The Hardworking Husband
A woman visits her husband in prison.
Before leaving, she tells the guard: “You shouldn’t make my husband work so much. He’s exhausted!”
He laughs and says, “Are you kidding? He just eats and sleeps!”
She replies: “Nonsense!! Ele acabou de me dizer que tem estado a cavar um túnel há meses!He just told me he’s been digging a tunnel for months!”
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The Plus version of this story
Uma mulher visita o seu marido* na prisão.Antes de sair, ela diz ao guarda: "Não deviam obrigar* o meu marido a trabalhar tanto. Ele está exausto!"Ele ri-se* e diz: "Está a brincar*? Ele só come e dorme!"Ela responde: "Que disparate! Ele acabou de me dizer que tem estado* a cavar um túnel há meses!”A woman visits her husband in prison.Before leaving, she tells the guard: “You shouldn’t make my husband work so much. He’s exhausted!”He laughs and says, “Are you kidding? He just eats and sleeps!”She replies “Nonsense! He just told me he’s been digging a tunnel for months!”
🔎 Words in this story
✴️ Marido (husband)
The word husband is “marido,” while “wife” is the word “mulher” (woman).
The Portuguese language is strongly influenced by a traditional patriarchal system, but nowadays the terms “marido e mulher” (husband and wife) and the phrase “a minha mulher” (my wife) sound sexist to many, who prefer to avoid them.
The terms “esposo” (husband) and “esposa” (wife) are alternatives, although they convey some formality.
✴️ Obrigar (make)
There is a Plus version of this story
The same story, taken further, for DailyNata Plus members. This one works on past tenses in general.
- The whole story in Portuguese, and its English
- The words in it, explained, with examples
Written for level B1–B2. Every story has its own, anywhere from A1 to B2.