Portuguese is a Romance language closely related to Spanish, and even more closely related to Galician (in fact, many people consider that Galician and Portuguese are the same language). It is spoken mainly in Portugal and Brazil, with some differences in pronunciation, spelling, and use of pronouns. It is also spoken in Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé e Príncipe, Angola, Mozambique, East Timor, Macau and Goa, Daman and Diu, as the result of the Portuguese discoveries in the XV and XVI centuries. There are around 200 million Portuguese native speakers.

Most words have similarities to Spanish or sometimes French. (French has considerably more influence in Portuguese than in Spanish.) However, some people who know a little Spanish mistakenly conclude that it's close enough that it need not be studied separately. While they may be able to figure out the meaning of some signage, items on a menu, etc., understanding of verbal communication will be very low to nothing.

Alphabet

The Portuguese alphabet (alfabeto) has 26 letters ( 23 traditional, plus 3 foreign). Accented vowels, cedillas (see below), diphthongs, digraphs (including ch), etc. do not count separately. The full alphabet is a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z with additional characters á à â ã ç é ê í ó ô õ ú ü. By far, the most common diphthong is ão. The alphabet, when pronounced, is quite similar to Spanish: á bê cê dê é efe gê agá i jota ele eme ene ó pê quê erre esse tê u vê xis zê. The letters k (ká / kápa), w (vê duplo/duplo vê / dábliu/dâbliu), and y (ípsilon) are usually used only on words of foreign origin.

Grammar

Written vs. spoken

Especially in Brazil, spoken language can be very different from written language and official grammar, confusing non-native speakers. While slang (gíria) is common in Brazil and difficult to understand, it is generally not used around foreigners. Less educated people are likely to use slang a lot.

Gender, plurals, and adjectives

To avoid duplication, see the Grammar section in the Spanish Phrasebook. Just remember that in Portuguese la, las, and los drop the L, and el becomes o. Of course, any Spanish words used as examples could be different, but the rules are the same. However, Portuguese words ending in _ão are often, but not always, feminine, and their plurals must be memorized or looked up in a dictionary.

Pronouns for "You"

These can be a little confusing, especially for those transitioning from other Romance languages to Brazilian Portuguese. Originally, você (Spanish usted; French vous) and the plural vocês were the formal "you," while tu and the plural vós were the informal, with all four having separate sets of verbs endings. Today in Brazil, vós is almost never used, and tu used only in certain areas such as the Northeast (nordeste) and Rio Grande do Sul. Where it is used, it is often followed by the same verb endings as você. Thus, virtually all of Brazil does not use the verb endings for tu and vós (i.e. no 2nd person verbs), making the remaining four sets much easier to learn. However, most Brazilians do use the informal reflexive pronoun te (based on tu and the same word as Spanish and French). Since this eliminates much of the grammar-based formality, to be formal replace you with o senhor (oh sen-YOUR) for a man, a senhora (ah sen-YOUR-ah) for a woman, and a senhorita (ah sen-your-REE-tah) for a young unmarried lady. This can also be done just before their name (equivalent to Mr., Mrs., and Miss respectively), or it can be spoken by itself initially (with or without a name) in order to get someone's attention.

In Portugal, vós is rarely used anymore except in some isolated regions of the country. Tu is used with its own verb set, making você sound somewhat more formal than in many parts of Brazil. However, to be extra formal use o senhor, a senhora, and a senhorita. Short-term tourists could easily get by without learning the tu verbs, and they are not used in this Phrasebook. As an obvious foreigner, it's very unlikely any child will think you're being sarcastic if you use você in speaking to them. Also, Brazilian television programs are popular in Portugal, and the use of Brazilian Portuguese should not raise an eyebrow. However, the reverse is not true, and many Brazilians have trouble understanding European Portuguese (Luso).

Other Pronouns

In Brazil, it's very common (though technically incorrect) to use ele/a as the object pronoun for "it." Eu encontrei ele. I found it. If the "it" is intangible, best to change to the Portuguese genderless word for "this." Amo muito tudo isso. I'm loving it.

eu 

I

ele 

he, it (m)

ela 

she, it (f)

nós 

we

eles 

they, them (mixed gender ok)

elas 

they, them (all females/feminine)

Verbs

This topic is much too complex for a phrasebook. See Learning more below. In general though, infinitive verbs (i.e. as found in the dictionary) end in _ar, _er, and _ir (like Spanish) plus there's one irregular infinitive pôr (to put). A lot of the most common verbs are irregular and must be memorized. Você, ele, ela, (and usually tu in Brazil -- see above) share the same verb set, as do (separately) vocês, eles, and elas. Additionally, eu and nós both have their own respective verb set.

Pronunciation guide

Portuguese has nasal vowels and reduced vowels. If you don't reduce the vowels you will still be understood but you will sound over-enunciating. If you don't nasalize the vowels, you can easily be misunderstood: mão means "hand", while mau means "bad." So, be extra careful not to ouch the ão sound. For starters, try something in between English no and now (without the n). A good native pronunciation of this diphthong will take lots of listening and practice. The nasals are transcribed as "ng", but don't pronounce "ng" as a consonant.

