Fifty Brazilian Portuguese phrases for your trip to Brazil, as a five-day plan of ten a day: greetings and manners, café and restaurant, paying and shops, getting around and signs, hotel and help. Every card has a pronunciation respelling, a real example exchange and a tip on when to use it and what catches tourists out, plus a bonus group of numbers 1–10. About 10 minutes a day.
CEFR A1 — Beginner
At this level you can introduce yourself, order food, ask directions. Vocabulary: ~500 words (cumulative).
Phrases you'll learn
How do you say “Hello / Good morning” in Portuguese?
“Hello / Good morning” is “Oi / Bom dia” in Portuguese. For example: Bom dia! Um cafezinho, por favor. – Bom dia, tudo bem? — Good morning! A coffee, please. – Good morning, how are you?
How do you say “Good afternoon / Good evening” in Portuguese?
“Good afternoon / Good evening” is “Boa tarde / Boa noite” in Portuguese. For example: Boa noite, tem mesa para dois? – Boa noite, tem sim. — Good evening, is there a table for two? – Good evening, yes there is.
How do you say “Please” in Portuguese?
“Please” is “Por favor” in Portuguese. For example: Uma água, por favor. — A water, please.
How do you say “Thank you” in Portuguese?
“Thank you” is “Obrigado / Obrigada” in Portuguese. For example: Muito obrigada! – Imagina! — Thanks a lot! – Don't mention it!
Portuguese → English60 words~6 days at 10 words/day0 downloadsA1A2
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Cumprimento usado ao entrar em uma loja ou ao encontrar alguém de manhã.
Synonyms:olá, tudo bem?
Hello / Good morning
Bom dia! Um cafezinho, por favor. – Bom dia, tudo bem?
Good morning! A coffee, please. – Good morning, how are you?
Say 'bom dia' as you walk into any shop, padaria or bus until noon, before anything else. 'Oi' is the everyday hello at any hour and is fine with shopkeepers in Brazil (in Portugal 'olá' is the safer choice). Expect 'tudo bem?' (all good?) straight after; the answer is simply 'tudo bem'.
Boa tarde / Boa noiteA1
BOH-ah TAR-jee / BOH-ah NOY-chee
Cumprimentos da tarde e da noite; 'boa noite' serve para chegar e para sair.
Good afternoon / Good evening
Boa noite, tem mesa para dois? – Boa noite, tem sim.
Good evening, is there a table for two? – Good evening, yes there is.
'Boa tarde' from noon, 'boa noite' as soon as it gets dark, around six. Unlike Spanish or Italian, 'boa noite' is a normal hello when you arrive at a restaurant at eight, not only a goodnight. Both also work as a goodbye on the way out.
Por favorA1
por fah-VOR
Expressão de cortesia que se acrescenta no fim de um pedido.
Synonyms:por gentileza
Please
Uma água, por favor.
A water, please.
Goes at the end of the request, after a comma. Brazilians soften a request as much with a diminutive as with 'por favor': 'um minutinho', 'uma aguinha'. 'Por gentileza' is the more formal version you will hear from staff.
Obrigado / ObrigadaA1
oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah
Palavra para agradecer; homem diz 'obrigado', mulher diz 'obrigada'.
Thank you
Muito obrigada! – Imagina!
Thanks a lot! – Don't mention it!
The ending follows the speaker, not the listener: a man says 'obrigado', a woman says 'obrigada', whoever they are talking to. This is the mistake Brazilians notice most. The reply is 'de nada' or the very Brazilian 'imagina' (don't mention it); in fast speech you will hear it clipped to 'brigado'.
DesculpeA1
jees-KOOL-pee
Palavra para pedir desculpa ou para começar a falar com um desconhecido.
Synonyms:desculpa
Excuse me / Sorry
Desculpe, pode me ajudar? – Claro.
Excuse me, can you help me? – Of course.
For a small bump, a mild apology, or to open a question to a stranger. To call a waiter, Brazilians do not say 'desculpe' but 'moço' / 'moça' (young man / young woman) plus 'por favor', or just catch their eye. 'Desculpa' is the friends version; 'sinto muito' is a real apology.
