Portuguese Basic Words and Phrases

One of the biggest challenges when moving to a new country is to learn the language.  The speed at which everybody learns is different but learning some basic words and phrases goes a long way to helping you start to integrate into your new community.  The Portuguese love nothing more than when people make the effort to speak their language.

We have put together a few words and phrases to get you started.

The Basics

Welcome!Bem-vindo!
Hello!Olá!
Good morning!Bom dia! 
Good afternoon!Boa tarde! 
How are you?Como está? 
I’m fine, thanks.Estou bem, obrigado/a. 
And you?E você? 
Is everythink OK?Está tudo bem?
Yes, everything’s OK, thanks.Sim, está tudo bem, obrigado/a. 
Thank You Obrigado (said by males)
Thank you Obrigada (said by females)
You’re welcome De nada
Please Por Favor/Se faz favor
Excuse me/pardon me Com licença
I’m sorry Desculpe
Sir Senhor
(to a) young boy Menino
Madam Senhora
Miss/(to a) young girl Menina
Yes Sim
No Não
Goodbye! Adeus!
See you soon! Até breve!
See you! Até à próxima!
Have a nice day! Tenha um bom dia!
Have a nice evening/night Tenha uma boa noite!
Do you speak English / French / German/Portuguese? Fala inglês/francês/alemão/português?
Yes, a little Sim, um pouco.
I can’t speak Portuguese well Não falo bem português.
How much is it? Quanto custa?
I’m just looking. Estou só a ver obrigado/a
What time do you open/close? A que horas abre/fecha?

Count to 12

One um/a
Twodois/duas
Threetrês
Fourquatro
Fivecinco
Sixseis
Sevensete
Eightoito
Ninenove
Tendez 
Elevenonze
Twelvedoze

Asking for Directions

Where is…?Onde é…? Onde fica…?
Where is the bathroom? Onde é/fica a casa de banho?
to the left à esquerdato
the right à direitain
front/ahead em frente
there/over there ali
here/over here aqui
street rua
roadestrada
Turn left Vire à esquerda
Turn right Vire à direita
Go straight ahead Siga em frente
towards the em direcção a …
past the depois do(a)
before the antes do(a)
Intersection cruzamento
NorthNorte
SouthSul
EastEste
WestOeste
Uphill Subida 
DownhillDescida

At the Cafe/Restaurant

A table for 2, pleaseUma mesa para dois, por favor.
I’ll have a soupVou querer uma sopa.
Breakfastpequeno almoço
lunchalmoço
dinnerjantar
The bill pleaseA conta, por favor.
Can I use your phone?Posso usar o seu(teu) telefone?
Help! Socorro! Ajuda!

Useful Resources

Learn how to pronounce words by putting them into this tool, so you can hear them played back: https://forvo.com/languages/pt/

Enrol on a Portuguese course: https://www.escolacaravela.pt/en/portuguese-courses/

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