Brazilian and Luso (European Portuguese) pronunciation differ, and within Brazil, there are regional differences as well. The pronunciation of Minas Gerais is especially difficult, for its tendency to merge syllables, reduce vowels, affricate consonants, etc. In the Northeast, the consonants tend to be harder and the vowels longer. The populous region surrounding Rio, São Paulo, and Curitiba generally follow the Rio pronunciation in this guide where indicated (though they do have their own distinctive accents). If there is no separate mention for Rio, then it is the same as the rest of Brazil.

Vowels

a 

like father

ã 

like détente

e 

like set, say, or eight. Often dropped at ends of words in Portugal but not in Brazil, where it is reduced to i.

closed e 

like herd. Often spelled with an accent mark: ê

Note this can be much shorter than the Spanish 'e.' See also the diphthong ei

i 

like machine

o 

between sort and book in Portugal. In Brazil it is usually rounded (like in cold)

open o 

like in hot.

õ 

like French sont (say "song" and drop the final consonant)

u 

like soup or book

ũ 

more or less like boom without completing the articulation of the m.

Consonants

In Brazil, using the English "R" sound in the beginning of words can cause confusion. Use the English "H" sound (or the French R) instead. The M is also nasalised at the end of words (sim, mim) and the English "M" sound should be dropped even if the next word begins with a vowel. In this phrasebook, it's represented by an N (the closest possible sound). Also, be extra careful with words beginning with "Ti" (see below).

b 

like 'b' in "bed"

c 

like 'c' in "cat"

ce     ci 

like in cell and civil.

ç 

like 's' in soft or super. The mark below the letter "c" is called a cedilla in English or cedilha in Portuguese. It is used to force the soft C before vowels other than E or I.

d 

like 'd' in "dog." In some regions of Brazil (e.g. Rio) it is affricate before i (like in dia sounding roughly like an English "j": "jeea").

f 

like 'f' in "father"

g 

like 'g' in "good"

ge     gi 

like 'j' in "journal". (Between English "j" and "zh" sound or like French je.) Note this is completely different from Spanish.

h 

silent. See Common digraphs below below and r and rr for the English "h" sound.

j 

like 'j' in "journal". (Between English "j" and "zh" sound or like French je.) Note this is completely different from Spanish.

(k) 

Found only in words of foreign orgin, so pronounce accordingly. (Not part of Portuguese alphabet.) See letters c and q for the English "k" sound.

l 

like 'l' in "'love". The final L is vocalised (like in cold).

m... 

like 'm' in "mother".

...m 

Nasalizes the preceding vowel, and is dropped at the end of a word (Luso). Letter 'N' used in the phrasebook for Brazilian pronounciation.

n 

like nice. Nasalizes the preceding vowel and is silent when followed by a consonant. (See Common digraphs below.)

p 

like 'p' in "pig"

q 

like "unique". Qu is usually followed by e or i as a way to get the k sound.

r...

like 'h' in "help" See also RR in Common Digraphs below. Note this is completely different from Spanish. It is often pronounced as the Spanish J, especially in Brazil.

...r 

like 'r' in "morning"

...r... 

like the Spanish 'r' (and similar to English).

• Examples (Brazilian pronunciation):
  

        refresco (hay-FRES-koh)   cold fruit drink
        hora (OH-rah)   hour, time

s 

like hiss, haze, or (in Luso dialect) sure

t 

like 't' in "top"

ti..., ...ti... (regardless of stress) Brazil only
...te   (if unstressed -- will have accent mark if stressed) Brazil only
        like 'chee' in cheese   Note this is completely different from Spanish.

• Examples (Brazilian pronunciation):
  

        tipo (CHEE-po)   type
        rotina (ho-CHEE-nah)   routine
        teste (TES-chee)   test
        até (ah-TAY)   until

v 

like 'v' in "victory"

(w) 

Found only in words of foreign orgin, so pronounce accordingly. (Not part of Portuguese alphabet.)

x 

like "box," "examine," or "shoe". The correct pronunciation of the X is not easy to deduce. In Brazil, the sh sound is often correct when preceded by ai/ei or followed by o or ão.

(y) 

Found only in words of foreign orgin, so pronounce accordingly. (Not part of Portuguese alphabet.) The digraph lh produces the English consonant "y" sound. (see Common digraphs below)

z 

like 'z' in "zebra," or like sh or s when final (paz, luz)

Common diphthongs

Note: Two vowels together not listed as diphthongs usually means a syllable split. Example: ia in Bahia.

am 

same as ão, but unstressed     andam   they walk

ai 

like bike (equivalent to Spanish 'AY')     praia   beach

ão 

similar to uwng (u as in cup)     dão   they give

au 

like house     Manaus   Brazilian city in the Amazon

ei 

like say (best equivalent to Spanish 'E')     meio   half

eu 

the e vowel plus a w semivowel (no equivalent in English)     Europa   Europe

em 

nasal ei, similar to rain     também   also

oi 

like boy     oito   eight

om 

same as õ     som   sound

ou 

as in own     ouro   gold

õe 

nasal oi     ele põe   he puts

Common digraphs

ch 

like machine (sh sound) Note this is completely different from Spanish. In Brazil, letter t when followed by i or final e produces the Spanish & English "ch" sound (see above).

• Example:
  

        chuva (SHOU-vah)   rain

lh 

like million (equivalent to Spanish LL) Note: Spanish words starting with "LL" very often convert to "CH" in Portuguese

• Example:
  

        velho (VEL-yo)   old

...nh... 

like canyon (equivalent to Spanish Ñ)

• Example:
  

        banho (BAN-yo)   bath

...nr... 

the r is pronounced like help

• Example:
  

        honra (OH-ha)   honor

...rr... 

like help (not trilled, no equivalent to Spanish RR). In Brazil, same as R at the beginning of a word.

• Example:
  

        cachorro (cah-SHOW-ho)   dog

...ss... 

prevents the sonorisation of the S between vowels.

• Example:
  

        assado (ah-SAHD-oh)   roasted

Phrase list

To ask a question in Portuguese use rising intonation to distinguish it from a statement. This will seem natural as English also uses rising intonation in questions, but Portuguese has no equivalent for Do...?, Did...?, Don't...?, etc.

Also, note in the following example that você (you) -- not tem (have) -- is the first word in the question. Without the question mark it is no different than a statement. Reversing these first two words (as is often done in Spanish) is not allowed and would sound very archaic, especially in Brazilian Portuguese.

Example

(Do) you have a battery for this? 

Você tem uma pilha para isto? (voh-SAY ten U-mah PEEL-yah PAH-rah EES-toh?)

Basics

Hello. 

Bom dia. (bon DEE-ah / JEE-ah (Rio))

Hello. (informal) 

Olá. (O-lá)

Thank you. (said by a man) 

Obrigado. (ob-ree-GAH-doo)

Thank you. (said by a woman) 

Obrigada. (ob-ree-GAH-dah)

How are you? 

Como está? (KOH-moh ish-TAH?)

How are you? 

Tudo bem? (TOO-do BENG?) Very common in Brazil.

Fine, thank you. 

Bem, obrigado/a (BENG, ob-ree-GAH-doo/dah)

Everything is OK. (Lit. "All is well") 

Tudo Bem. (TOO-do BENG)

What is your name? (Lit. "How are you called?")

Como se chama? (KOH-moh se SHA-ma?)

What is your name? (Literal)

Qual é o seu nome? Preferred in Brazil.

My name is ______ . 

(O) meu nome é ______ . ({oh} mew NOME ey _____ .) The "O" is usually omitted in Brazil.

Nice to meet you. 

Muito prazer (em conhecê-lo). (MOOY-to pra-ZEHR eng koh-nye-SEH-lo) The final part is dropped in Brazil.

Please (Lit. "As a favor") 

Por favor. (pohr fa-VOHR)

You're welcome (Lit. "For nothing") 

De nada. (je NAH-dah)

Yes. 

Sim. (SEE (Port.) / SEEN (Brazil))

No. 

Não. (NOWNG)

• Remember the Portuguese "no" doesn't mean a negation as in English and Spanish -- but rather "in the" as a contraction of em + o (Spanish en el). Such contractions are common in Portuguese. Não falo Inglês no Brasil. I don't speak English in Brazil.

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

Com licença (kong lee-SEN-sa)

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

Desculpe-me. (desh-KULP-me (Port.)/ desh-KUL-pay-me (Brazil))

I'm sorry. 

Desculpe. (desh-KULP (Port.)/ desh-KUL-pay (Brazil))

I'm sorry. (Lit. "pardon") 

Perdão. (per-DAWNG)

Goodbye (formal or permanent) 

Adeus. (uh-DEOOSH.)

Goodbye (informal) 

Tchau. (CHOW)

See you later 

Até logo. (ah-TEH LOH-goo)

I can't speak Portuguese [well]. 

Não falo [bem] Português. (NOWNG fah-loo [beng] por-too-GEZH)

Do you speak English? 

Fala Inglês? (fah-lah ing-GLEZH?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

Há aqui alguém que fale Inglês? (AH ah-KEE al-GENG keh FAH-leh ing-GLEZH?)

Help! 

Socorro! (soo-KOO-hoo!)

Good day/Good morning. 

Bom dia. (bon DEE-ah/ JEE-ah (Rio))

Good afternoon (also early evening) 

Boa tarde. (bo-ah /TARD (Port)/ TAR-dee (Brazil)/ TAR-jay (Rio))

Good evening (also nightime) 

Boa noite. (bo-ah NOIT (Port.)/ NOI-chee (Brazil))

I don't understand. 

Não compreendo. (NOWNG kom-pre-EN-doo)

I don't understand. (In Brazil)

Não entendo (NOWNG en-TEN-do)

Where is the toilet? (Port.)

Onde é a casa-de-banho? (OND eh a KAH-sah de BAH-nyoo? (Port.))

Where is the toilet? (Brazil) 

Onde é o banheiro? (OND-de (Brazil) / OND-je (Rio) eh o bahn-YAIR-row?)

Problems

Leave me alone. 