Com licençaA1
kohn lee-SEHN-sah
Expressão para pedir passagem ou permissão para entrar ou sair.
Excuse me (to get past)
Com licença! Vou descer. – Pode passar.
Excuse me! I'm getting off. – Go ahead.
The word for squeezing through a bus or a crowd, walking in front of someone, stepping into a room or leaving a conversation: 'com licença' before, 'desculpe' after you have bumped. On a packed bus you will hear just 'licença'. The reply 'pois não' means 'go ahead', not 'no'.
Sim / NãoA1
seen / nown
As duas respostas básicas; 'não, obrigado' recusa com educação.
Yes / No
Quer mais alguma coisa? – Não, obrigado.
Anything else? – No, thanks.
'Não, obrigado' (or 'obrigada') is the polite full stop for beach vendors and street sellers. Brazilians often say yes by repeating the verb instead of 'sim' ('tem?' – 'tem'), so listen for that. The 'ão' of 'não' is 'own' said through the nose.
Você fala inglês?A1
voh-SEH FAH-lah een-GLEHS
Pergunta para saber se a pessoa fala inglês.
Do you speak English?
Desculpe, você fala inglês? – Um pouquinho.
Excuse me, do you speak English? – A tiny bit.
Asking in Portuguese first gets a warmer answer; outside hotels and airports expect 'um pouquinho' or 'não'. 'Você' is the normal 'you' for everyone in Brazil; use 'o senhor' / 'a senhora' for an older stranger ('o senhor fala inglês?'). In Portugal 'você' can sound cold and 'tu' is the friends form.
Não entendoA1
nown ehn-TEHN-doo
Frase para dizer que não se entendeu o que foi dito.
Synonyms:não entendi
I don't understand
Não entendo. Mais devagar, por favor.
I don't understand. More slowly, please.
Pair it with 'mais devagar, por favor' (more slowly, please) and people slow down and use their hands. 'Não entendi' (I didn't understand) is what Brazilians themselves say; 'não falo português' is I don't speak Portuguese. Spoken Brazilian Portuguese is much faster than it looks written, so ask.
TchauA1
chow
Despedida usada com todo mundo, inclusive em lojas e hotéis.
Synonyms:até logo, até mais
Goodbye
Obrigado, tchau! – Tchau, boa tarde!
Thanks, bye! – Bye, have a good afternoon!
In Brazil 'tchau' is for everyone, shopkeepers and hotel staff included; it is not the friends-only word it is in Italian. 'Até logo' or 'até mais' (see you later) are the slightly more formal options, and 'boa tarde' / 'boa noite' on the way out are goodbyes too. 'Adeus' sounds final, as if you will never come back.
Uma mesa para dois, por favorA1
OO-mah MEH-zah PAH-rah doys, por fah-VOR
Frase para pedir uma mesa no restaurante, dizendo quantas pessoas são.
A table for two, please
Boa noite, uma mesa para dois, por favor. – Tem reserva?
Good evening, a table for two, please. – Do you have a reservation?
Wait at the door in a proper restaurant; in a boteco or padaria you sit where you like. Swap 'dois' for the number you need ('três', 'quatro'). Dinner starts late, from eight or nine, and many places are 'rodízio' (all you can eat, price per person) or 'por quilo' (self-service paid by weight) rather than à la carte.
Eu queria…A1
ay-oo keh-REE-ah
Forma educada de pedir alguma coisa em um restaurante ou loja.
Synonyms:gostaria de…
I'd like…
Eu queria um pão de queijo. Eu queria um suco de laranja.
I'd like a cheese bread. I'd like an orange juice.
The everyday polite way to order: 'queria' (literally 'I wanted') plus the item, 'por favor' at the end. 'Eu quero' (I want) is blunter but Brazilians use it all the time; 'gostaria de' is the formal version. Waiters also accept 'pra mim' (for me) plus the dish.
O cardápio, por favorA1
oo kar-DAH-pyoo, por fah-VOR
Pedido da lista de pratos no restaurante.
