Calma Aí, Menina! — A2

1

Listen to the episode

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

2

Read the dialogue

A nervous passenger keeps warning the driver about cars, pedestrians, and motorcycles.

A: Olha o carro!

Watch out for the car!

B: Tá, já vi.

OK, I saw it.

A: Cuidado com o pedestre!

Careful with the pedestrian!

B: Tá, já sei!

OK, I know!

A: Olha lá, tá freando, ô!

Watch out, he's braking there!

B: Para Cecilia, você quer dirigir?

Stop it Cecilia, do you want to drive?

A: Não, tudo bem..., cuidado, cuidado!

No, it's fine…, careful, careful!

B: Que que foi?

What was it?

A: Ah desculpa, pensei que o motoqueiro ia cortar em frente.

Oh, sorry, I thought that motorcycle driver was going to cut in front.

B: Sinceramente Cecilia, calma aí menina!

Seriously Cecilia, calm down girl!

3

Language focus

Focus 1

Olha! / Cuidado! — Warning imperatives

English: look out! / careful! (traffic warnings)

Olha! and Cuidado com...! are the go-to expressions for warning someone about danger — extremely common while riding in a car or walking together.

Olha o carro!
Watch out for the car!Cuidado com o pedestre!
Careful with the pedestrian!

Focus 2

Pensei que + imperfeito do subjuntivo/ia + infinitivo — Reporting a mistaken thought

English: I thought that (something was going to happen)

Pensei que + ia + infinitive reports a past belief or expectation that turned out to be wrong — a natural way to explain a false alarm.

Pensei que o motoqueiro ia cortar em frente.
I thought the motorcycle was going to cut in front.Pensei que ia chover.
I thought it was going to rain.

Focus 3

Que que foi? — What happened? (casual)

English: what was that? / what happened?

Que que foi? (casual contraction of o que é que foi) is used to ask what just happened, especially after a sudden reaction.

Que que foi?
What happened?Que que foi isso?
What was that?

🚗 Passageiro do banco de trás The "backseat driver" phenomenon is universal! In Brazilian Portuguese, being overly cautious as a passenger is sometimes teasingly called being manteiga derretida (melted butter) — overly nervous or worried.

🔊 Calma aí, menina! Calma aí is a very common, gentle way to tell someone to relax — softer than a direct command, often used affectionately between friends.

4

Exercises

Exercise 1 — Comprehension check

Choose the correct answer based on the dialogue.

1. Por que Cecilia grita "cuidado, cuidado!" pela segunda vez?

Achou que o motoqueiro ia cortar em frente. Viu outro carro batendo. O carro furou o pneu.

2. Como o motorista reage aos avisos repetidos?

Pede para ela ter calma. Concorda com tudo, com medo também. Para o carro imediatamente.

3. O motorista chega a perguntar se Cecilia quer fazer o quê?

Dirigir. Sair do carro. Trocar de lugar.

Exercise 2 — Olha, cuidado, ou pensei que ia?

Fill in each gap to complete the sentence with the correct word(s).

1. 1. o carro!

2. 2. com o pedestre!

3. 3. o motoqueiro cortar em frente.

Exercise 3 — Vocabulário de trânsito

Match each Portuguese word to its English meaning.

1. Pedestre

2. Motoqueiro

3. Frear

4. Dirigir

5. Calma aí

Exercise 4 — Your turn

Write 4–6 sentences about a time you were a nervous passenger (or driver!). Use warning imperatives (olha!, cuidado!) and pensei que...ia.