Deixa-me em paz. (DEY-shah meh eng PAZH)

Don't touch me! 

Não toque! (NOWNG TOH-keh!)

I'll call the police. 

Eu chamo a polícia. (yoo SHAH-moo a poh-LEE-see-ah)

Police! 

Polícia! (poh-LEE-see-ah!)

Stop! Thief! 

Pára! Ladrão! (PAH-rah! lah-DROWNG!)

I need your help. 

Preciso da sua ajuda. (preh-SEE-zoo dah SOO-ah ah-ZHOO-dah)

It's an emergency. 

É uma emergência. (EH oo-mah eh-mer-ZHENG-see-ah)

I'm lost. 

Estou perdido/...da. (SOW per-DEE-doo/ per-JEE-doo (Rio)...dah)

I lost my bag. 

Perdi a minha mala [bolsa]. (per-DEE / per-JEE (Rio) a meen-yah MAH-lah)

I lost my wallet. 

Perdi a minha carteira.(pehr-DEE / per-JEE (Rio) ah MEE-nyah cahr-TAY-rah)

I'm sick. 

Estou doente. (ish-TOW doo-AYN-teh (Port.) / doo-AYN-chay (Brazil))

I've been injured. 

Estou ferido/da. (ish-TOW feh-REE-doo/dah)

I need a doctor. 

Preciso de um médico. (preh-SEE-zoo deh oong MEH-dee-koo / MEH-jee-koo (Rio))

Can I use your phone? 

Posso usar o seu telefone? (POH-soo oo-ZAR oo seoo teh-leh-FOWN (Port.) / teh-leh-FOW-nay (Brazil)?)

Numbers

Note: Spanish speakers need to practice pronunciation of Portuguese numbers to be understood, even though they are quite similar in written form. Give particular attention to dropped syllables in numbers 7,9,10, and those ending in e for Luso and te for Brazil.

1 

um/uma (oong / OO-mah)

2 

dois/duas (doysh / DOO-ash)

3 

três (treysh)

4 

quatro (KWAT-roh)

5 

cinco (SING-koo)

6 

seis/meia (seysh/may-ah) Use meia in a numerical series (e.g. phone numbers, postal codes, etc.) to prevent confusion with "três". "Meia" is short for "meia-dúzia" (half-a-dozen).

7 

sete (set (Port.)'/ setch (Brazil)')

8 

oito (OY-too)

9 

nove (nov (Port.)/ NOH-vee (Brazil))

10 

dez (dezh)

11 

onze (ongz (Port.) / ONG-zay (Brazil) )

12 

doze (doz (Port.)/ DOH-zay (Brazil) )

13 

treze (trez (Port.) / TRE-zay (Brazil))

14 

catorze (kah-TORZ (Port.)/ kah-TOH-zay (Brazil))

15 

quinze (keengz (Port.)/ KEENG-zee (Brazil))

16 

dezasseis (Port.) (deh-zah-SEYSH)

 

dezesseis (Brazil)(deh-zay-SEYSH)

17 

dezassete (Port.)(deh-zah-SET )

 

dezessete (Brazil) (deh-zay-SET-chay )

18 

dezoito (dezh-OY-too)

19 

dezanove (Port.) (deh-zah-NOV )

 

dezenove (Brazil) (day-zay-NOH-vay)

20 

vinte (veengt (Port.)/ VEEN-chee (Brazil))

21 

vinte-um/uma (veengt (Port.)/ VEEN-chee (Brazil) oong/OO-mah)

22 

vinte-dois/duas (veengt (Port.)/ VEEN-chee (Brazil) doysh/DOO-ash)

23 

vinte-três (veengt (Port.)/ VEEN-chee (Brazil) trezh)

30 

trinta (TREEN-tah)

40 

quarenta (kwah-REN-tah)

50 

cinquenta (Port.) (sing-KWEN-tah)

 

cinqüenta (Brazil) (sing-KWEN-tah)

60 

sessenta (seh-SEN-tah)

70 

setenta (seh-TEN-tah)

80 

oitenta (oy-TEN-tah)

90 

noventa (no-VEN-tah)

100 

cem (seng)

200 

duzentos/as (...)

300 

trezentos/as (...)

500 

quinhentos/as (keen-YENG-toosh)

1000 

mil (meel)

2000 

dois mil (doysh meel)

1,000,000 

milhão (meel-YOWNG)

number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

número _____ (NU-may-ro)

half 

metade (me-TAHD (Port.)/ me-TAHD-day (Brazil)/ me-TAHD-jay (Rio))

less 

menos (MEH-noosh)

more 

mais (mighsh)

Time

now 

agora (ah-GOH-rah)

later 

depois (deh-POYSH)

before 

antes de (ANtesh deh)

morning 

manhã (mah-NYAHNG)

afternoon 

tarde (tahrd (Port.)/ TAHR-day (Brazil)/TAHR-jay (Rio))

evening 

Use afternoon ("tarde") for early evening, and night ("noite") for late evening. Unlike English, "boa noite" is used as an initial greeting and not just to say goodbye.

night 

noite (NOIT (Port.)/ NOI-chay (Brazil))

