garrafa, sexta feira santa

  ➔ Imperative mood (manda)

  ➔ "Manda vir" is an informal imperative phrase meaning "Order to come" or simply "Order". It's a command.

• Mas sou muita areia pa’ tua carripana

  ➔ Figurative language / Idiom

  ➔ "Sou muita areia pa’ tua carripana" is a Portuguese idiom meaning "I'm too much for your cart". It expresses that the speaker is too much to handle or not compatible with the other person.

• Hoje eu ‘tou ocupada, ligo-te mañana

  ➔ Contraction and code-switching (Portuguese/Spanish)

  ➔ “‘Tou” is a contraction of “estou” (I am). “Mañana” is Spanish for “tomorrow”, demonstrating code-switching within the lyrics.

• Não sou dona de casa, eu sou dona do kubiko aiai

  ➔ Noun + preposition + noun / Emphasis

  ➔ The line contrasts being a "dona de casa" (housewife) with being the "dona do kubiko" (owner of the kubiko). The repetition and "aiai" adds emphasis to her self-assertion.

• Queriam-me caladinha

  ➔ Pronoun placement with verbs (me)

  ➔ The placement of the pronoun "me" before the verb "queriam" (they wanted) is common in European Portuguese, whereas Brazilian Portuguese would likely place it after the verb: "queriam-me" vs. "me queriam".

• Isso foi na Suécia

  ➔ Past Tense Narrative / Simple Past

  ➔ Simple past "foi" (was) used to set a past scene.