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O Bebê Novo Me Mantém Acordada

A new mother complains about exhaustion to her own mother — practicing the exclamatory o quanto + adjetivo, a cada + tempo, and sentir falta de.
o quanto + adjetivoa cada três horassentir falta de
🎧 Língua da Gente · Ep. 47
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Listen to the episode

Áudio: COERLL · University of Texas at Austin · Ver a lição completa no COERLL →

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Read the dialogue

A new mother tells her own mother how exhausting it is to have a newborn at home.

A: Mãe, porquê que você nunca me falou o quanto exaustivo é ter bebê em casa?

Mom, why didn't you ever tell me how exhausting it is to have a baby in the house?

B: Isso passa filha, com os anos a gente nem se lembra mais.

This will pass daughter, as the years go on we don't even remember it.

A: A Aina precisa mamar a cada três horas!

Aina needs to nurse every three hours!

B: Olha, aquelas horas aconchegadas com a criança assim, são preciosas.

You know, those hours snuggled up to a baby are precious.

A: Eu sei, mas eu estou exausta, eu não aguento mais.

I know I'm just exhausted, I can't take it anymore.

B: Prometo filha, algum dia você vai sentir falta desses momentos.

I promise you child, some day you will miss those moments.

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Language focus
Focus 1
O quanto + adjetivo — Exclamatory intensity
English: how (much) + adjective (exclamatory emphasis)
O quanto + adjective intensifies a statement, similar to English "how [adjective] it is." A great structure for expressing strong feelings.
O quanto exaustivo é ter bebê em casa!
How exhausting it is to have a baby at home!Não sabia o quanto difícil seria.
I didn't know how hard it would be.
Focus 2
A cada + tempo — Every (interval of time)
English: every (period of time)
A cada + time expression describes a recurring interval — "every three hours," "every day," etc.
A Aina precisa mamar a cada três horas.
Aina needs to nurse every three hours.Ele liga a cada dois dias.
He calls every two days.
Focus 3
Sentir falta de — To miss (something/someone)
English: to miss (someone or something)
Sentir falta de is the standard way to express missing someone or something — literally "to feel the lack of."
Você vai sentir falta desses momentos.
You will miss these moments.Sinto falta da minha família.
I miss my family.
👶 Maternidade e apoio familiar In Brazilian culture, new mothers often receive close support from their own mothers or mothers-in-law during the first months — this dialogue reflects that intergenerational bond and shared wisdom.
🔊 Exaustivo vs. Exausta Don't confuse exaustivo (exhausting, describing the situation) with exausta (exhausted, describing the person) — similar roots, different meanings.
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Exercises
Exercise 1 — Comprehension check
Choose the correct answer based on the dialogue.
Exercise 2 — O quanto, a cada, ou sentir falta?
Fill in each gap to complete the sentence with the correct word(s).
1. 1. Você nunca me falou exaustivo é ter bebê em casa!
2. 2. A Aina precisa mamar três horas!
3. 3. Algum dia você vai desses momentos.
Exercise 3 — Vocabulário de maternidade
Match each Portuguese word to its English meaning.
Exercise 4 — Your turn
Write 4–6 sentences about something exhausting or a moment you'll miss one day. Use o quanto + adjetivo, a cada + tempo, and sentir falta de.
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