babá
1. a person, typically a woman, employed to care for a child or children in a household
The nanny picks up the children from school every afternoon.
A babá busca as crianças na escola toda tarde.
2. a female goat
The farmer's nanny goat produced excellent milk.
A cabra fêmea do fazendeiro produzia excelente leite.
3. a person or institution that provides excessive supervision or control (often used critically)
The government acts like a nanny state, controlling every aspect of our lives.
O governo age como um estado paternalista, controlando cada aspecto de nossas vidas.
In Brazil, 'babá' is the standard term for a childcare worker and is a common household profession. The role of a nanny varies by socioeconomic class, with some families employing live-in nannies. The term 'nanny state' reflects Anglo-American political discourse about government intervention and has gained usage in Portuguese through globalization and media influence.
Related Idioms & Phrases
nanny state - a government or institution perceived as being overly protective and controlling
to nanny someone - to treat someone in an overprotective or controlling manner
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