Two Brothers Mountain in Rio de Janeiro (Watercolor by Elena Como)

It was: “Se é para o bem de todos e felicidade geral da Nação, estou pronto! Digam ao povo que fico.” (If it is for the well-being of all and the general happiness of our Nation, I am ready! Tell the people that I stay.) These words were spoken by the heir to the Portuguese throne and interim ruler of Brazil, D. Pedro de Alcântara on January 9th, 1822. The statement indicated that he would disobey the orders of The Portuguese Court to immediately return to Portugal. The Brazilian people wanted him to stay in Brazil, and that is what he did. D. Pedro stayed in Brazil, and after this famous speech, in the same year of 1822 Brazil became an empire. It was no longer a colony of Portugal. Brazil declared its independence on September 7, 1822. There was no revolution or war for independence, as Portugal was too weakened by the aftermath of Napolean to dispute Brazil’s independence. In Brazil, January 9th is known as: ‘O Dia do Fico’ – The ‘I Stay Day.’

Bate-Papo em Nova Iorque

–>You can quote this sentence when you are leaving a party, for example, if your friends want you to stay. Make it shorter by saying: “Se é para o bem de todos, diga ao povo que fico.” (If it is for the good of the people, I will stay.)

This Language Tip was brought to you by Lidiani de Andrade, the Director of Education and a Portuguese teacher at Brazil Station.