Clock time

Note: In a sentence add é just before one o'clock, noon and midnight, and são just before two through eleven o'clock. (English equivalent of "it is...")

one o'clock AM 

uma hora da manhã (uma OH-ra dah man-yah)

two o'clock AM 

duas horas da manhã (duash OH-ras dah man-yah)

noon 

meio-dia (mayo deeah/ jeeah (Rio))

one o'clock PM 

uma hora da tarde (uma OH-ra dah tahrd (Port.)/ TAHR-day (Brazil))

two o'clock PM 

duas horas da tarde (duash OH-ras dah tahrd (Port.)/ TAHR-day (Brazil))

half past three PM 

três e meia da tarde (...)

midnight 

meia-noite (may-a noyt(Port.)/ NOY-tay (Brazil)

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

_____ minuto(s) (mee-NU-toh)

_____ hour(s) 

_____ hora(s) (OH-ra)

_____ day(s) 

_____ dia(s) (DEE-ah/ JEE-ah (Rio))

_____ week(s) 

_____ semana(s) (seh-MAH-nah)

_____ month(s) 

_____ mês(meses) (mayse)

_____ year(s) 

_____ ano(s) (ahno)

Days

today 

hoje (ohzh (Port.)/ OHZH-gee (Brazil))

yesterday 

ontem (OHN-taym)

tomorrow 

amanhã (a-mahn-YAHNG)

this week 

esta semana (esh-tah seh-MAH-nah)

last week 

a semana passada (ah s'MAH-nah pah-SAH-dah)

next week 

próxima semana (prah-ZEE-mah s'MAH-nah)

Sunday 

domingo (doh-MING-goo)

Monday 

segunda-feira (seh-GOON-dah fey-rah)

Tuesday 

terça-feira (TEHR-sah fey-rah)

Wednesday 

quarta-feira (KWAR-tah fey-rah)

Thursday 

quinta-feira (KEEN-tah fey-rah)

Friday 

sexta-feira (SESH-tah fey-rah)

Saturday 

sábado (SAH-bah-doo)

Months

January 

Janeiro (zhah-NEY-roo)

February 

Fevereiro (fev-REY-roo)

March 

Março (MAR-soo)

April 

Abril (ah-BREEL)

May 

Maio (MY-yo)

June 

Junho (JUN-yoo)

July 

Julho (JUHL-yoo)

August 

Agosto (AGOSH-too)

September 

Setembro (S'tembroo)

October 

Outubro (Oh-TOO-broo)

November 

Novembro (Noo-VEM-broo)

December 

Dezembro (D'ZEM-broo)

Writing Time and Date

21 September 2005 (UK)/September 21, 2005 (USA) 21 de setembro de 2005, "vinte-um de setembro de dois mil cinco"

Time is written with "h" as in French: 8h30; or with a colon or period. The 24-hour clock is often used.

Colors

Most adjectives change the final o to a in the feminine and add s (pronounced sh) to form the plural. If the adjective ends in "a", there is no separate masculine form.

black 

preto (PREH-toh)

white 

branco (BRAHNG-ko)

gray 

cinzento (see-ZHEN-toh)

red 

vermelho (ver-MEH-lyoo)

blue 

azul (ah-ZOOL), pl. azuis (ah-ZOOEYSH)

yellow 

amarelo (ah-mah-REH-lo)

green 

verde (VEHR-deh (Port.)/ VEHR-day (Brazil)/ VEHR-jay (Rio))

orange 

laranja (lah-RANG-jah)

purple 

roxo (HOH-show)

violet 

violeta (vee-oh-LAY-tah)

pink 

cor de rosa (Cohr day HOH-sah / Cohr jay HOH-sah (Rio))

brown (Port.)

castanho (cah-STAHN-yo)

brown (Brazil)

marrom (mah-HON)

dark brown (skin) 

moreno (mor-RAY-no) / (pele) morena (PAY-lee mor-RAY-nah)

Transportation

Bus and Train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

Quanto custa uma passagem [bilhete in Portugal] para _____? (...)

One ticket to _____, please. 

Uma passagem para _____, por favor. (...)

Where does this train/bus go? 

Para onde vai o comboio [trem in Brazil]/autocarro [ônibus in Brazil]? (...)

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

Onde é o comboio/autocarro para _____? (...)

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

Este comboio/autocarro pára em _____? (...)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

Quando parte [sai in Brazil] o comboio/autocarro para _____? (...)

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

Quando chega este comboio/autocarro a _____? (...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

Como vou _____ ? (KOH-moh vow)

...the train station? 

...à estação de comboios(Port.)/trem(Br.)? (...)

...the bus station? 

...à estação de autocarros(Port.)/ônibus(Br.)? (ah ish-ta-SOWN duh ow-too-CAR-oosh / dje OH-nee-boos)

...the airport? 

...ao aeroporto? (ow ah-eh-roo-POHR-too)

...downtown? 

...à baixa(Port.)/ao centro(Br.)? (ah BAIshah / ow SEN-troo)

...the youth hostel? 

