Basic Words and Phrases in Portuguese
Reinier van der Windt
About Portuguese
Portuguese is a Romance language spoken primarily in Portugal, Brazil, and several other countries around the world. It evolved from Vulgar Latin and has been influenced by various languages, including Arabic, French, and indigenous languages in Brazil. Portuguese uses the Latin-based alphabet and has a phonetic orthography, making pronunciation relatively straightforward. Its grammar includes noun and adjective agreement, verb conjugation, and grammatical gender. Portuguese vocabulary features words derived from Latin and borrowings from other languages. It plays a significant role in literature, culture, and international communication, with a rich literary heritage from renowned authors like Luís de Camões and Fernando Pessoa.
Basic Words and Phrases
Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to connect with people from different cultures and expand your horizons. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a new language, mastering some basic words and phrases is a great place to start.
| Yes | Sim |
|---|---|
| No | Não |
| Please | Por favor |
| Yes, please | Sim, por favor |
| No, thank you | Não, obrigada (f) Não, obrigado (m) |
| Thank you | Obrigada (f) Orbigado (m) |
| Thank you very much | Muito obrigada (f) Muito obrigado (m) |
| You're welcome | De nada |
| No problem | Sem problema |
| Excuse me | Com licença |
| I’m sorry | Desculpe |
| Sorry | Desculpe |
| Cheers! | Saúde! |
| Okay | Está bem |
Greetings
Greetings are an essential part of any language. Saying "hello" and "goodbye" can create an instant connection with native speakers. In many languages, "hello" is a universal term, but learning the specific greeting for the language you're interested in can show respect and appreciation. Similarly, learning how to say "goodbye" will help you leave a positive impression.
| Hi | Olá |
|---|---|
| Hello | Olá |
| Good morning | Bom dia |
| Good afternoon | Boa tarde |
| Good evening | Boa noite |
| Good night | Boa noite |
| Goodbye | Adeus |
| See you later! | Até logo! |
| Have a nice day! | Tenha um bom dia! |
| Bye | Tchau |
Conversations
Next, let's explore basic conversation starters. Asking "how are you?" or "what's your name?" in another language is a friendly way to engage with others. These simple phrases can pave the way for more meaningful conversations and help you build rapport.
| How are you? | Como está? (inf) |
|---|---|
| I'm fine | Estou bem |
| Good, thank you! | Bem, obrigada! (f) Bem, obrigado! (m) |
| And you? | E você? (frm) E tú? (inf) |
| Nice to meet you! | Prazer em conhecê-la (f) Prazer em conhecê-lo (m) |
| Pleased to meet you! | Prazer em conhecê-la! (f) Prazer em conhecê-lo! (m) |
| What is your name? | Qual é o seu nome? |
| My name is … | Meu nome é ... |
| Where are you from? | De onde você é? (frm) |
| I am from … | Eu sou do/dos/da ... |
| I don't speak Portuguese | Não falo português |
| Do you speak English? | Fala inglês? |
| I understand | Eu entendo |
| I do not understand | Eu não entendo |
| I like it | Eu gosto disso |
| I don't like it | Eu não gosto disso |
| How is the weather today? | Como está o tempo hoje? |
| Can you recommend any local attractions? | Você pode recomendar alguma atração local? |
Hotel
When staying at a hotel in a foreign country, it's helpful to be familiar with some phrases that can assist you during your stay. Here are a few key phrases you can use in a hotel.
| Hotel | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Reception | Receção |
| Reservation | Reserva |
| Hotel room | Quarto de hotel |
| Key | Chave |
| Breakfast | Café da manhã |
| I have a reservation | Eu tenho uma reserva |
| I would like to book a room | Eu gostaria de reservar um quarto |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Você tem quartos disponíveis? |
Restaurant
When dining at restaurants in a foreign country, it's helpful to know phrases that can assist you during your meal. Being able to request a table, order food and drinks, and ask for the bill are important for a pleasant dining experience.
| Restaurant | Restaurante |
|---|---|
| Menu | Menu |
| A table for one, please | Uma mesa para uma pessoa, por favor |
| A table for two, please | Uma mesa para duas pessoas, por favor |
| I would like a coffee, please | Gostaria de um café, por favor |
| Enjoy your meal! | Bom apetite! |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Pode trazer a conta, por favor? |
| Can you bring me the bill, please? | Pode trazer a conta, por favor? |
| I would like to pay, please | Gostaria de pagar, por favor |
| The bill, please | A conta, por favor |
| Can I pay with cash? | Posso pagar em dinheiro? |
| Can I pay with card? | Posso pagar com cartão? |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Posso pagar com cartão de crédito? |
| Could you suggest something for me? | Você poderia sugerir algo para mim? |
| Can I have a glass of water, please? | Posso ter um copo de água, por favor? |
| Do you have any local specialties? | Você tem alguma especialidade local? |
Food and drinks
Being able to order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, and express preferences or dietary restrictions will enhance your dining experience and allow you to explore the local cuisine.