Synonyms:menu
The menu, please
O cardápio, por favor. Tem cardápio em inglês?
The menu, please. Do you have a menu in English?
'Cardápio' is the Brazilian word; 'menu' is understood, and in Portugal it is 'a ementa'. 'Prato feito' or 'PF' is the cheap set lunch (rice, beans, meat, salad), 'prato do dia' the dish of the day. Many places now put a QR code on the table instead of a paper menu.
Um cafezinho, por favorA1
oon kah-feh-ZEEN-yoo, por fah-VOR
No Brasil, um cafezinho é um café pequeno e forte, às vezes já adoçado.
A coffee (= a small, strong black coffee, sometimes already sweetened), please
Um cafezinho, por favor. – Com açúcar? – Sem açúcar, obrigada.
A coffee, please. – With sugar? – No sugar, thanks.
'Um café' or 'um cafezinho' is a small cup of strong black coffee. The free thermos coffee at shops, offices and petrol stations often comes already sweetened, and a padaria will ask 'com ou sem açúcar?', so say 'sem açúcar' when you order if that matters. 'Café com leite' is milky coffee; the padaria glass of milky coffee is a 'pingado' in São Paulo (mostly milk, a splash of coffee) or a 'média' in Rio (half and half). Ask for 'um expresso' if you want an espresso. In Portugal 'um café' is an espresso, 'uma bica' in Lisbon.
Com gás ou sem gás?A1
kohn GAHS oh sehn GAHS
Pergunta sobre a água no restaurante: gaseificada (com gás) ou não (sem gás).
Sparkling or still?
Água com gás ou sem gás? – Sem gás, por favor.
Sparkling or still water? – Still, please.
The question every time you order water; tap water is not served and bottled water is charged. The trap is 'natural': in Brazil it means room temperature, not still. 'Gelada' (cold) is the default, and 'água de coco' (coconut water) is the beach alternative.
A conta, por favorA1
ah KOHN-tah, por fah-VOR
Frase para pedir a conta no restaurante; a conta não vem sozinha.
The bill, please
Moço, a conta, por favor. – Já trago.
Excuse me, the bill, please. – Coming right up.
The bill will not come until you ask; sitting for an hour over an empty glass is normal. Catch the waiter with 'moço' / 'moça' or the air-writing gesture. It arrives with the 10% 'serviço' already added (see that card), and the waiter brings the card machine to the table and asks 'vai pagar como?' (how are you paying).
Posso pagar com cartão?A2
POH-soo pah-GAR kohn kar-TOWN
Pergunta para saber se dá para pagar com cartão de débito ou crédito.
Can I pay by card?
Posso pagar com cartão? – Pode. Débito ou crédito?
Can I pay by card? – Yes. Debit or credit?
Cards work almost everywhere, from beach kiosks to taxis, and you will be asked 'débito ou crédito?'. Pix, the instant transfer by QR code, is what most Brazilians use, but it normally needs a Brazilian bank account (only a few foreign apps support it), so the card is the tourist's tool. 'A máquina' (the machine) is the card terminal, brought to your table; keep a little cash for buses and street vendors.
Saúde!A1
sah-OO-jee
Palavra para brindar; também se diz quando alguém espirra.
Synonyms:tim-tim
Cheers!
Saúde! – Saúde!
Cheers! – Cheers!
Clink glasses and look each other in the eye; 'tim-tim' (the sound of the glasses) is the playful alternative. 'Saúde' is also what you say after a sneeze. Beer comes as a big 600 ml bottle to share, poured into small glasses and kept cold in a sleeve; 'uma gelada' is a cold one.
Bom apetite!A1
bohn ah-peh-CHEE-chee
Desejo que se diz a quem vai comer; a resposta é 'igualmente'.
Enjoy your meal!
Bom apetite! – Obrigado, igualmente.
Enjoy your meal! – Thanks, you too.
Said by the waiter as the plates land and by anyone passing your table; the reply is 'obrigado, igualmente' (thanks, likewise). Lunch is the main meal in Brazil, from noon to two, and the 'por quilo' buffet is where you will hear it most.
