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Portuguese

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100+ Basic Portuguese Words And Phrases You Should Know

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
Thank you
Obrigada (f)
Orbigado (m)
Thank you very much
Muito obrigada (f)
Muito obrigado (m)
You're welcome
De nada
Yes, please
Sim, por favor
No, thank you
Não, obrigada (f)
Não, obrigado (m)
Excuse me
Com licença
I’m sorry
Desculpe
Sorry
Desculpe
Cheers!
Saúde!

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
Bye
Tchau
See you later!
Até logo!
Have a nice day!
Tenha um bom dia!

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)
It's nice to meet you
Prazer em conhecê-la (f)
Prazer em conhecê-lo (m)
Nice to meet you!
Prazer (inf)
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

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
Room
Quarto
Key
Chave
Breakfast
Pequeno-almoço

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
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?

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.

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
Water
Água
Milk
Leite

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
How much does this cost?
Quanto custa isto?
I'm just looking
Estou só a ver

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

Travel

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 assistência
Police
Polícia
Hospital
Hospital
Ambulance
Ambulância
Doctor
Médico
Fire department
Bombeiros
Fire!
Fogo!

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 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?
Qual?
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?

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

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

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Abbreviations used

infInformal
frmFormal
fFeminine
mMasculine
sgSingular
plPlural

About Me

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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.

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