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Get to know the lyrics to Portugal's national anthem 'A Portuguesa'

22 June 2024 , 16:55
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See what the British had to do with the song
See what the British had to do with the song's conception

PORTUGAL'S national anthem is a marching song which was adopted by the country's new Republic in 1911.

And you can guarantee that it will be proudly belted out before every match they play in Euro 2024.

Portugal players singing their national anthem prior to kicking off their Euro 2024 group stage match against Turkey eiqehiqkdiqkzprw
Portugal players singing their national anthem prior to kicking off their Euro 2024 group stage match against TurkeyCredit: Getty

What are the lyrics to Portugal's national anthem “A Portuguesa”?

Verse 1
Heróis
do mar, nobre povo,
Naçao valente, imortal,
Levantai hoje de novo
Os esplendor de Portugal
Entre as brumas da memória.
Ó Pátria sente-se a voz
Dos teus egrégios avós
Que há-de guiar-te à vitória.

Chorus:
Às armas! Às armas!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar!
Às armas! Às armas!
Pela Pátria lutar!
Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!

Verse 2
Desfralda a invicta bandeira
À luz viva do teu céu
Brade à Europa à terra inteira
Portugal não pereceu!
Beija o solo teu jucundo
O oceano a rujir d’amor;
E o teu braço vencedor
Deu mundos novos ao mundo!

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Chorus:
Às armas! Às armas!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar!
Às armas! Às armas!
Pela Pátria lutar!
Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!

Verse 3
Saudai o sol que desponta
Sobre um ridente porvir;
Seja o eco d’uma afronta
O sinal de ressurgir.
Ráios d’essa aurora forte
São como beijos de mãe
Que nos guardam, nos sustêm,
Contra as injúrias da sorte

Chorus:
Às armas! Às armas!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar!
Às armas! Às armas!
Pela Pátria lutar!
Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!

Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Costa, Pepe and Ruben Dias proudly singing their anthem
Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Costa, Pepe and Ruben Dias proudly singing their anthemCredit: Getty

What are the lyrics to Portugal's national anthem in English?

Verse 1
Heroes of the sea, noble race,
Valiant and immortal nation,
Rise up once again
The splendor of Portugal.
Out of the mists of memory,
Oh Homeland, we hear the voices
Of your great forefathers
That shall lead you on to victory!

Chorus:
To arms, to arms
On land and sea!
To arms, to arms
To fight for our Homeland!
To march against the enemy guns!

Verse 2
Unfurl the unconquerable flag
In the bright light of your sky!
Cry out all Europe and the world
That Portugal has not perished.
Your happy land is kissed
By the Ocean that murmurs with love.
And your conquering arm
Has given new worlds to the world!

Chorus:
To arms, to arms
On land and sea!
To arms, to arms
To fight for our Homeland!
To march against the enemy guns!

Verse 3
Salute the Sun that rises
On a smiling future:
Let the echo of an insult be
The signal for our revival.
The rays of that powerful dawn
Are like a mother’s kisses
That protect us and support us
Against the insults of fate.

Chorus:
To arms, to arms
On land and sea!
To arms, to arms
To fight for our Homeland!
To march against the enemy guns!

Who composed the Portuguese national anthem?

In 1890, the British gave the Portuguese an ultimatum about its African colonies, igniting the Portuguese nationalist movement.

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When the news broke that Portugal's monarch and government had agreed to Britain's terms, composer Alfredo Keil furiously put pen to paper.

A patriotic protest march was the result, and this is where the music for ‘A Portuguese’ came from.

Who is the lyricist to the Portuguese national anthem?

The lyrics of ‘A Portugese’ were written by Henrique Lopes de Mendonça.

He was a Portuguese poet, writer and naval officer.

Henrique was friends with the composer Alfredo Keil, who wrote the anthem’s music.

Ben Kelly

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