This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Portuguese to English
  3. Certificates, Diplomas, Licenses, CVs

bloco

English translation: bloco (don't translate)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:bloco
English translation:bloco (don't translate)
Entered by: Chris Bruton

01:38 Jun 5, 2008
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Certificates, Diplomas, Licenses, CVs
Portuguese term or phrase: bloco
Address in a birth certificate:

Rua Iturama, apt. 201, Bloco M.B. Martins . . .
Chris Bruton
United States
Local time: 09:44
bloco (don't translate)
Explanation:
I wouldn't translate it. I think it's best not to translate addresses at all, in fact, especially if they appear in an official document or may have to be used by the reader for practical purposes.

If we translate 'bloco', what else will we translate? Do we turn Rua Iturama into Iturama Street? Soon we'd find ourselves translating the Champs Elyssées as Heavenly Fields.

I never translate any part of an address, except possibly the city name (Lisboa to Lisbon, for example). It also has the advantage of avoiding the issue of what to call 'bloco' in this case.
Selected response from:

lexical
Spain
Local time: 16:44
Grading comment
Good advice. Thank you
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4block
Leniel Maccaferri
4 +3bloco (don't translate)
lexical


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
block


Explanation:
um bloco de casas = a block
um bloco de edifícios = a block of buildings.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 34 mins (2008-06-05 02:12:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

better stating: the apartment is a part of a building that is located in the block named M.B. Martins...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 42 mins (2008-06-05 02:21:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If the address is right I don't know... a search at the site http://www.correios.com.br/servicos/dnec/menuAction.do?Metod... may answer your question...

I did a search and I got the following result:

Logradouro: Travessa Iturama
Bairro: Martins
Localidade / UF: Uberlândia/MG
CEP: 38400-374

Leniel Maccaferri
Brazil
Local time: 11:44
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 18

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  R. Alex Jenkins: 'apartment 201' of a block of buildings? // can you verify that? // Agree - Bloco = Block
2 mins
  -> the apartment is a part of the block of buildings named M.B. Martins... Richard, I answered your question above...
agree  Fausto Machado Tiemann: In this case, it would be Block M, right? Cause Martins, as you´ve found out, is the neighborhood (B stands for Bairro)!
1 hr
  -> Yes Fausto, the block appears to be M and B for neighborhood = bairro in Portuguese.
agree  Andrea Munhoz
9 hrs
agree  Abigail Elvins
10 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
bloco (don't translate)


Explanation:
I wouldn't translate it. I think it's best not to translate addresses at all, in fact, especially if they appear in an official document or may have to be used by the reader for practical purposes.

If we translate 'bloco', what else will we translate? Do we turn Rua Iturama into Iturama Street? Soon we'd find ourselves translating the Champs Elyssées as Heavenly Fields.

I never translate any part of an address, except possibly the city name (Lisboa to Lisbon, for example). It also has the advantage of avoiding the issue of what to call 'bloco' in this case.

lexical
Spain
Local time: 16:44
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Good advice. Thank you

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marcos de Lima: couldn't agree more - heavenly fields indeed! teehee
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Marcos
agree  Fiona Gonçalves: Definitely leave it as it is. Agree with translating the city name if there is a recognised name for it in the target language, otherwise addresses are best left as they are for all the reasons lexical mentions.
22 hrs
  -> Thanks, Fiona
agree  Denise Monteiro de Souza (X): 100% agree. We should not translate addresses. If a letter is sent to that address it will be a brazilian postman who will read it and deliver it. So it should be written in portuguese.
4 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search