Saudades

Sow-dad-esh (with sow pronounced like a female pig, not like throwing seeds). This means ‘miss you’ in Portuguese. I was with my friend Muheti at Macaneta beach near Maputo where it was relaxing to nap and drink beer on the sand, below the level of the strong winds.

Muheti reckons the Portuguese language doesn’t go in for saying things like ‘I am going to miss you’ as it can’t be known that someone will miss someone else. Instead, people say saudades when they find themselves missing someone.

I suppose there is some logic in that, but anyone who has ever heard Portuguese fado music or dated someone from southern Europe will know there are moments where mournful emotions are laid on pretty thick…