...à pousada de juventude? (Ah poo-ZAHdah deh zhu-VEN-tud / zhu-ven-TUD-jay (Brazil))

...the _____ hotel? 

...ao hotel _____? (ow oh-TEL)

...a nightclub/bar? 

...a uma boate/bar/festa/farra? (...)

...an Internet café? 

...a um lan house?(Br.) (...)

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

...ao consulado americano/canadiano/australiana/britânico? (...)

Where are there a lot of... 

Onde há muitos/muitas... (OHND ah MOOY-tosh/tash...)

...hotels? 

...hotéis? (oh-TEYSH)

...restaurants? 

...restaurantes? (resh-tau-RAN-t'sh)

...bars? 

...bares? (barsh)

...sites to see? 

...sítios(Port.)/lugares(Br.) para visitar? (SEE-tee-osh/loo-GAH-hes pah-rah vee-zee-TAR)

...women? 

...mulheres? (moo-LYEH-resh)

Can you show me on the map? 

Pode mostrar-me no mapa? (pod mushTRARM noo MAHpah ?)

street 

rua (HOO-ah)

Turn left. 

Vire à esquerda. (VEER ah esh-KEHR-dah)

Turn right. 

Vire à direita. (VEER ah dee-RAY-tah / jee-RAY-tah (Rio))

left 

esquerdo (esh-KEHR-doo)

right 

direito (dee-RAY-too / jee-RAY-too (Rio))

straight ahead 

sempre em frente (Sempr' eim frent/ FREN-chee (Brazil))

towards the _____ 

na direcção de _____ (nah dee-rek-SOWN duh)

past the _____ 

depois de _____ (depoish deh)

before the _____ 

antes de _____ (ant'sh deh)

Watch for the _____. 

Procure o/a _____. (...)

intersection 

cruzamento (kroo-zah-MEN-too)

north 

norte (NOHR-te(Port.) / NOHR-chee or nortch (Brazil))

south 

sul (sool)

east 

leste (LESHt or ESHt (Port.) / LESH-chee (Brazil))

west 

oeste (oh-ESHt (Port.) / oh-ES-chee (Brazil))

uphill 

subida (sooBEEdah)

downhill 

descida (deshSEEdah)

Taxi

Taxi! 

Táxi! (Tak-see)

Take me to _____, please. 

Leve-me para _____, por favor. (...)

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

Quanto custa ir para _____? (KWAN-to CUSH-tah eer pah-rah______)

Take me there, please. 

Leve-me lá, por favor. (...)

Follow that car! 

Siga aquele carro! (SEEgah AHkelE kaROO / cah-HOO (Brazil))

Try to not hit any pedestrian. 

Tente não atropelar nenhum pedestre. (...)

Stop staring me this way! 

Pare de olhar para mim desta maneira! (...)

OK, let's go, then. 

OK, então vamos. (Okay entaum vamosh)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

Tem quartos disponíveis? (teng KWAHR-toosh dish-po-NEE-veysh?)

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

Quanto custa um quarto para uma/duas pessoa(s)? (KWAHN-too KOOSH-tah oong KWAHR-too pah-rah OO-mah/DOO-ash PESS-wa(sh)?)

Does the room come with... 

O quarto tem... (oo KWAHR-too teng)

...bedsheets? 

...lençóis? (len-SOYSH?)

...a bathroom? 

...uma banheira? (oo-mah bah-NYAY-rah?)

...a telephone? 

...um telefone? (oon teh-leh-FONE? (Port.) / teh-leh-FOW-nee (Brazil))

...a TV? 

...um televisor? (oon teh-leh-VEE-zor?)

May I see the room first? 

Posso ver o quarto primeiro? (POH-soo vehr oo KWAHR-too pree-MAY-roo?)

Do you have anything quieter? 

Tem algo mais calmo? (teng AHL-goo mighsh KAHL-moo?)

...bigger? 

...maior? (mah-YOHR?)

...cleaner? 

...mais limpo? (mighsh LIM-poo?)

...cheaper? 

...mais barato? (mighsh buh-RAH-too?)

OK, I'll take it. 

OK, fico com ele. (FEE-coo com EL-ee)

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

Ficarei _____ noite(s). (fee-car-AY _____ NO-ee-chee(s))

Can you suggest another hotel? 

Pode sugerir outro hotel? (...)

Do you have a safe? 

Tem um cofre? (...)

...lockers? 

...cadeados? (...)

Is breakfast/supper included? 

O pequeno-almoço/ceia está incluído/a? (...)

What time is breakfast/supper? 

Que é o pequeno-almoço/ceia? (...)

Please clean my room. 

Por favor limpe o meu quarto. (...)

Can you wake me at _____? 

Pode acordar-me às _____? (...)

I want to check out. 

Quero fazer o registo de saída. (...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

Aceita dólares americanos/australianos/canadianos? (...)

Do you accept British pounds? 

Aceita libras esterlinas? (...)

Do you accept credit cards? 

Aceita cartões de crédito? (...)

Can you change money for me? 

Pode trocar-me dinheiro? (...)

Where can I get money changed? 

