Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
unidades federativas
English translation:
States
Added to glossary by
Alene Alder-Rangel
Feb 3, 2023 11:54
1 yr ago
39 viewers *
Portuguese term
Brazil
Editing/translation of science articles
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: English, Portuguese to English
unidades federativas
Portuguese to English
Other
Government / Politics
Would you translate “unidades federativas” as “states” or “federative units”. While the later translation is more exact, it requires the reader to have much more knowledge about Brazil and in a work that is not specifically about the government but instead about public program, I’m tempted to use “state” instead.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +7 | States |
Ana Elisa Igel
|
| 5 +1 | States, territories and federal districts |
Mario Freitas
|
| 4 +1 | federal entities |
Nick Taylor
|
References
| Question already answered before |
Seth Phillips
|
Proposed translations
+7
3 mins
Ana Elisa Igel
Brazil
Brazil
Native in Portuguese
&
English
Works in field
Brazil
Experienced EN-PT Translator
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
, Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
States
As the translation is not for Government offices, I would go for states. Bear in mind that you are making understanding easier for the reader, so "less is more". Keep it simple if you can!
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you for your help. "
+1
4 hrs
Nick Taylor
Native in English
Portuguese to English, English to Portug
Native in: English
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese
Related KudoZ points
:
48
+1
1 day 4 hrs
Mario Freitas
Brazil
Brazil
Native in Portuguese
&
English
Works in field
Brazil
32 years engineering/law/contracts
Native in: English (Variant: US) , Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
120
States, territories and federal districts
Using only "states" would not be correct. The difference between "estados" and "unidades de federação" in Brazil is precisely that states do not include the Distrito Federal and territories like Fernando de Noronha, and "unidades da federação" includes all of them. If you use "states" and there is an occurrence of "estados" in the same document, it would cause confusion and be incorrect.
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Note added at 1 day 4 hrs (2023-02-04 16:24:10 GMT)
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Example: in the USA "estados" would not include the District of Columbia or the American terrirories in the Pacific. "Unidades da Federação" would.
Example: in Canada "estados" would not include the Northern Territories, bur "Unidades da Ferderação" would.
Further, in other countries where there are provinces instead of states, the term would be inaccurate, and "províncias" would not include the territories and federal districts.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 4 hrs (2023-02-04 16:24:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Example: in the USA "estados" would not include the District of Columbia or the American terrirories in the Pacific. "Unidades da Federação" would.
Example: in Canada "estados" would not include the Northern Territories, bur "Unidades da Ferderação" would.
Further, in other countries where there are provinces instead of states, the term would be inaccurate, and "províncias" would not include the territories and federal districts.
Reference comments
8 mins
Seth Phillips
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
M.S. Leg/Fin Translator - 12 yrs - MemoQ
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US, British)
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, French to English, and 2 more.
Reference:
Question already answered before
State would be accurate and clear for the EN audience. Federative unit would not be understood nor does it make sense. Mexico’s states are also called “entidades federativas” too
https://www.proz.com/kudoz/portuguese-to-english/other/42881...
https://www.proz.com/kudoz/portuguese-to-english/other/42881...
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
philgoddard
1 hr
|
| agree |
William Bowley
: Agree, although the suggested answers on that link are horrendous
3 hrs
|
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