How to Say "The Sign of the Cross" in Portuguese

o sinal da cruz

The English phrase "the sign of the cross" is translated into Portuguese as o sinal da cruz.

To express the action of performing the gesture, you use the verb fazer (to make or do), resulting in the phrase fazer o sinal da cruz.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of o (the), sinal (sign), da (of the, a contraction of de and a) and cruz (cross).

While the gesture is religious, fazer o sinal da cruz is sometimes used colloquially in Portuguese to describe a feeling of deep dread or a desperate plea for protection in a scary situation.
The word cruz shares the same Proto-Indo-European root as the English word 'curve', because both concepts involve the idea of bending or turning.
In some traditional Portuguese folk beliefs, making o sinal da cruz over food or a drink is a common way to bless the meal before eating.

Em nome do Pai
In the name of the Father
e do Filho
And of the Son
e do Espírito Santo
And of the Holy Spirit
Em nome do Pai, e do Filho, e do Espírito Santo, Amém.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Ele fez o sinal da cruz antes de comer.
He made the sign of the cross before eating.
Ele fez o sinal da cruz.
He made the sign of the cross.
Antes de comer, eu faço o sinal da cruz.
Before eating, I make the sign of the cross.
Ela sempre faz o sinal da cruz ao entrar na igreja.
She always makes the sign of the cross when entering the church.

Gabriel and Beatriz are visiting a cathedral.

Gabriel

Beatriz, você viu as pessoas fazendo o sinal da cruz?
Beatriz, did you see the people making the sign of the cross?
Beatriz

Sim, Gabriel. É um costume comum aqui.
Yes, Gabriel. It is a common custom here.
Gabriel

Eu também quero fazer o sinal da cruz agora.
I want to make the sign of the cross now too.
Beatriz

Tudo bem, podemos fazer isso juntos.
That's fine, we can do it together.

Sources

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