Zona Sul – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Bárbara Bandeira, WIU

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the vibrant fusion of Portuguese and Brazilian culture in “Zona Sul.” This song offers a unique opportunity to learn Portuguese through its catchy melody and emotive lyrics, which paint a vivid picture of love and life in Rio de Janeiro. What makes it special is its seamless blend of pop, urban, and Afro-Brazilian sounds, creating a truly international Lusophone anthem.

[English]

(In the South Zone)

(In the South Zone)

It's the little things

I thought I didn't need to say

You say you'll work to make it right

Get off unemployment, baby

Today, I want to argue with you Then give it time

Sex, alcohol, nicotine I've already found a routine

So I want to go out, wander around To be caught off guard

Then I'll let you go I just need more

Two hundred years of you And then you're free

Me and you lost in the South Zone

Yeah yeah

Who's the craziest? You said it was me, but it's actually you

Yeah yeah Yeah yeah, oh baby

My face is expensive, I'm in a BM X6 I want to avoid snitches

He says six, but he means half I pretend I don't know how much he involves me

Heart of ice, so come dissolve it A Fenty kiss with red lipstick

A color that matches your intention But you won't understand the details

Little details that remind me of us (us)

Hate me now, but love me later

Disappear like a ghost, kiss me in the dark

Throw yourself in the backseat, let's go to the future

How much time do I still have to be late?

I want your contact, turn off your cell phone

You like to play with fire, I'm going to defrost you

I'll make you hit heaven without leaving the place

So do me a favor and listen to me ♪

After the sun sets We dance with the moon

And even if the sun is gone, we dance in the rain

Tell me where you're going I'm free after the party

I just don't know if it's for you

Oh

Me and you lost in the South Zone

Yeah Yeah

Who's the craziest?

You said it was me, but it's actually you

Yeah yeah

Yeah yeah, oh baby

[Portuguese]

♪ (Na zona sul) ♪

♪ (Na zona sul) ♪

♪ São as pequenas coisas ♪

♪ Eu pensava que não era preciso dizer ♪

♪ Diz que vais trabalhar p’ra dar certo ♪

♪ Sair do subsídio de desemprego baby ♪

♪ Hoje, eu quero discutir contigo Depois dar tempo ao tempo ♪

♪ Sexo, álcool, nicotina Eu já encontrei rotina ♪

♪ Então eu quero sair, andar P’ra ser apanhada em contratempo ♪

♪ Depois deixo-te ir Só preciso de mais  ♪

♪ Duzentos anos de ti E depois és livre ♪

♪ Eu e tu perdidos na zona sul ♪

♪ Yeah yeah ♪

♪ Quem é o mais maluco Disse que era eu, afinal és tu ♪

♪ Yeah yeah Yeah yeah, oh baby ♪

♪ A minha cara é cara, eu tou num BM X6 Eu quero evitar X9 ♪

♪ Ele diz seis, quer dizer meio Eu finjo que não sei o quanto ele me envolve ♪

♪ Coração de gelo então vem dissolve Beijo da Fenty num batom vermelho ♪

♪ Cor que combina com a tua intenção Mas tu não vais entender os detalhes ♪

♪ Pequenos detalhes que me  lembram nós dois (nós dois) ♪

♪ Me odeia agora, mas me ama depois ♪

♪ Some igual fantasma, me beija no escuro ♪

♪ Se joga no banco vamo p’ro futuro ♪

♪ Quanto tempo eu ainda tenho p’ra me atrasar ♪

♪ Eu quero o teu contacto desliga o seu celular ♪

♪ Gosta de brincar com o fogo eu vou te descongelar ♪

♪ Te faço bater no céu mas sem sair do lugar ♪

♪ Então me faz o favor e me escuta ♪  

♪ Depois que o sol se pôr a gente dança com a lua ♪

♪ E mesmo se o sol se for a gente dança na chuva ♪

♪ Me diz onde você vai Tou livre depois do baile ♪

♪ Eu só não sei se é p’ra você ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Eu e tu perdidos na zona sul ♪

