Culture

Saudade: The Word That Explains Why Portuguese People Are the Way They Are

A silhouette of a person sitting on a swing by the beach at sunset, with one arm outstretched towards the empty swing beside them. The sky is a vibrant orange, and the sun is setting over the ocean in the background.

If you go on a walking tour in Lisbon or Porto, or just fall into conversation with a Portuguese person over a glass of wine, sooner or later somebody will bring up saudade. They’ll tell you it’s a word that can’t be translated — untranslatable, special, uniquely Portuguese — and then, more often than not, spend the next twenty minutes trying to translate it anyway. So is it really untranslatable? Honestly, I’m not sure it is. Plenty of other languages …

A woman with sunglasses and a braid is lying on a striped blanket at the beach, reading a magazine. She is wearing a white sweater and appears to be relaxed, with the sea and sky in the background.

Portugal has been the setting for numerous captivating novels that bring its essence to life. These books, especially those written by Portuguese authors, offer an immersive experience into the country’s soul, perfect for those wishing to learn more about its unique culture. And, if you’re unable to visit Portugal in person, these books promise to transport you there, whether that’s to the streets of Lisbon, the beaches of the Algarve, or post World War I Madeira. The Year of The …

A European Union border sign with the word "España" in the center, surrounded by yellow stars on a blue background. Graffiti at the bottom reads "OLIVENÇA É NOSSA, É PORTUGAL" in white paint. The sign is positioned in a rural area with trees and grass.

Drive over the bridge that crosses the Guadiana River, the river that separates Portugal and Spain, and you’ll be greeted with a sign welcoming you to Spain. Like the hundreds of other signs that are dotted along the Spanish border, it’s a blue sign with the word “España” surrounded by 12 gold stars: the EU symbol for unity, solidarity and harmony among the people of Europe. This sign is slightly different, though. In contrast to the symbolism the 12 stars …

A street view of a small town with various shops and parked cars. On the right, there is a black building housing "Alexandra's Boutique". Further down the street are more businesses and a church steeple visible in the distance. The sky is overcast.

You might have heard of Little Portugal in London, the nickname for the large Portuguese community in the South Lambeth area of South London, but did you know there’s a very large Portuguese community in Massachusetts in the USA? Fall River, an industrial town that’s about 1 hour and 20 minutes south of Boston, is home to the largest concentration of Portuguese people in the whole of the United States. As of 2018, 46 percent of Fall River Residents claim …

A vintage black-and-white photo of four individuals. Three men and one woman pose outside in front of a house. One man sits in a chair wearing a suit, while the two other men, one in a suit and one in a military uniform, and the woman stand behind him.

Fall River, Massachusetts, has long been known as one of the most Portuguese towns in America. In this interview, we sit down with Tom, a lifelong Fall River resident with deep roots in the city’s Portuguese community. Born to second-generation immigrants, Tom shares his firsthand experiences of growing up in a family that held tight to their Azorean heritage while making a new life in America. From stories about his grandmother’s cooking to memories of life in the city’s tenements, …

There are a few words that help explain Portuguese culture. One of them is saudade, a word that’s considered to be untranslatable but the closest interpretation is a feeling of longing. You can feel saudade for anything: a different time, a person, a relationship you once had. You can even feel saudade for something that hasn’t happened yet. Saudade is a useful word because it gives some insight into the slightly melancholy, poetic, and philosophical part of the Portuguese soul. It’s …

Saudade: The Word That Explains Why Portuguese People Are the Way They Are

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