mendigos
1. People who ask for money or food, typically because they are poor or homeless
The beggars on the street corner asked passersby for spare change.
Os mendigos na esquina pediam trocados aos transeuntes.
2. People who make requests or pleas, often desperately
The beggars for mercy fell on their knees.
Os que suplicavam por misericórdia caíram de joelhos.
3. Used in the phrase 'beggars can't be choosers' meaning those in need must accept what is offered
When you're hungry, beggars can't be choosers.
Quando você está faminto, não pode ser exigente.
In both Brazilian and American English contexts, 'beggars' is a formal term often used in social discussions about poverty and homelessness. In Brazil, the term 'mendigos' carries similar weight, though urban slang may use 'pede-pede' informally. The phrase 'beggars can't be choosers' is universally understood in English-speaking cultures and has equivalents in Portuguese discourse.
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