| Breakfast | Café da manhã |
|---|---|
| Lunch | Almoço |
| Dinner | Jantar |
| Food | Comida |
| Drinks | Bebidas |
| Bread | Pão |
| Sandwich | Sanduíche |
| Cheese | Queijo |
| Meat | Carne |
| Fish | Peixe |
| Vegetables | Legumes |
| Fruit | Fruta |
| Vegetarian | Vegetariano(a) |
| I am a vegetarian | Sou vegetariano(a) |
| Coffee | Café |
| Tea | Chá |
| Beer | Cerveja |
| Wine | Vinho |
| Juice | Sumo |
| Water | Água |
| Milk | Leite |
| Dessert | Sobremesa |
| Salad | Salada |
| Soup | Sopa |
Places and Services
Just like how saying hello helps you connect with others, exploring phrases related to locations and services can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you're looking for important places like banks or post offices, these expressions can open up doors to immersing yourself in the local culture.
| ATM | Caixa Eletrônico |
|---|---|
| Bank | Banco |
| Beach | Praia |
| Library | Biblioteca |
| Park | Parque |
| Pharmacy | Farmácia |
| Post Office | Correios |
| Tourist Information | Informações turísticas |
| Museum | Museu |
Shopping
Knowing how to ask for the price, request a different size or color, or simply say "I'm just looking" can be useful when shopping in local markets or stores.
| Store | Loja |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Supermercado |
| Grocery store | Mercearia |
| Market | Mercado |
| Bakery | Padaria |
| Bookstore | Livraria |
| How much does this cost? | Quanto custa isto? |
| Can I get a receipt? | Posso ter um recibo? |
| I'm just looking | Estou apenas a ver |
| Sunglasses | Óculos de sol |
| Umbrella | Guarda-chuva |
Directions
Learning phrases related to asking for directions, understanding common landmarks, and getting around the city will help you navigate unfamiliar places with ease.
| Where is the toilet? | Onde fica a casa de banho? |
|---|---|
| Where is the beach? | Onde fica a praia? |
| How do I get to the airport? | Como chegar ao aeroporto? |
| Left | Esquerda |
| Right | Direita |
| Straight ahead | Em frente |
| Is it far from here? | É longe daqui? |
| Can you show it on the map? | Você pode mostrar no mapa? |
| How long does it take to walk there? | Quanto tempo leva para chegar lá a pé? |
Transport
Familiarizing yourself with phrases for using public transportation, such as asking for a ticket, stating your destination, or inquiring about schedules, will make your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
| Airport | Aeroporto |
|---|---|
| Plane | Avião |
| Train station | Estação de comboio |
| Train | Comboio |
| Bus station | Estação de autocarros |
| Bus | Autocarro |
| Taxi | Táxi |
| Ticket | Bilhete |
| Can I get a ticket to Lisbon? | Posso comprar um bilhete para Lisboa? |
| I would like a ticket to Lisbon | Quero um bilhete para Lisboa |
| I need a ticket to Lisbon | Preciso de um bilhete para Lisboa |
| A ticket to Lisbon, please | Um bilhete para Lisboa, por favor |
| What time is the next train to Lisbon? | A que horas é o próximo comboio para Lisboa? |
| When is the next train to Lisbon? | Quando é o próximo comboio para Lisboa? |
| When does the next train to Lisbon leave? | A que horas parte o próximo comboio para Lisboa? |
Emergencies
When you're in a different country, it's really important to be aware of emergency phrases such as 'help,' 'hospital,' and 'police.' Using expressions like 'emergency' and 'I need help' can help you overcome language barriers and make sure you're ready for any unexpected situations that might occur. Having a good grasp of these phrases will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind while traveling.
| Help! | Socorro! |
|---|---|
| Help me! | Ajude-me! |
| I need help | Preciso de ajuda |
| I need assistance | Preciso de ajuda |
| I need a doctor | Preciso de um médico |
| Police | Polícia |
| Police Station | Delegacia de polícia |
| Hospital | Hospital |
| Ambulance | Ambulância |
| Doctor | Médico |
| Fire department | Bombeiros |
| Fire! | Fogo! |
Time
Effortlessly asking and telling the time enhances your travel experience, from coordinating schedules to catching transportation, adding a valuable layer to your linguistic toolkit for effective communication during your stay.
| What time is it? | Que horas são? |
|---|---|
| It is one o'clock | É uma hora |
| It is half past two | São duas e meia |
| Morning | Manhã |
| Afternoon | Tarde |
| Evening | Noite |
| Night | Noite |
| Today | Hoje |
| Tomorrow | Amanhã |
| Yesterday | Ontem |
Numbers
Learning numbers is essential for tasks like counting, ordering quantities, or understanding prices.
