Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
01:57 Jun 26, 2011
Portuguese to English translations [PRO] Medical - Medical: Health Care / Community health care - B
Portuguese term or phrase:pai de santo
This is a report on activities aimed at reducing child mortality.
"Treinamos como cuidadores em saúde a ESF [=Estratégia de Saúde da Família], as parteiras tradicionais, benzedeiras, pajés, **pais de santo**, pastores, gestantes, líderes comunitários, e Cuidadores Solidários (170) e Anjos da Guarda (34)."
I need a word that isn't 'faith healer' or 'shaman'. So far, I have:
...traditional birth attendants, faith healers, shamans, **pais de santo** shepherds, pregnant women, community leaders, and Cuidadores Solidários (Health Care Partners) as well as 35 Anjos de Guarda (Guardian Angels).
Explanation: Even though Mary's translation is the one that makes most sense, my grandfather was a Pai de Santo, so I know for a fact that what he did had nothing to do with shammanist, voodoo or being an actual priest.
The point about his blessings was the ask the Saints to the injured and the sick that came to visit him. The difference betwen a Pai de Santo and a shamman are the entities that are requested for aid.
Brais, a Yanomami believer, had the opportunity to speak at a conference of tribal leaders and witch doctors. Please pray for Yanomami believers to stand strong and faithful even as the culture around them seeks to build up the number of witch doctors in the area.
Don't know who your client or readers might be, but would 'candomble' or 'umbanda' priest be understandable to readers somewhat familiar with Brazil? I guess I have some doubts about using 'voodoo' or voudon in the context.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
14 mins confidence:
Umbanda priest
Explanation: The "pai de santo" is the person in charge of a "terreiro", kind of a "temple", where the Umbanda rites take place
Volker Lohaus Local time: 11:43 Native speaker of: Portuguese, German
diviner / herbalist / male priest / medium / psychic / religious leader
Explanation: diviner / herbalist / male priest / medium / psychic / religious leader
sources:
Pai-de-santo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Pai-de-santo Antonio de Obaluaye in a Candomble ceremony. A Pai-de-santo is a male priest in Umbanda, Candomblé and other African-Brazilian religions. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pai-de-santo -
Umbanda - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - They also often prescribe herbal remedies. The female counterpart of this spirit is .... The leader could be male or female, pai-de-santo or mãe-de-santo, ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbanda -
Babalawo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Babalawo (Babaaláwo in full and pronounced Baba-a-láwo, literally meaning ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalawo -
andres-larsen Venezuela Local time: 10:13 Native speaker of: English
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 13 hrs (2011-06-26 15:09:39 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Read this below and you will understand what "Voodoo" means:
"Voodoo is practised as a religion in a number of countries around the world. In Brazil, it is called Candomble, and in the Caribbean, it is called Obeah. In 2003, the government of Haiti sanctioned Voodoo as an official religion. Believers can now be baptized and married within the religion."
The translation workplace 
