portoghese

Portuguese

adjective por-toh-GEH-zeh Rare

Usage Note

Portoghese also functions as a noun — un portoghese / una portoghese — and as the name of the language: parlo portoghese ('I speak Portuguese'). The familiar insult fare il portoghese ('to be a freeloader', literally 'to act like a Portuguese') stems from an old stereotype about unpaying theatre guests; it is considered outdated but still heard.

Examples

"Parla correntemente il portoghese."

Natural Translation

She speaks Portuguese fluently.

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