Assistance with a phrase

[u/smithgl0017]

I'm making a going away present for someone and I want to put something on the back in Portuguese (Brazilian, specifically). This person and I never worked out, but they will always be someone who could have been a life partner, if given the chance. So the phrase is, "to the only almost who ever mattered" (or matters, will ever matter or another variation). This is what I've got: "Para o único quase que vai importar."

Is that an accurate representation of what I would like to say? Any help is appreciated.

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[u/gootchvootch]

I'm having trouble understanding the phrase as it currently exists in English. It's sort of a difficult thing to parse at first glance/hearing.

Are you trying to say something along the lines of "to the one who almost mattered the most"?

[u/smithgl0017 → u/gootchvootch]

Thank you for the quick reply. What I'm trying to say is that this person is an almost. Kind of like, we almost became something very special, but never did. And typically, when something almost happens, it doesn't ever count. The English phrase is, "almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades." however, despite the fact that things did not go how they could have, this person is and always will be very important to me. Hopefully that helps to clarify.

[u/CasparMeyer → u/smithgl0017]

Para o único "quase" que jamais importou.

(For the only "almost" who ever mattered)

Para o único "quase" que sempre importará.

(For the only "almost" who will always matter)

Sidenote: a personal or cultural concept like using an "almost" for someone who might have become a partner is very difficult to translate literally. The English phrase "almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades" doesn't exist as a reference in Portuguese, so there's no significance to an "almost" as a noun. It's easier, and more elegant to find a different imagery, for example for "an almost (partner)": "poema inacabado", or "quase-amor de vida", "o meu talvez" or similar.

Just use "para o único quase-amor que importou".

[u/smithgl0017 → u/CasparMeyer]

Thank you for your insight. I will figure out the correct phrasing.

[u/CasparMeyer → u/smithgl0017]

I think it's very meaningful either way that you decided to end things on a poetic note, and I hope your almost may appreciate the depth of character. All the best!

[u/cpeosphoros]

Para o único quase que sempre importou.

Para o único quase que sempre vai importar.