regular allowance

[/ˈreɡjələr əˈlaʊəns/]
nounpl: regular allowances
mesada
1. A fixed sum of money given periodically, typically weekly or monthly, to a person (usually a child or dependent) for their personal expenses
The parents gave their teenage son a regular allowance of $50 per week for lunch and entertainment.
Os pais deram ao filho adolescente uma mesada de R$100 por semana para lanches e diversão.
2. A periodic financial provision or stipend granted by an organization or institution
Military personnel receive a regular allowance to cover housing and subsistence costs.
O pessoal militar recebe uma mesada regular para cobrir despesas de moradia e subsistência.
3. An amount of money set aside and distributed at fixed intervals as part of wages or benefits
Employees on assignment abroad receive a regular allowance to offset cost-of-living differences.
Funcionários em missão no exterior recebem uma mesada regular para compensar as diferenças do custo de vida.
In Brazil, 'mesada' is deeply embedded in family culture, representing a common practice for teaching children financial responsibility. It's typically associated with children and teenagers, though the term extends to institutional contexts. In the USA, 'allowance' is similarly used to teach money management to youth. The practice reflects different educational philosophies about financial literacy across cultures.
NYC Slang
allowance / weekly / monthly payment
Synonyms / Sinônimos
periodic allowancefixed stipendpocket moneyregular paymentmonthly stipend
Antonyms / Antônimos
one-time paymentlump sumirregular allowancesporadic payment

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
mesada
Most common and standard term across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
mesada
Same as general Brazilian usage
São Paulo
mesada
Same as general Brazilian usage; sometimes 'subsídio mensal' in formal contexts
Portugal
subsídio regular
Portuguese preference for 'subsídio' over 'mesada' in formal/institutional contexts

Related Words

allowancestipendsubsidycompensationsalarywagespocket moneygrant

Related Idioms & Phrases

earn one's keep
make ends meet
tight budget
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