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20:17 Apr 19, 2011
Portuguese to English translations [PRO] Nutrition
Portuguese term or phrase:lanche
Como snacks de chocolate geralmente a meio da tarde antes do lanche e depois do almoço.
There was a recent discussion about tea vs. snack in the Spanish-English section that went on forEVER. Everything that could possibly be said on that subject has been said. I don't have the link off-hand, but it's worth a look.
I just finished a 5,000-word translation of a medical journal article by Brazilian authors that includes dietary guidelines for a medical condition. The authors use "lanches" in the plural and for both morning AND afternoon. I translated it as 'snack(s)'. It occurred in tables and running text. Here are a couple of examples from running text:
(1) ...assim como os produtos processados que contêm óleo ou gordura
como panquecas, wafles e **lanches matinais**...
(2) - Desjejum: café, leite, pão e um alimento fonte de vitamina
K (margarina em média quantidade);
- Almoço: fontes como um pires (chá) de folhas cruas (não utilizando óleo ou gorduras como tempero), arroz, feijão, uma porção de carne não frita e uma sobremesa;
- **Lanches intermediários**: sem nenhum alimento fonte de vitamina K;
- Jantar: o mesmo que o almoço, podendo alterar a salada para um legume cru e consumir um alimento fonte em pequena quantidade (1/2 pires de brócolis cozido)
(3) Evitar a substituição de refeições como almoço e jantar, por **lanches** e petiscos
Very interesting article about "tea", as a meal (five 0'clock tea and high tea) and on how the term "have tea" evolved over the years. I raised my boys in England and tea was always eaten before supper, at 6 0'clock and was a complete meal (including meat and vegetables). Adults usually have a 5 0'clock cup of tea with scones, and sandwiches, which is not considered to be a "snack". http://www.literary-liaisons.com/article005.html
As this seems to be an "important afternoon meal", snack seems a bit too 'ligeira". I still maintain that "tea", as in English afternoon tea, is the best real translation
From the single sentence supplied, it appears that 'lanche' may well be the final meal of the day. For a lot of people it is. If there is any more information on this, it would be worth adding.
Below, the origin of the word "lanche" (imported from luncheon). In Brazil it usually refers to a small meal eaten in the afternoon, between the "almoço" and "jantar".
My big unabridged Aurelio dictionary says: [Do ingl. lunch' almoco'] S.m. 1. Merenda (1). 2. P. ext. Refeicao pequena.
(Sorry about the accents)
As I noted to Marlene, this is a perfect example of how a borrowed word gets used differently in its new language.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +7