“May I give you a thimble?” my grandma would ask at bedtime as she tucked my brothers and I into our beds. She meant, could she kiss us goodnight. A thimble was a kiss… a reference to one of my grandma’s favorite books, Peter Pan.
Gara was our special name for Helen Morley, my grandma. She moved in with us after my grandfather passed away in 1957. She lived with our family in northern Minnesota from when I was in third grade until my last year in high school… when she passed away.
Gara was shy, wise, loving, a voracious reader, writer of letters always using a fountain pen, and could mend any torn piece of clothing if she had access to a needle, thread, and thimble. She taught me to iron my shirts… sew on a button… and yes, she always used a thimble… or a kiss!
Gara had numerous, unique phrases… all endearing because they were voiced with unconditional love… and unfettered pride for her three grandsons.
No doubt your grandma did the same. It seems to be the common denominator in every story I’ve heard about the relationship between grandmas and their grandchildren.
Portuguese grandmas are just the same. Our wonderful new life in Portugal delivered an awesome world of grandma phrases, too. As Jeff and I became more comfortable with speaking Portuguese, we noticed specific phrases that Portuguese grandmas use.
Hmmm… these phrases are the stuff of a little Portuguese language class today… a lesson that focuses on idioms spoken by Portuguese grandmas.
Venha, venha. Coma, coma. (Come, come! Eat, eat!)
A Portuguese grandma KNOWS you are starving, even if you just finished a three-course meal.
Jeff and I have heard this phrase a number of times in our neighbor’s home. Olga uses it to entice her twin, nine-year old grandsons to put down their papa’s cell phone and join us at the dinner table. When the words are uttered, the boys come a-running. You can hear the love in her voice. It certainly works.
Leva um casaquinho. (Take a little jacket.)
It could be 80 degrees outside and somehow your Portuguese grandma KNOWS you still need a jacket… especially if you just finished a big meal and are about to go for a family walk in the neighborhood.
Deus te acompanhe. (May God go with you.)
Portuguese grandmas often say this when you leave the house or head out on a trip. There’s something comforting to know that grandma has a direct line to God’s ear.
Quem espera sempre alcança. (Those who wait eventually achieve.)
Portuguese grandmas are saying, “Be patient. Your time will come.” I can hear the grandma’s pride in the recipient as this phrase is voiced.
Vozes de burro, não chegam ao céu. (Donkey voices don’t reach heaven.)
This is a Portuguese grandma’s way of telling children you can shout all you want, it’s not going to change anything.
Tem juízo! (Behave yourself!)
Portuguese grandmas exclaim, “Use your head!” Usually shouted as we walk out the door.
Gara had her own English version of tem juizo. She used to say, “Why be difficult? When with just a little more effort you can be impossible.” There were two short versions… a quiet, soft, “Why be difficult?” And an equally quiet, soft, “With just a little more effort…”
As we reached high school age, my father had the phrase printed on 3×5 cards and gave one to each of the Woodruff boys to keep in their wallets. Gara’s phrase had been uttered many times by then… my dad figured his teenage sons needed a bit more reinforcement. I found a few of these extra cards in a desk drawer after my dad had passed away.
Não apanhes frio. (Don’t catch cold.)
Portuguese grandmas offer this advice because according to avó—grandma, cold air is responsible for 90% of all illnesses.
My grandma had a twinkle in her eye when she reminded us of the therapeutic power of ingesting an apple every day. The twinkle might have been because my dad was a doctor. She dearly loved him. In reality she didn’t want to keep him away from any of us.
Estás tão magrinho/gordinho! (You’re so skinny/chubby!)
Portuguese grandma’s usually say this a few minutes before they hand you enough food for a family of six. It doesn’t seem to matter if you are skinny or overweight… here comes the food.
I was a chubby little boy, but Gara would always encourage us to eat everything on our plates. My grandma evidently knew children in China who had nothing to eat. We were convinced she would bundle up our un-eaten food and somehow take it to China.
It’s magic… the power of grandmas… and the wisdom of their quirky little sayings. I love discovering such magical moments in Portugal. There are more, but I think we’ve covered enough for one lesson.
Are you considering a life overseas in Europe? We encourage you to look into Portugal. With a climate like California, this mighty little European nation, the size of Indiana, has so much to offer…
It is the seventh safest nation in the world.
Portugal is one of Europe’s most affordable places to live.
The infrastructure of this small country is first-class.
English is spoken widely, especially in major metropolitan areas.
Health care is world-class—a fraction the cost of care in North America. Become a resident, and health care is free. You heard that right—I am not kidding.
Residency is easy and cheap—for anyone of any age.
Property can be an absolute bargain—both to buy and to rent.
Discover all the reasons to love Portugal and find out how to make your move there as quickly and affordably as possible when you join us for the 2027 Live And Invest In Portugal Conference on the sun-kissed Algarve next April.
Who knows, you might bump into a Portuguese grandma in Portimão… and personally experience the love and wisdom de uma avó Portuguesa—from a Portuguese grandma.
Sincerely,
Joch Woodruff
Contributor, Overseas Opportunity Letter
