capangas

English translation: henchmen

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:capangas
English translation:henchmen
Entered by: Mary Palmer

18:32 Jul 17, 2010
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
History
Portuguese term or phrase: capangas
Boa tarde! Alguém poderia me informar por gentileza o que seria "capangas" em inglês?

Obrigada!


Se eram poucos os que podiam votar, menos ainda eram os que de fato votavam. Nas eleições presidenciais de 1910, uma das poucas em que houve competição, disputando Rui Barbosa contra o marechal Hermes da Fonseca, a abstenção foi de 40%. Os votantes representaram apenas 2,7% da população. No Rio de Janeiro, capital da República, onde 20% da população estava apta a votar, compareceu às urnas menos de 1%. Votar na capital era até mesmo perigoso devido à ação dos **capangas** a serviço dos candidatos. Quem tinha juízo ficava em casa. Como disse Lima Barreto de sua República dos Bruzundangas: “[Os políticos] tinham conseguido quase totalmente eliminar do aparelho eleitoral este elemento perturbador – o voto”. A eliminação do voto completava-se com a fraude. Ninguém podia ter certeza de que seu voto seria contado a favor do candidato certo.
Mary Palmer
United States
Local time: 07:31
henchmen
Explanation:
.............
Hired thugs
Selected response from:

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 04:31
Grading comment
Thanks Verginia!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5henchmen
Verginia Ophof
4 +2thugs, hired gunmen, hoods, gangsters
Salvador Scofano and Gry Midttun
4 +1thugs, hitmen, gunmen
Marlene Curtis
4Goons
José Helbert
4hired bullies
Silvia Aquino
4ruffians
Paul Dixon


  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Goons


Explanation:
Boa sorte!

José Helbert
Brazil
Local time: 07:31
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese, Native in EnglishEnglish
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
henchmen


Explanation:
.............
Hired thugs


Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 04:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 15
Grading comment
Thanks Verginia!!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Amy Duncan (X)
2 hrs
  -> Thank you Amy !!

agree  Marlene Curtis: Also a good choice!
2 hrs
  -> Thank you Marlene !

agree  Paula Borges
4 hrs
  -> Obrigada Paula !

agree  Francis Aubert: Perhaps the best choice
6 hrs
  -> Thank you Francis !

agree  Carlos Quandt
20 hrs
  -> Thanks Quandt !!
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
thugs, hired gunmen, hoods, gangsters


Explanation:
CAPANGA o ca panga (from Kimb. ) (colloq.) the thug, hired gunman, hood, gangster

Salvador Scofano and Gry Midttun
Norway
Local time: 12:31
Native speaker of: Native in NorwegianNorwegian, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Paulo Horsky
1 hr
  -> Obrigado

agree  airmailrpl: thugs
12 hrs
  -> Obrigado
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
hired bullies


Explanation:
sugestão

Silvia Aquino
Brazil
Local time: 07:31
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
thugs, hitmen, gunmen


Explanation:


Either

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 25 mins (2010-07-17 18:57:32 GMT)
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OR

gangsters

Marlene Curtis
United States
Local time: 06:31
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 96

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  airmailrpl: thugs
12 hrs
  -> Thanks!
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
ruffians


Explanation:
TAYLOR, James L - Portuguese-English dictionary, page 131

Paul Dixon
Brazil
Local time: 07:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
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