Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
uma boa pegada
English translation:
a man's good touch
Added to glossary by
Oliver Simões
This question was closed without grading. Reason: No acceptable answer
Jan 18 23:58
4 mos ago
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Portuguese term
United States
BA in Transl., MA in ESL, 15 yrs of exp.
Native in: Portuguese 
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Spanish to Portuguese, and 2 more.
uma boa pegada
Portuguese to English
Other
Other
sexuality & personal rela
"Uma boa pegada deve contar uma pitada de romantismo e outra de sacanagem." (Cecarello apud Atouguia, 2011)
Afinal, o que é uma boa pegada?
Especialista dá dicas dos principais pontos de excitação do homem e da mulher para impressionar o parceiro
A pessoa pode ser simpática, bonita, sarada, sensual, ter um sorriso arrasador, mas se não tiver pegada, não adianta. Especialistas em sexologia garantem que é preciso haver o encaixe entre mãos, boca, corpo, personalidade e afins para que um relacionamento tenha sucesso. Caso contrário, o romance pode não ir para frente.
How would you translate "pegada" in this context?
I've seen "an alluring charm" on ProZ, but it sounds like a mismatch for my context. Here's link to the full article in case you need more context: https://n9.cl/iifue3
Google Translate tells me "a good touch". Will that fit in?
L2: EN-US
Register: slang
Afinal, o que é uma boa pegada?
Especialista dá dicas dos principais pontos de excitação do homem e da mulher para impressionar o parceiro
A pessoa pode ser simpática, bonita, sarada, sensual, ter um sorriso arrasador, mas se não tiver pegada, não adianta. Especialistas em sexologia garantem que é preciso haver o encaixe entre mãos, boca, corpo, personalidade e afins para que um relacionamento tenha sucesso. Caso contrário, o romance pode não ir para frente.
How would you translate "pegada" in this context?
I've seen "an alluring charm" on ProZ, but it sounds like a mismatch for my context. Here's link to the full article in case you need more context: https://n9.cl/iifue3
Google Translate tells me "a good touch". Will that fit in?
L2: EN-US
Register: slang
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 | a certain allure |
Nick Taylor
|
| 3 | spark |
Robert Farren
|
| 3 | oomph |
Fernanda Lorenzo
|
| 3 | good mojo [for romance] |
Yuri Toledo
|
References
| v. |
José Patrício
|
Change log
Jan 31, 2024 23:17: Oliver Simões Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
26 mins
Robert Farren
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
Ireland
Translator, proofreader & lexicographer.
Native in: English (Variants: British, Irish, UK)
Works in: French to English, Portuguese to English, English, and 8 more.
spark
I don't think "a good touch" has any relevance in this context.
For me, the difficulty lies in knowing for sure if "uma boa pegada" here denotes (i) an encounter, (ii) a person with whom one has an encounter, or (iii) the initial spark of erotic attraction.
If (iii), then I suggest "spark", or simply "attraction". "Uma boa pegada" > "a strong attraction".
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2024-01-19 09:28:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I've now read the article (should've done that last night).
It could in fact be translated as "touch", but in a wider, figurative sense that is close to "appoach/style/manner" and possibly similar to the Portuguese "jeito"; since what's evoked here is a blend of many factors: "touch" (manner of touching somebody", "regard" (both way of looking at, and attitude towards), "approach" (manner of interacting with another person).
It's NOT "touch" in the one sense of "touching", making physical contact. So, maybe best to reject this translation in order to avoid ambiguity.
In a slightly colder register, "technique" has been very often employed in English to refer to the above-mentioned blend of physical, gestural, psychological and social attributes.
For me, the difficulty lies in knowing for sure if "uma boa pegada" here denotes (i) an encounter, (ii) a person with whom one has an encounter, or (iii) the initial spark of erotic attraction.
If (iii), then I suggest "spark", or simply "attraction". "Uma boa pegada" > "a strong attraction".
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2024-01-19 09:28:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I've now read the article (should've done that last night).
It could in fact be translated as "touch", but in a wider, figurative sense that is close to "appoach/style/manner" and possibly similar to the Portuguese "jeito"; since what's evoked here is a blend of many factors: "touch" (manner of touching somebody", "regard" (both way of looking at, and attitude towards), "approach" (manner of interacting with another person).
It's NOT "touch" in the one sense of "touching", making physical contact. So, maybe best to reject this translation in order to avoid ambiguity.
In a slightly colder register, "technique" has been very often employed in English to refer to the above-mentioned blend of physical, gestural, psychological and social attributes.
Note from asker:
| Thank you. As I understand it, "pegada" leans more on the side of physical touch. "Pegar" (lit. "catch", "pick up", "hold" etc.) It's not a spark, since it's not a physical/erotic "attraction". "Spark" translates as "atração". A "pegada" can be good or bad. Check out for more context on the DB. |
15 hrs
Nick Taylor
Native in English
Portuguese to English, English to Portug
Native in: English 
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese
Related KudoZ points
:
121
a certain allure
a certain allure
17 hrs
Fernanda Lorenzo
Brazil
Brazil
Native in Portuguese
Brazil
Veterinary and pharmaceutical specialist
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Spanish to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, and 3 more.
oomph
Encontrei o termo "oomph", que creio não ser tão específico quanto "pegada", mas acho que poderia ser usado no contexto que você apresentou. Veja abaixo algumas definições para esse termo e exemplos de frases:
- sex appeal
- vigor
- energy
- vitality
- enthusiasm
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/oomp...
"How can I add a bit of OOMPH in my Relationship?"
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/oomp...
"How to oomph your relationship in an emoji culture in 2 quick steps:"
https://medium.com/@rotemregev/how-to-oomph-your-relationshi...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 horas (2024-01-19 17:56:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Segue a referência para a primeira frase (incluí o link errado): https://solacecounsellingservices.com.au/how-can-i-add-a-bit...
- sex appeal
- vigor
- energy
- vitality
- enthusiasm
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/oomp...
"How can I add a bit of OOMPH in my Relationship?"
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/oomp...
"How to oomph your relationship in an emoji culture in 2 quick steps:"
https://medium.com/@rotemregev/how-to-oomph-your-relationshi...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 horas (2024-01-19 17:56:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Segue a referência para a primeira frase (incluí o link errado): https://solacecounsellingservices.com.au/how-can-i-add-a-bit...
Note from asker:
| Obrigado. Como você distinguiria "boa pegada" e "pegada ruim" usando o termo sugerido? Segundo o Sexis-Lexis, "oomph" é o mesmo que "sex-appeal" e o grau de atratividade depende do número de letra m. Ex. "oomph" indica menos atração que "oommmph". Sex-appeal faz sentido para os contextos que você apresentou: "Como posso adicionar sex-appeal ao meu relacionamento", Nesta outra, "dar um tchan" parece combinar: "Como dar um tchan no relacionamento em uma cultura dos emojis..." A meu ver, "oomph" não tem a conotação de contato físico e penso que isso é extremamente importante. Veja meu comentário no painel de discussões. |
| Correção: depende do número de letras m. |
1 day 19 hrs
Yuri Toledo
Brazil
Brazil
Native in Portuguese
Brazil
11 years in finance
Native in: Portuguese (Variants: Brazilian, European/Portugal)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Portuguese, and 1 more.
good mojo [for romance]
I think the idea behind "pegada" is having a personal approach to a very subjective concept which ensures the success of the interaction with a potential partner. I frankly do not think it can be specifically narrowed down to either physical or psychological aspects. The article itself hints at this: "[...] encaixe entre mãos, boca, corpo, personalidade e afins..."
With "mojo", you can use the adjectives "good"/"bad". It's also informal/slang, just as intended.
Now, I reckon that "mojo" has different meanings for different contexts. So, you might want to append it with something such as "for romance" for the sake of comprehension.
With "mojo", you can use the adjectives "good"/"bad". It's also informal/slang, just as intended.
Now, I reckon that "mojo" has different meanings for different contexts. So, you might want to append it with something such as "for romance" for the sake of comprehension.
Reference:
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/mojo
https://www.reddit.com/r/seduction/comments/18z0mcx/slowly_getting_my_mojo_back_after_a_nye_event/
Note from asker:
| Thank you, but I don't believe it's a good match. "Mojo" is an informal word for "magic charm/power/spell" (Oxford). It does not have a connotation of physical contact as "pegada" does. It's more in line with "allure", "seduction" etc. I decided to stick with "a man's good touch". |
Reference comments
20 mins
Reference:
v.
an alluring charm
alluring - sedutor, tentador, que atrai - https://enpt.dict.cc/?s=alluring
Uma metáfora à volta da palavra pegada será precsamente sedutor, tentador, atraete porque, tal como a pegada marca o chão, a alluring charm marca os sentimentos.