Serviço 10%A2
sehr-VEE-soo, dehz por SEHN-too
Taxa de 10% que aparece na conta; é a gorjeta do garçom, opcional mas esperada.
Service 10% (optional): 9.50 reais. Total: 104.50 reais.
Almost every Brazilian restaurant adds 10% 'serviço' or 'taxa de serviço' to the bill. It is legally optional, which is why the bill says 'opcional', but everyone pays it and it is the waiter's tip, so leave nothing more; refuse it ('sem o serviço') only for truly bad service. 'Couvert' on the bill is the bread-and-appetiser starter, charged per person and refusable if you send it back untouched; 'couvert artístico' is a per-head fee for live music.
Quanto custa…?A1
KWAHN-too KOOS-tah
Pergunta para saber o preço de alguma coisa.
Synonyms:quanto é?, quanto tá?
How much is…?
Quanto custa isso? Quanto custa uma passagem?
How much is this? How much is a ticket?
Frame: 'quanto custa' plus the item, or just 'quanto custa?' while pointing. 'Quanto é?' asks for the total at the till and 'quanto tá?' is the relaxed street version. Prices are in reais ('R$', said heh-EYES) and the comma is the decimal point: R$ 8,50 is eight fifty.
Tá muito caroA1
tah MWEEN-too KAH-roo
Frase para dizer que o preço está alto demais.
That's too expensive
Tá muito caro. Faz por trinta? – Faço por quarenta.
That's too expensive. Will you do thirty? – I'll do forty.
Fine at street markets, craft fairs and with beach vendors, where a little bargaining is expected and 'faz por…?' (will you do it for…?) opens it; rude in shops, where prices are fixed. 'Tá' is the spoken 'está'. 'Obrigado mesmo assim' (thanks anyway) lets you walk away politely.
Dinheiro ou cartão?A1
jeen-YAY-roo oh kar-TOWN
Pergunta no caixa: pagar em dinheiro ou com cartão.
Cash or card?
Dinheiro ou cartão? – Cartão, crédito.
Cash or card? – Card, credit.
The till question, followed almost always by 'débito ou crédito?'; answer with the one word. 'Vai pagar como?' (how are you paying) is the other version, and most Brazilians answer 'Pix', which you normally cannot use without a local account. On credit you may be offered 'parcelado' (instalments); say 'à vista' for a single payment.
A nota, por favorA2
ah NOH-tah, por fah-VOR
O documento que a loja dá depois do pagamento; 'CPF na nota?' é pergunta comum.
Synonyms:nota fiscal, cupom
The receipt, please
CPF na nota? – Não, obrigado. A nota, por favor.
Tax number on the receipt? – No, thanks. The receipt, please.
The trap is the question at every till: 'CPF na nota?'. They are asking for your Brazilian tax number to print on the receipt, a tax-refund scheme for locals; just say 'não' and it is not needed. You are not obliged to take the receipt ('nota fiscal' or 'cupom'), but keep it for returns or expense claims. 'O comprovante' is the card slip.
Só estou olhando, obrigadoA1
soh ees-TOH oh-LYAHN-doo, oh-bree-GAH-doo
Resposta educada ao vendedor quando não se quer comprar nada.
I'm just looking, thanks
Posso ajudar? – Só estou olhando, obrigada.
Can I help you? – I'm just looking, thanks.
The answer to 'posso ajudar?' in any shop. A shop assistant who then follows you around is offering service, not suspecting you; it is normal. 'Só tô dando uma olhadinha' is the chatty version you will hear. A woman ends with 'obrigada'.
Só isso, obrigadoA1
soh EE-soo, oh-bree-GAH-doo
Frase para dizer que não se quer mais nada.
That's all, thanks
Mais alguma coisa? – Só isso, obrigado.
Anything else? – That's all, thanks.
Ends the order at a padaria counter, market stall or juice bar; 'mais alguma coisa?' (anything else?) is what triggers it. In many padarias and bars you order at the counter, get a paper slip ('comanda') and pay at the 'caixa' on the way out, so hold on to the slip.