| Zero | Zero |
|---|---|
| One | Um |
| Two | Dois |
| Three | Três |
| Four | Quatro |
| Five | Cinco |
| Six | Seis |
| Seven | Sete |
| Eight | Oito |
| Nine | Nove |
| Ten | Dez |
| Eleven | Onze |
| Twelve | Doze |
| Thirteen | Treze |
| Fourteen | Catorze |
| Fifteen | Quinze |
| Sixteen | Dezasseis |
| Seventeen | Dezassete |
| Eighteen | Dezoito |
| Nineteen | Dezanove |
| Twenty | Vinte |
| Twenty-one | Vinte e um |
| Twenty-two | Vinte e dois |
| Twenty-three | Vinte e três |
| Twenty-four | Vinte e quatro |
| Twenty-five | Vinte e cinco |
| Twenty-six | Vinte e seis |
| Twenty-seven | Vinte e sete |
| Twenty-eight | Vinte e oito |
| Twenty-nine | Vinte e nove |
| Thirty | Trinta |
| Forty | Quarenta |
| Fifty | Cinquenta |
| Sixty | Sessenta |
| Seventy | Setenta |
| Eighty | Oitenta |
| Ninety | Noventa |
| Hundred | Cem |
| Two hundred | Duzentos |
| One thousand | Mil |
| Two thousand | Dois mil |
| Three thousand | Três mil |
| Hundred thousand | Cem mil |
| Million | Milhão |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers play a crucial role in conveying sequence and order. Whether you're navigating travel itineraries, selecting seats, or exploring historical sites, understanding expressions like 'first,' 'second,' and so on is essential.
| First | Primeiro |
|---|---|
| Second | Segundo |
| Third | Terceiro |
| Fourth | Quarto |
| Fifth | Quinto |
| Sixth | Sexto |
| Seventh | Sétimo |
| Eighth | Oitavo |
| Ninth | Nono |
| Tenth | Décimo |
| Eleventh | Décimo primeiro |
| Twelfth | Décimo segundo |
| Thirteenth | Décimo terceiro |
| Fourteenth | Décimo quarto |
| Fifteenth | Décimo quinto |
| Sixteenth | Décimo sexto |
| Seventeenth | Décimo sétimo |
| Eighteenth | Décimo oitavo |
| Nineteenth | Décimo nono |
| Twentieth | Vigésimo |
Days of the week
Knowing the names of the days of the week will help you schedule activities, make appointments, or plan your itinerary.
| Monday | Segunda-feira |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Terça-feira |
| Wednesday | Quarta-feira |
| Thursday | Quinta-feira |
| Friday | Sexta-feira |
| Saturday | Sábado |
| Sunday | Domingo |
Months
Being familiar with the names of the months will allow you to discuss dates, make reservations, or talk about specific time frames.
| January | Janeiro |
|---|---|
| February | Fevereiro |
| March | Março |
| April | Abril |
| May | Maio |
| June | Junho |
| July | Julho |
| August | Agosto |
| September | Setembro |
| Oktober | Outubro |
| November | Novembro |
| December | Dezembro |
Question Words
Understanding basic question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how will enable you to ask for information or clarification in various situations.
| What? | O quê? |
|---|---|
| What is that? | O que é isso? |
| What do you need? | O que precisa? |
| What do you like? | O que você gosta? |
| Where? | Onde? |
| Where is the toilet? | Onde fica a casa de banho? |
| When? | Quando? |
| When is the next train? | Quando é o próximo comboio? |
| When can we meet? | Quando podemos encontrar-nos? |
| Why? | Por quê? |
| Why is it expensive? | Por que é caro? |
| How? | Como? |
| How are you doing? | Como está? |
| How would you like to pay? | Como deseja pagar? |
| Which? | Qual? |
| Which book belongs to your sister? | Qual livro pertence à sua irmã? |
| Which car is yours? | Qual carro é o seu? |
| Which museum did you visit? | Qual museu visitou? |
| Which sandwich is yours? | Qual sanduíche é o seu? |
| Which local dish do you want to try? | Qual prato local deseja experimentar? |
| Which one of you is the tour leader? | Qual de vocês é o líder da excursão? |
| Which one of these is your car? | Qual destes é o seu carro? |
| Which one of these hotels is the best? | Qual destes hotéis é o melhor? |
| Who? | Quem? |
| Who is that? | Quem é essa pessoa? |
| Who is your travel companion? | Quem é o seu companheiro de viagem? |
| Whose? | De quem? |
| Whose keys are these? | De quem são estas chaves? |
| Whose phone is ringing? | De quem é o telefone que está a tocar? |
| Whose bag is this? | De quem é esta mala? |
| Whose book is this? | De quem é este livro? |
| How many? | Quantos(as)? |
| How many people were at the concert? | Quantas pessoas estavam no concerto? |
| How many books have you read? | Quantos livros já leu? |
| How many apples do you want to buy? | Quantas maçãs quer comprar? |
| How much? | Quanto? |
| How much does this cost? | Quanto custa isto? |
| How much does this product cost? | Quanto custa este produto? |
Hey there! I'm Rainier and I'm the person behind Roaming with Rainier. I've always been really into traveling and photography. I've been fortunate enough to visit incredible destinations and there are still so many more on my bucket list. My plan is to explore breathtaking places around the world and share my experiences through articles and reviews.
Leave a Comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *