Are you behaving well or badly? (Te portas bien o mal) 5 minutes of Spanihs + Podcast (Engiish version)

  

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Welcome to episode 229 of this podcast, and thank you very much for being here reflecting on Spanish, a language we love and which brings us together today.

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What's today's topic?

As always, we're going to behave ourselves and use an expression that's easy to understand and fun.

We're going to behave very well, it seems to me….

A student told me the other day; I've heard the expressions "comportarse bien" (to behave well) or "comportarse mal" (to behave badly) many times, but I don't quite understand what they mean.

Is it the same as "comportarse" (to behave well), right?

 

Yes, it's similar. "Comportarse bien" (to behave well) means to act correctly, politely, or appropriately in a situation.

"Comportarse mal" (to behave badly) is to do the opposite, to act incorrectly or inappropriately.

And why do we say "comportarse" (to behave very well)? Where does it come from?

 

The verb "portar" means "to carry" or "to carry something." When used as "portarse," it changes its meaning and refers to the way a person acts (to behave).

Children must behave well at school.

If you misbehave, we won't go to the movies.

Eduardo, how did you behave at school when you were a child?

Very well, of course.

 

Um, I don't think always.

Entonces, ¿portarse bien significa “llevarse bien” con los demás? So, does behaving well mean “getting along” with others?

Not exactly. Getting along involves having a good relationship with another person (llevarse bien / mal), while portarse bien refers to general behavior.

It's common to hear parents say, "Behave yourself," to a small child.

Yes... although it's not always clear to a child... Same for dog owners...

It's a good exercise to practice Spanish if you're in Mexico to go to a plaza and listen to the commands we give to dogs.

You, who are listening, are behaving very well and practicing your listening comprehension of Spanish. Congratulations!

And if we refer to "portar" (portar), meaning "carry something"? How is it used? In what context?

Yes! For example, in logistics and commerce, there is freight transportation, which refers to moving products from one place to another.

El porte de las mercancías desde el puerto hasta la ciudad es caro.
(The transportation of goods from the port to the city is expensive.)

Also, exits “el porte de armas” (gun carrying), which refers to the right or permission to carry weapons.

En algunos países, el porte de armas está regulado por la ley.
(In some countries, carrying weapons is regulated by law.)

That makes more sense! And when someone says a person has good bearing, what does it mean?

Having good bearing means that a person has an elegant appearance, an upright posture, or a distinguished presence.

A pesar de su edad, tiene buen porte y camina con elegancia.
(Despite his age, he has good posture and walks elegantly.)

Having good bearing means that a person has an elegant appearance, straight posture, or a distinguished presence.

And you, did you know these expressions? Do you think we behaved well in this podcast?

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See you soon. / Nos vemos pronto

 Bye, bye.