Um desse, por favorA1
oon DEH-see, por fah-VOR
Frase para pedir alguma coisa apontando para ela.
One of these, please
Um desse, por favor. – Pra viagem ou pra comer aqui?
One of these, please. – To take away or to eat here?
Point and say it: pastries, coxinhas, pastéis, tickets. 'Pra viagem' is takeaway, 'pra comer aqui' is to eat here. For a feminine item ('uma coxinha', 'uma empada') say 'uma dessa'.
Tem…?A1
tehn
Forma de perguntar se a loja ou o restaurante tem alguma coisa.
Do you have…?
Tem um tamanho maior? Tem Wi-Fi?
Do you have a bigger size? Do you have Wi-Fi?
Frame: 'tem' plus the thing. In Brazil 'tem' covers 'do you have', 'is there' and 'are there', one word does it all. The answer is usually just 'tem' (yes) or 'não tem' (no), not 'sim'. 'Tamanho' is a clothing size (P, M, G for small, medium, large), 'número' a shoe size.
Aberto / FechadoA1
ah-BEHR-too / feh-SHAH-doo
As duas palavras nas placas das lojas: aberto ou fechado.
Open / Closed
Aberto das 9h às 18h. Fechado aos domingos.
Open from 9 am to 6 pm. Closed on Sundays.
The two shop-door signs. Street shops open roughly nine to six on weekdays and Saturday morning with no afternoon closure; malls ('shopping') stay open until ten at night and on Sundays. Padarias open early, seven days a week. 'Horário de funcionamento' is the opening-hours list.
Promoção / CaixaA1
proh-moh-SOWN / KY-shah
'Promoção' é desconto; 'caixa' é o lugar onde se paga.
Synonyms:liquidação
Sale / Checkout
Promoção: 30% de desconto. Pague no caixa.
Sale: 30% off. Pay at the checkout.
'Promoção' is a discount deal, 'liquidação' a clearance sale, 'desconto' a discount. 'Caixa' is the till: in padarias and many bars you order at the counter and pay at the 'caixa' with your slip. 'Caixa eletrônico' is a cash machine.
Onde fica…?A1
OHN-jee FEE-kah
Pergunta para saber onde fica um lugar.
Synonyms:onde é…?
Where is…?
Onde fica a estação? Onde fica o banheiro?
Where is the station? Where is the bathroom?
Frame: 'onde fica' plus the place with its article ('a', 'o'); 'onde é' does the same job. Open with 'com licença' or 'desculpe'. The answer will use the three direction words: à esquerda, à direita, reto.
Onde fica o banheiro?A1
OHN-jee FEE-kah oo bahn-YAY-roo
Pergunta para encontrar o banheiro.
Where is the bathroom?
Com licença, onde fica o banheiro? – No fundo, à direita.
Excuse me, where is the bathroom? – At the back, on the right.
'Banheiro' is the Brazilian word; in Portugal it is 'casa de banho' and 'banheiro' means lifeguard. Public toilets are rare, so malls, padarias and petrol stations are the reliable options. Doors say 'masculino' / 'feminino' or 'homens' / 'mulheres'. Toilet paper goes in the bin next to the toilet, not down it; the plumbing cannot take it.
Onde fica a estação?A1
OHN-jee FEE-kah ah ees-tah-SOWN
Pergunta para encontrar a estação de metrô ou de trem.
Where is the station?
Onde fica a estação de metrô? – Reto, dois quarteirões.
Where is the metro station? – Straight on, two blocks.
In São Paulo or Rio 'a estação' means a metro or suburban train station; say 'de metrô' to be clear. Intercity trains barely exist in Brazil, so for the next city you want 'a rodoviária' (the bus terminal). 'Metrô' is stressed on the end; 'quarteirão' is a block.
Uma passagem para Paraty, por favorA1
OO-mah pah-SAH-zhehn PAH-rah pah-rah-CHEE, por fah-VOR
Frase para comprar uma passagem de ônibus para um destino.
A ticket to Paraty, please
Uma passagem para Paraty, por favor. – Só ida ou ida e volta?
