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How to Say ‘My knee still gives me twinges’ in Portuguese

O joelho ainda me dá umas pontadas

oo zhoo-AY-lyoo eye-EEN-duh mee dah OO-mahsh pohn-TAH-dahsh

[oo zhoo-AY-lyoo eye-EEN-duh mee dah OO-mahsh pohn-TAH-dahsh]

Phrase Breakdown

O joelho

oo zhoo-AY-lyoo

The knee

'Lh' sounds like the 'lli' in 'million'. Say it 'oo zhoo-AY-lyoo'.

Example

Dói-me o joelho.

My knee hurts.

Words in this phrase

[oo]

the (masculine singular)

Article used before a masculine singular noun; often unstressed in speech.

Example

O bilhete é mais barato se comprares com antecedência.

The ticket is cheaper if you buy in advance.

joelho

[zhoo-AY-lyoo]

knee

The joint in the middle of the leg.

Example

Doi-me o joelho.

My knee hurts.

ainda me dá

eye-EEN-duh mee dah

still gives me

'Ainda' (still) is said a-EEN-da with a nasal 'in'. 'Me' is very short, close to 'm'.

Example

Isso ainda me dá trabalho.

That still gives me trouble.

Words in this phrase

ainda

[eye-EEN-duh]

still

Adverb meaning still or yet, depending on context.

Example

Ainda há esperança de vencer.

There is still hope of winning.

[mee]

Used by a speaker to refer to themselves.

Example

Ele me ajudou.

He helped me.

dá

[dah]

gives

From 'dar' (to give); with pain words it means 'causes'.

Example

A cabeça dá-me dores.

My head gives me pain.

umas pontadas

OO-mahsh pohn-TAH-dahsh

some twinges / sharp pains

'Pontadas' are sudden stabbing pains. The 'pon' is nasal, and the final 's' sounds like 'sh': pon-TA-dash.

Example

Tenho umas pontadas nas costas.

I have some twinges in my back.

Words in this phrase

umas

[OO-mahsh]

some

Feminine plural of 'um'.

Example

Comprei umas maçãs.

I bought some apples.

pontadas

[pohn-TAH-dahsh]

sharp pains

Sudden stabbing pains.

Example

Sinto pontadas nas costas.

I feel sharp pains in my back.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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