Onde posso trocar dinheiro? (Ond/ON-dee (Brazil)/ ON-jee (rio) POH-soh troCAR dee-NYEY-roo)

Can you change a Traveler's Cheque for me? 

Pode trocar-me um cheque de viagem (or ... um Traveler's Cheque)? (...)

Where can I get a Traveler's Cheque changed? 

Onde posso trocar um cheque de viagem (or ... um Traveler's Cheque)? (...)

What is the exchange rate? 

Qual é a taxa de câmbio? (qual eh ah tasha d'cam-BEE-oh?)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

Onde há um Multibanco? (Ond/ ON-dee (Brazil)/ ON-jee (rio)ah omm MultiBANcu)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

Uma mesa para uma/duas pessoa(s), por favor. (...)

Can I look at the menu, please? 

Posso ver o menu, por favor? (...)

Can I look in the kitchen? 

Posso ver a cozinha, por favor? (...)

Is there a house specialty? 

Ha uma especialidade da casa? (...)

Is there a local specialty? 

Há uma especialidade local? (...)

I'm a vegetarian. 

Sou vegetariano. (...)

I don't eat pork. 

Não como porco. (...)

I only eat kosher food. 

Só como kosher. (...)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

Pode fazê-lo mais "leve" (menos óleo, manteiga, banha), por favor? (...)

half portion 

meia-dose (MEY-a dohz)

full portion 

uma dose (OO-mah dohz)

fixed-price meal 

refeição de preço fixo (...)

à la carte 

a la carte (...)

breakfast 

pequeno-almoço (...)

lunch 

almoço (...)

tea (meal) 

lanche (...)

supper 

jantar (...)

fruit-and-vegetable store 

sacolão (sah-koh-LOWN)

bread store 

padaria (pah-dah-REE-ah)

I want _____. 

Quero _____. (...)

I want a dish containing _____. 

Quero um prato de _____. (...)

chicken 

frango(...)

beef 

bife (...)

fish 

peixe (peysh)

snake (Manaus) 

cobra (...)

ham 

fiambre (...)

sausage 

salsicha (...)

cheese 

queijo (KAY-zhoo)

eggs 

ovos (...)

salad 

salada (...)

barbecue/roasted meat 

churrasco (...)

beef, poached eggs, rice, french fries, lettuce and tomatoes 

a la minuta (...)

beef, poached eggs, rice, beans, lettuce and tomatoes 

completão comercial (...)

beef, poached eggs, rice, beans, pasta, lettuce and tomatoes 

completão industrial (...)

(fresh) vegetables 

vegetais (frescos)(...)

(fresh) fruit 

fruta (fresca) (...)

pineapple 

In Brazil: abacaxi (ah-bah-kah-SHEE)
Elsewhere: ananas (ah-nah-NAHSH)

acerola 

acerola (ah-se-ROH-lah)

cashew 

caju (kah-ZHOO)
In Brazil, this is the fruit; the nut is called castanha de caju (kash-TAH-nya ji kah-ZHOO).

guanabana, soursop 

graviola (grah-vee-OH-lah)

starfruit 

carambola (kah-ram-BOH-lah)

persimmon 

In Brazil: caqui (KAH-kee)
In Portugal: dióspiro (dee-OSS-pee-roo)

strawberry 

morango (moh-RAHNG-goo)

bread 

pão (powng), pl. pães (pighngsh)

toast 

torrada (...)

noodles 

noodles (...)

rice 

arroz (ah-ROZH)

whole grain 

grão integral (grown een-cheh-GROWL)
This is said of brown rice too (arroz integral, not arroz castanho).

beans 

feijões (...)
N.B. Do not confuse feijão, pl. feijões, beans, with the feijoa, a small guava-like fruit.

May I have a glass of _____? 

Quero um copo de _____? (...)

May I have a cup of _____? 

Quero uma chávena(Port.)/xícara(Br.) de _____? (...)

May I have a bottle of _____? 

Quero uma garrafa _____? (...)

coffee 

café(...)

tea (drink) 

chá (...)

juice (Port.)

sumo (SOO-moo)

juice (Brazil)

suco (SOO-koo)

(bubbly) water 

água com gás (...)

water 

água (AH-gwah)

beer 

cerveja (ser-VAY-zhah)

yerba mate 

erva-mate/tererê/chimarrão (ehr-vah mah-TEH / _MAH-chee (Brazil) / teh-heh-HEH / shee-mah-HOWN)

red/white wine 

vinho tinto/branco (...)

with/without 

com/sem (kong/seng)

ice 

gelo (ZHEH-loo)

sugar 

açúcar (ah-SOO-kar)

sweetener 

adoçante (ah-doh-SAHN-chee)

May I have some _____? 

Pode me dar _____? (...)

salt 

sal (sahl)

black pepper 

pimenta negra (...)

butter 

manteiga (mahn-TAY-gah)

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

Desculpe, empregado? (...) (Note: use "garçom" in Brazil in this case. Empregado sounds a bit disrespectful, for it means literally "employee".)

I'm finished 

Já acabei. (zhah ah-kah-BAY)

I'm full 

Estou farto/a (is-tow FAGH-too/tah)

It was delicious. 