A ticket to Paraty, please. – One way or return?
'Passagem' is a transport ticket (bus, plane); 'ingresso' is a ticket for a show or a museum and 'bilhete' the metro card. Intercity buses leave from the 'rodoviária', and you need your passport to buy and to board; book popular routes online a day ahead. 'Só ida' is one way, 'ida e volta' return.
Qual plataforma?A1
kwahl plah-tah-FOR-mah
Pergunta para saber de qual plataforma sai o ônibus.
Which platform?
Qual plataforma para Santos? – Plataforma sete.
Which platform for Santos? – Platform seven.
At the rodoviária buses leave from numbered 'plataformas' shown on the board next to the company name. In the metro the sign to look for is 'sentido' plus the last station on the line, which tells you the direction. 'Portão' is a gate at the airport; 'atrasado' means late.
Esquerda / direita / retoA1
ees-KEHR-dah / jee-RAY-tah / HEH-too
As três palavras de direção: esquerda, direita, reto.
Left / right / straight on
Sempre reto, depois à esquerda.
Straight on, then left.
What every answer to 'onde fica' contains: 'à esquerda', 'à direita', 'reto' or 'sempre reto' (keep straight); 'no fundo' at the back, 'perto' near, 'longe' far. Brazilians rarely admit they do not know the way, so if the answer sounds vague, ask a second person.
Entrada / SaídaA1
ehn-TRAH-dah / sah-EE-dah
As placas de entrada e de saída.
Entrance / Exit
Saída de emergência.
Emergency exit.
'Saída' is also the way out of the metro and the motorway exit. At museums 'entrada' also means the admission fee: 'entrada gratuita' is free, 'meia-entrada' half price for students and over-60s with ID, and 'ingresso' is the ticket.
Empurre / PuxeA1
ehn-POO-hee / POO-shee
As palavras nas portas: empurrar para a frente ou puxar para si.
Push / Pull
Empurre. – Puxe.
Push. – Pull.
The door trap for English speakers: 'puxe' looks like 'push' but means pull, and half of Brazil has walked into a door because of it. Say it 'POO-shee'. 'Aperte' (press) is on buttons and 'abrir' / 'fechar' (open / close) on lifts and gates.
Aproxime o cartãoA2
ah-proh-SHEE-mee oo kar-TOWN
Aviso para encostar o cartão na catraca do metrô ou do ônibus para pagar.
Synonyms:passa o cartão
Tap your card (turnstile)
Aproxime o cartão do leitor. – Passa o cartão, por favor.
Hold your card to the reader. – Tap your card, please.
Nothing to stamp in Brazil: you pay by tapping at the turnstile ('catraca') with a transport card (Bilhete Único in São Paulo, Jaé in Rio) or, on the metro and on Rio's buses, a contactless bank card; São Paulo buses take bank cards only on a few pilot lines, so there you need the Bilhete Único or cash. The trap is the bus: you pay on board, at the turnstile behind the driver, not before boarding. Rio's city buses stopped taking cash in June 2026 (Jaé card, Jaé app QR code or Pix only), and São Paulo drivers take cash but carry little change, so have a card ready rather than counting on coins. 'Passa o cartão' is what the driver or attendant says.
Ponto de ônibusA1
POHN-too jee OH-nee-boos
Lugar onde o ônibus para; é preciso fazer sinal para ele parar.
Synonyms:parada
Bus stop
Próxima parada: Avenida Paulista.
Next stop: Avenida Paulista.
'Ponto' is the word on the bus-stop sign and 'parada' the word in on-board announcements ('próxima parada'); in the metro it is 'próxima estação'. The trap: buses do not stop at a ponto unless you flag them, so hold your arm out as yours approaches, and ring the bell ('a campainha') or say 'próximo ponto, por favor' to get off.
Tenho uma reservaA1
TEHN-yoo OO-mah heh-ZEHR-vah
Frase para dizer na recepção que já se fez a reserva.
I have a reservation
Boa noite, tenho uma reserva no nome de Smith.
Good evening, I have a reservation under Smith.
