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Saudade: companion reading notes
Saudade (Portuguese noun): A feeling of longing for someone or something that is absent or missed.
How to use it
Saudade is a Portuguese word often discussed in English when describing culture, music or emotion. Longing, yearning and missing can convey aspects of it; avoid claiming that the feeling belongs exclusively to one nationality.
Examples to practise aloud
- The essay used saudade to describe longing for a distant childhood home.
- He explained saudade as the feeling of missing people and places important to him.
Check your understanding
Which paraphrase fits: longing for an absent loved one or excitement about a new purchase?
Check your answer
Longing for an absent loved one. The sense of absence is central to this use.
Make it your own
Choose one example above and change its situation while keeping the meaning of saudade. Say your new sentence aloud, then check the word form and tone against the usage note.
Continue with our saudade reading lesson
Reference: Cambridge Portuguese–English: Saudade. Examples and practice are written for this lesson.
Turn watching into practice
- Listen for a word or phrase you want to learn. Pause and repeat it aloud.
- Write its meaning in your own words, then replay to check your understanding.
- Create a sentence about your own life. Say it aloud without looking at your notes.