Em a good touch temos a mesma ideia, só que com menos intensidada. Metaforicamente não chega a ser pegada
Ficar-me-ia por alluring charm
alluring - sedutor, tentador, que atrai - https://enpt.dict.cc/?s=alluring
Uma metáfora à volta da palavra pegada será precsamente sedutor, tentador, atraete porque, tal como a pegada marca o chão, a alluring charm marca os sentimentos.
Em a good touch temos a mesma ideia, só que com menos intensidada. Metaforicamente não chega a ser pegada
Ficar-me-ia por alluring charm
Note from asker:
| Thank you. That's the same translation I mentioned in my question. It does not sound like a good match. I'm replying in EN because this question was directed to English speakers. |
Discussion
"A [man's] good touch should have a hint of romanticism and a dash of playfulness." (Cecarello apud Atouguia, 2011, my translation).
"A good touch is anything that you and your partner consent to and enjoy, and a bad touch is anything that you and your partner do not consent to and enjoy." (Seymour-Johnson). (Uma boa pegada é qualquer coisa que você e seu parceiro consentem e apreciam, e uma pegada ruim é qualquer coisa que você e seu parceiro não consentem e desfrutam.)
"The eyes are two saucers filled with every
forlorn woman’s last meal: roasted
chicken & a good Bordeaux & how
the heart is found in the neck’s thick artery, ready
for a man’s good touch."
– Montilla, 2020
Os olhos são dois pires cheios da última refeição
De toda mulher abandonada: frango
assado e um bom vinho e como
o coração é encontrado na artéria espessa do pescoço, pronto
para a boa pegada de um homem.
– Montilla, 2020, trad. própria
After all, "good touch" might be the way to go, since none of the translations presented seem to be a good match from a semantic point of view.
Thank you all.
Quanto a "technique", parece-me muito genérico e também inadequado para este contexto. Como os demais, technique não é um termo informal e pode ser aplicado a muitas situações.
pegada: "alguma qualidade excepcional que um homem possui ao beijar/transar com alguém." (Dicionário inFormal)
Todos hão de concordar que beijo e transa envovem contato físico. O artigo citado por Phil mostra claramente uma correlação entre "pegada" e "touch" (minha opção favorita, a menos que surja algo mais convincente).
Copy-pasting this in here, because I was probably wrong to just add it to last night's answer:
I've now read the article (should've done that last night).
It could in fact be translated as "touch", but in a wider, figurative sense that is close to "appoach/style/manner" and possibly similar to the Portuguese "jeito"; since what's evoked here is a blend of many factors: "touch" (manner of touching somebody", "regard" (both way of looking at, and attitude towards), "approach" (manner of interacting with another person).
It's NOT "touch" in the one sense of "touching", making physical contact. So, maybe best to reject this translation in order to avoid ambiguity.
In a slightly colder register, "technique" has been very often employed in English to refer to the above-mentioned blend of physical, gestural, psychological and social attributes.
PT: "... [os caras] ficam conversando um tempão e depois de uma hora de conversa tentam pegar a garota, só que aí a garota perdeu todo o interesse."
EN: "They’ve met and stay a long time talking and after an hour goes by that’s when he tries to touch or kiss her only to find out that she’s lost interest."
This correlation confirms my initial hunch. Please feel free to enter "touch" as a viable translation. That's what I'm going with, unless something better comes up. Thank you.
que tal um bom curtir:
i. é uma boa troca de carícias sexuais?
curtir
verbo transitivo e intransitivo
9. [Informal] Trocar carícias sexuais.
"curtir", in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa [em linha], 2008-2024, https://dicionario.priberam.org/curtir.
http://eyesonbrazil.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/defining-the-pe...
'Sexual confidence' might be a good approximation. And we've had this question before, but I don't think the answers were that good.
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/portuguese-to-english/slang/430511...
Boa pegada e pegada ruim?
"Pegada ruim e beijo treme-língua NINGUÉM MERECE!"
"Fiquei com um médico sarado na savassi agora...cara com corpo gostoso mas pegada ruim...parece ser com pressa, beijo duro, pegava forte no braço...por mais q o cara seja gostoso... se não tem química, o sexo fica insatisfatório.." (Twitter)
gostoso: hot