The check-in opener at hotels and restaurants; 'no nome de' plus your surname gives the name. Hotels ask for your passport and a registration form ('ficha'), which the law requires; it is not suspicion. Breakfast ('café da manhã') is almost always included; 'o café está incluso?' checks.
A chave, por favorA1
ah SHAH-vee, por fah-VOR
Pedido da chave do quarto na recepção.
The key, please
A chave, por favor. Quarto doze.
The key, please. Room twelve.
Most hotels use key cards ('o cartão'), but pousadas and small hotels still keep keys at the desk: leave it when you go out and give the room number when you return. 'Quarto' is the room; in a hotel 'apartamento' also means a room, not a flat.
Qual é a senha do Wi-Fi?A1
kwahl EH ah SEHN-yah doo wye-FYE
Pergunta para saber a senha da rede Wi-Fi.
What's the Wi-Fi password?
Qual é a senha do Wi-Fi? – Tá no cartão, na mesa.
What's the Wi-Fi password? – It's on the card, on the table.
'Senha' is password, and also your PIN at the card machine and the numbered ticket you take in a queue. Brazilians say 'Wi-Fi' the English way, 'wye-fye'. Free Wi-Fi is standard in cafés, malls and hotels; ask and it will be on the receipt or a card.
Que horas é o café da manhã?A1
kee OH-rahs EH oo kah-FEH dah mahn-YAHN
Pergunta sobre o horário do café da manhã no hotel.
What time is breakfast?
Que horas é o café da manhã? – Das seis e meia às dez.
What time is breakfast? – From half past six to ten.
'Café da manhã' (literally morning coffee) is breakfast, usually included and generous: fruit, pão de queijo, cake, juice. In Portugal it is 'pequeno-almoço'. 'Que horas é' asks when something happens and 'das… às…' gives the range; the other one you need is 'que horas é o check-out?'.
Socorro!A1
soh-KOH-hoo
Grito para pedir ajuda em uma emergência.
Help!
Socorro! Chama uma ambulância!
Help! Call an ambulance!
Shout it; everyone reacts. There is no single emergency number: 190 is the police, 192 is SAMU, the ambulance service, 193 the fire brigade, and operators rarely speak English, so ask a local to call. If someone grabs your phone or bag, Brazilians will tell you the same thing: do not resist, hand it over.
Preciso de um médicoA2
preh-SEE-zoo jee oon MEH-jee-koo
Frase para dizer que precisa de um médico.
I need a doctor
Preciso de um médico. Não estou me sentindo bem.
I need a doctor. I don't feel well.
'Preciso de' is I need. Public emergency rooms ('pronto-socorro', 'UPA') treat anyone free of charge, tourists included, but the wait is long; private hospitals are quick and take travel insurance. Call 192 for an ambulance. For minor problems, go to the pharmacy first.
Onde fica a farmácia?A1
OHN-jee FEE-kah ah far-MAH-syah
Pergunta para encontrar a farmácia; também se chama 'drogaria'.
Synonyms:drogaria
Where is the pharmacy?
Onde fica a farmácia mais próxima? – Na esquina, a drogaria.
Where is the nearest pharmacy? – On the corner, the drugstore.
The sign says 'farmácia' or 'drogaria', the same thing. Brazil has no standard symbol like Europe's green cross (a few use it, most do not): look for the word or a chain name, Drogasil, Droga Raia, Pague Menos, Drogaria São Paulo, Drogarias Pacheco in Rio. They are everywhere, often open until midnight or 24 hours ('24h'), and the pharmacist advises and sells most things without a prescription, antibiotics excepted.
Chame a polícia, por favorA2
SHAH-mee ah poh-LEE-syah, por fah-VOR
Pedido para chamar a polícia em caso de emergência ou roubo.
Call the police, please
Chame a polícia, por favor. Roubaram minha carteira.
Call the police, please. My wallet has been stolen.
The police number is 190. For a theft you need a 'boletim de ocorrência' (B.O., police report) for insurance, made at a 'delegacia' or online in most states; Rio and São Paulo have a tourist police station ('Delegacia do Turista') with English speakers. Bring your passport or a photo of it.
