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  3. Medical: Health Care

pai de santo

English translation: Spiritual Healer

01:57 Jun 26, 2011
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Medical - Medical: Health Care / Community health care - B
Portuguese term or phrase: pai de santo
This is a report on activities aimed at reducing child mortality.

"Treinamos como cuidadores em saúde a ESF [=Estratégia de Saúde da Família], as parteiras tradicionais, benzedeiras, pajés, **pais de santo**, pastores, gestantes, líderes comunitários, e Cuidadores Solidários (170) e Anjos da Guarda (34)."

I need a word that isn't 'faith healer' or 'shaman'. So far, I have:

...traditional birth attendants, faith healers, shamans, **pais de santo** shepherds, pregnant women, community leaders, and Cuidadores Solidários (Health Care Partners) as well as 35 Anjos de Guarda (Guardian Angels).
Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 12:36
English translation:Spiritual Healer
Explanation:
Even though Mary's translation is the one that makes most sense, my grandfather was a Pai de Santo, so I know for a fact that what he did had nothing to do with shammanist, voodoo or being an actual priest.
The point about his blessings was the ask the Saints to the injured and the sick that came to visit him. The difference betwen a Pai de Santo and a shamman are the entities that are requested for aid.
Selected response from:

Fernando Okabe Biazibeti
Brazil
Local time: 16:36
Grading comment
Thanks again!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3(Brazilian) Voodoo Priest
Mary Palmer
5Spiritual Healer
Fernando Okabe Biazibeti
4candomblé priest
Georgia Morg (X)
3Umbanda priest
Volker Lohaus
4 -1witch doctor
Nick Taylor
3healer
NUNO BARBOSA
1diviner / herbalist / male priest / medium / psychic / religious leader
andres-larsen


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Umbanda priest


Explanation:
The "pai de santo" is the person in charge of a "terreiro", kind of a "temple", where the Umbanda rites take place

Volker Lohaus
Switzerland
Local time: 21:36
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese, Native in GermanGerman
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
diviner / herbalist / male priest / medium / psychic / religious leader


Explanation:
diviner / herbalist / male priest / medium / psychic / religious leader

sources:


Pai-de-santo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Pai-de-santo Antonio de Obaluaye in a Candomble ceremony. A Pai-de-santo is a male priest in Umbanda, Candomblé and other African-Brazilian religions. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pai-de-santo -

Umbanda - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - They also often prescribe herbal remedies. The female counterpart of this spirit is .... The leader could be male or female, pai-de-santo or mãe-de-santo, ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbanda -

Babalawo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Babalawo (Babaaláwo in full and pronounced Baba-a-láwo, literally meaning ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalawo -


andres-larsen
Venezuela
Local time: 15:36
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
witch doctor


Explanation:
witch doctor

Nick Taylor
Local time: 20:36
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 21

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Douglas Bissell: which doctor?
8 mins
  -> that one!
disagree  Volker Lohaus: a pai de santo is not a witch doctor, as he is neither a witch nor a doctor
41 mins
  -> what ever!
disagree  Cressida Evans: This is a misreading of the term with colonial roots which have historically rienforced the stereotype of African exoticism in recent years.
3435 days
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
(Brazilian) Voodoo Priest


Explanation:
That's how I would translate it. I hope it helps ;)

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Note added at 8 mins (2011-06-26 02:06:34 GMT)
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http://en.bab.la/dictionary/portuguese-english/pai-de-santo

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 29 mins (2011-06-26 02:27:31 GMT)
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http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/americas/08/25/religion.b...

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Note added at 13 hrs (2011-06-26 15:04:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Here's another reference:

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/20/world/pierre-verger-93-pho...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2011-06-26 15:09:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Read this below and you will understand what "Voodoo" means:

"Voodoo is practised as a religion in a number of countries around the world. In Brazil, it is called Candomble, and in the Caribbean, it is called Obeah. In 2003, the government of Haiti sanctioned Voodoo as an official religion. Believers can now be baptized and married within the religion."

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-voodoo.htm

Mary Palmer
United States
Local time: 16:36
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Volker Lohaus: pai de santo is linked to Umbanda or Cambomblé, nothing to do with Vodoo
7 mins
  -> Well, you have to consider that no one knows what 'Umbanda" means in the US or UK and see the reference above.
agree  Douglas Bissell: Voodoo covers a multitude of moronic ideas so for most people this answer transmits the meaning
10 hrs
  -> Yes, exactly. And if you say "Umbanda Priest" people will have no idea what it means. Thanks Douglas!
agree  connie leite
12 hrs
  -> Thanks Connie, enjoy your Sunday!
agree  airmailrpl: -
14 hrs
  -> Thanks airmailrpl! Enjoy your Sunday!
agree  Margarida Ataide
19 hrs
  -> Thanks a lot!
agree  Fernando Okabe Biazibeti: My grandfather was a "pai de santo", so I can confirm this one is correct.
20 hrs
  -> Thanks Fernando!
disagree  Cressida Evans: Voodoo is not an Afro-Brazilian religion
3435 days
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
candomblé priest


Explanation:
I think this is better than umbanda or voodoo

Georgia Morg (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:36
Native speaker of: English
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
healer


Explanation:
Tradução de curandeiro.

NUNO BARBOSA
Local time: 20:36
Native speaker of: Portuguese
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20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Spiritual Healer


Explanation:
Even though Mary's translation is the one that makes most sense, my grandfather was a Pai de Santo, so I know for a fact that what he did had nothing to do with shammanist, voodoo or being an actual priest.
The point about his blessings was the ask the Saints to the injured and the sick that came to visit him. The difference betwen a Pai de Santo and a shamman are the entities that are requested for aid.


    Reference: http://www.spiritualhealer.org.uk/
    Reference: http://www.janeterickson.com/spiritual-healing-blog/
Fernando Okabe Biazibeti
Brazil
Local time: 16:36
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks again!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks so much for your input, Fernando. I really appreciate it.

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