Estava delicioso. (is-TAH-vah deh-lee-SYOH-zoo)

Please clear the plates. 

Por favor limpe os pratos.(Pt.)/ Por favor retire os pratos.(Br.) (...)

The check, please. 

A conta, por favor. (...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

Servem álcool? (...)

Is there table service? 

Há serviço de mesas? (...)

A beer/two beers, please. 

Uma cerveja/duas cervejas, por favor. (...)

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

Um copo de vinho tinto/branco, por favor. (Oom KOH-poh d'Vinyoo TINtoo, por faVOR)

A pint, please. 

Uma caneca, por favor. (...)

A bottle, please. 

Uma garrafa, por favor. (...)

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

_____ and _____, please. (...)

whiskey 

whisky (wiss-kee)

vodka 

vodka (...)

rum 

rum (room)

Brazilian national drink (sugar cane brandy) 

birita/cachaça/canha (bee-HEE-tah / kah-SHAH-sah / KAH-nyah)

water 

água (AH-gwah)

club soda 

club soda (...)

tonic water 

água tónica (...)

orange juice (Port.) 

sumo de laranja (SOO-moo duh lah-RAHN-zhah)

orange juice (Brazil) 

suco de laranja (SOU-koh day lah-RAHN-jah)

• Note the rare gender change from Spanish on the word laranja (orange), and the different j sound.

Coke (soda) 

Coca-Cola (...), or Cola

Do you have any bar snacks? 

Tem aperitivos? (...)

One more, please. 

Mais um/uma, por favor. (...)

Another round, please. 

Mais uma rodada, por favor. (...)

When is closing time? 

A que horas fecham? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

Tem isto no meu tamanho? (...)

How much is this? 

Quanto custa? (...)

That's too expensive. 

É muito caro. (...)

Would you take _____? 

Aceita _____? (...)

expensive 

caro (...)

cheap 

barato (...)

I can't afford it. 

Não tenho dinheiro suficiente. (...)

I don't want it. 

Não quero. (...)

I'm not interested. 

Não estou interessado/a. (..)

OK, I'll take it. 

OK, eu levo. (...)

Can I have a bag? 

Dá-me um saco? (...)

Do you ship (overseas)? 

Envia para outros países? (...)

I need... 

Preciso de... (...)

...toothpaste. 

...pasta de dentes. (...)

...a toothbrush. 

...escova de dentes. (...)

...tampons. 

...tampões. (...)

...soap. 

...sabonete. (...)

...shampoo. 

...champô. (...)

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

...aspirina. (...)

...cold medicine. 

...remédio para resfriado. (...)

...stomach medicine. 

...remédio para as dores de estômago. (...)

...a razor. 

...uma lâmina. (...)

...an umbrella. 

...um chapéu de chuva(Pt.)/guarda-chuva(Br.). (...)

...sunblock lotion. 

...protector solar. (...)

...a postcard. 

...um cartão postal (...)

...(postage) stamps. 

...selos (de correio). (...)

...batteries. 

...pilhas. (...)

...a pen. 

...uma caneta. (...)

...English-language books. 

...livros em inglês. (...)

...English-language magazines. 

...revista em inglês. (...)

...an English-language newspaper. 

...jornais em inglês. (...)

...an English-Portuguese dictionary. 

...um dicionário de inglês-português. (...)

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

Quero alugar um carro. (...)

Can I get insurance? 

Posso fazer um seguro? (...)

stop (on a street sign) 

Port: stop (...)
Br: pare (PAH-reh)

Ouch! 

Ops! (OOPsh)

one way 

sentido único (...)

yield 

yield (...)

no parking 

estacionamento proibido (...)

speed limit 

limite de velocidade (...)

gas (petrol) station 

Port. - estação de serviço (...) / Br. - posto de gasolina (...')

petrol 

gasolina (...)

diesel 

gasóleo/diesel (...)

towing enforced 

sujeito a reboque

Authority

It's his/her fault! 

A culpa é dele/dela! (...)

Its not what its seems. 

Não é o que está parecendo. (...)

I can explain it all. 

Eu posso explicar tudo. (...)

I haven't done anything wrong. 

Não fiz nada de errado. (...)

I swear I didn't do it Mr. Officer. 

Eu juro que não fiz nada Seu Guarda. (Br.) (...)

It was a misunderstanding. 

Foi um engano. (...)

Where are you taking me? 

Onde me leva? (...)

Am I under arrest? 

Estou detido? (...)

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

Sou um cidadão americano/australiano/britânico/canadiano. (...)

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

Quero falar com o consulado americano/australiano/britânico/canadense. (...)

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

Quero falar com um advogado. (...)

Can I just pay a fine now? 

Posso pagar a coima(Port.)/fiança(Br.) agora? (...)

Learning more

This is where you'd give more information on learning the language, such as links to online courses or textbooks, or suggestions for in-person courses to take.

• Portuguese Words and Phrases
• Wikipedia -- Portuguese language
• Wikipedia -- Differences between Spanish and Portuguese
• Wikibooks -- Portuguese textbook Note: Mainly European Portuguese
• Verbix online Portuguese verb conjugator