Estou perdido / perdidaA1
ees-TOH pehr-JEE-doo / pehr-JEE-dah
Frase para dizer que não sabe onde está.
I'm lost
Estou perdida. Onde fica o Pão de Açúcar?
I'm lost. Where is Sugarloaf Mountain?
'Perdido' if you are male, 'perdida' if female; Brazilians shorten 'estou' to 'tô'. Follow it with 'onde fica' and the place, or show the address on your phone. 'É longe?' (is it far?) gets a useful answer, and people will often walk you part of the way.
Pode chamar um táxi, por favor?A2
POH-jee shah-MAR oon TAHK-see, por fah-VOR
Pedido educado para que chamem um táxi.
Can you call a taxi, please?
Pode chamar um táxi, por favor? – Claro, para onde?
Can you call a taxi, please? – Of course, where to?
'Pode' is the polite 'can you'. Apps (Uber, 99) are the norm and usually cheaper; hailing a taxi in the street is fine too, and hotels and restaurants will call one gladly. Check the meter ('taxímetro') is running; at airports the taxi desks sell fixed-price rides, which avoids any discussion.
umA1
oon
O número 1.
one
Um cafezinho, por favor.
One coffee, please.
'Um' before masculine nouns, 'uma' before feminine ones (uma mesa, uma água); counting or answering on its own it is 'um'. Nasal: say 'oon' through the nose, not 'oom'.
doisA1
doys
O número 2.
two
Uma mesa para dois, por favor.
A table for two, please.
'Dois' for masculine, 'duas' for feminine nouns (duas cervejas, duas passagens); on its own it is 'dois'. 'Somos dois' means there are two of us.
trêsA1
trays
O número 3.
three
Plataforma três.
Platform three.
Sounds like English 'trace' (most Brazilians say 'treys'), not like 'dress'. Platform numbers, room numbers and bus numbers are read as plain numbers; bus 3 is 'o três'.
quatroA1
KWAH-troo
O número 4.
four
Somos quatro.
There are four of us.
'Somos' plus a number is how you tell a restaurant how many you are. The final 'o' is 'oo', as in every Brazilian word ending in 'o'.
cincoA1
SEEN-koo
O número 5.
five
São cinco reais.
That's five reais.
'São' plus a price is how the total is announced. The currency is 'real' in the singular and 'reais' (heh-EYES) in the plural; R$ 5,50 is 'cinco e cinquenta'.
seisA1
sayss
O número 6.
six
O ônibus sai às seis.
The bus leaves at six.
'Às' plus the hour is 'at'. The trap: when reading out phone numbers, room numbers or codes, Brazilians say 'meia' (half, from half a dozen) instead of 'seis', so '6' in an address read aloud is 'meia'. Timetables use the 24-hour clock: 18h is 'dezoito' on the board, 'seis da tarde' in speech.
seteA1
SEH-chee
O número 7.
seven
O café da manhã é às sete.
Breakfast is at seven.
'Te' at the end of a word sounds like 'chee' in Brazil, so 'sete' is 'SEH-chee', not 'set'. Hotel breakfast and shop hours are given this way: 'das sete' from seven.
oitoA1
OY-too
O número 8.
eight
Reserva para as oito.
A reservation for eight o'clock.
'Para as' plus the hour is 'for' a time when booking. Brazilians eat dinner late, so a table 'para as oito' is an early one; 'oito da noite' makes clear it is evening.
noveA1
NAW-vee
O número 9.
nine
Quarto nove.
Room nine.
Open 'o' as in British 'not', and final 'e' sounds like 'ee'. Do not confuse with 'novo' (new), which has a closed 'o'. The emergency numbers start with it: 190 is 'cento e noventa', 192 'cento e noventa e dois'.
dezA1
dehss
O número 10.
ten
Dez minutos a pé.
Ten minutes on foot.
'A pé' is on foot; 'dez minutos' is the answer you hope for to 'é longe?'. 'Dez por cento' is the 10% service on every restaurant bill. 'Vinte' is twenty, 'cem' a hundred, for prices.