♪ Yeah Yeah ♪

♪ Quem é o mais maluco ♪

♪ Disse que era eu, afinal és tu ♪

♪ Yeah yeah ♪

♪ Yeah yeah, oh baby ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
zona /ˈzɔnɐ/ A2	noun - zone, area
coisas /ˈkojzɐʃ/ A1	noun - things
trabalhar /tɾɐbɐˈʎaɾ/ A1	verb - to work
tempo /ˈtẽpu/ A1	noun - time
sexo /ˈsɛksu/ A2	noun - sex
álcool /ˈalkuɔw/ A2	noun - alcohol
nicotina /nikuˈtinɐ/ B1	noun - nicotine
rotina /ʁuˈtinɐ/ B1	noun - routine
perdidos /pɛɾˈdiduʃ/ B1	adjective - lost
muluco /mɐˈluku/ B2	adjective - crazy
cara /ˈkaɾɐ/ A1	noun - face adjective - expensive
coração /kuɾɐˈsɐ̃w/ A1	noun - heart
gelo /ˈʒelu/ A1	noun - ice
beijo /ˈbeʒu/ A1	noun - kiss
vermelho /vɛɾˈmɐʎu/ A1	adjective - red
detalhes /deˈtaʎeʃ/ B1	noun - details
fantasma /fɐ̃ˈtazmɐ/ B1	noun - ghost
escuro /iʃˈskuɾu/ A2	adjective - dark
futuro /fuˈtuɾu/ A2	noun - future
fogo /ˈfoɡu/ A1	noun - fire
céu /ˈsɛw/ A1	noun - sky, heaven
sol /ˈsɔl/ A1	noun - sun
lua /ˈluɐ/ A1	noun - moon
chuva /ˈʃuvɐ/ A1	noun - rain
livre /ˈlivɾɨ/ A1	adjective - free

Key Grammar Structures

• Eu pensava que não era preciso dizer

  ➔ Imperfect Subjunctive in Subordinate Clauses

  ➔ The phrase "Eu pensava que não era preciso dizer" (I thought it wasn't necessary to say) uses the imperfect subjunctive ("era preciso") because it expresses a subjective opinion or thought in a subordinate clause after a verb of thinking ("pensava"). The use of "que" introduces the subordinate clause.

• Sair do subsídio de desemprego baby

  ➔ Infinitive as a Noun

  ➔ "Sair" (to leave/get out) is used as a noun, acting as the object of an implied verb like "preciso" or "quero" (I need/want to get out). It's the act of leaving unemployment benefits that is emphasized.

• Depois dar tempo ao tempo

  ➔ Infinitive Used as an Imperative

  ➔ "Dar tempo ao tempo" (give time to time/let time pass) uses the infinitive "dar" in a way that suggests a piece of advice or a suggestion, almost like an imperative. It's a common expression.

• Eu e tu perdidos na zona sul

  ➔ Pronoun Order (Eu e tu)

  ➔ The phrase "Eu e tu" (me and you) follows the standard pronoun order in Portuguese, placing the first-person pronoun ("Eu") before the second-person pronoun ("tu"). This order is generally maintained when combining pronouns in a subject.

• A minha cara é cara, eu tou num BM X6

  ➔ Wordplay with Adjectives (cara)

  ➔ The word "cara" is used twice, first as a noun meaning "face" ("A minha cara" - my face) and then as an adjective meaning "expensive" or "dear" ("é cara" - is expensive/dear). This creates a play on words.

• Ele diz seis, quer dizer meio

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of words)

  ➔ The sentence "Ele diz seis, quer dizer meio" (He says six, [he] means half) uses ellipsis by omitting the subject pronoun "ele" (he) in the second clause. The meaning is understood from the context.

• Me odeia agora, mas me ama depois

  ➔ Direct Object Pronouns and Time Adverbs

  ➔ The sentence "Me odeia agora, mas me ama depois" (Hate me now, but love me later) uses the direct object pronoun "me" before the verbs "odeia" (hates) and "ama" (loves). "Agora" (now) and "depois" (later) are time adverbs modifying those verbs.

• Quanto tempo eu ainda tenho p’ra me atrasar

  ➔ Preposition Contraction and Infinitive

  ➔ The phrase "p’ra me atrasar" is a contraction of "para" (for/to) + "a" (to) forming "para a", which is often shortened to "p'ra" in informal speech/writing. The verb "atrasar" is in the infinitive form, indicating the purpose of the time the speaker has.