Portuguese Trip Kit50 Portuguese phrases for your trip, with pronunciation

Greet, thank, apologise, get attention, admit you don't understand.

1. Oi / Bom dia oy / bohn JEE-ah
   Hello / Good morning
   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'.
   Bom dia! Um cafezinho, por favor. – Bom dia, tudo bem? — Good morning! A coffee, please. – Good morning, how are you?
2. Boa tarde / Boa noite BOH-ah TAR-jee / BOH-ah NOY-chee
   Good afternoon / Good evening
   '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.
   Boa noite, tem mesa para dois? – Boa noite, tem sim. — Good evening, is there a table for two? – Good evening, yes there is.
3. Por favor por fah-VOR
   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.
   Uma água, por favor. — A water, please.
4. Obrigado / Obrigada oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah
   Thank you
   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'.
   Muito obrigada! – Imagina! — Thanks a lot! – Don't mention it!
5. Desculpe jees-KOOL-pee
   Excuse me / Sorry
   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.
   Desculpe, pode me ajudar? – Claro. — Excuse me, can you help me? – Of course.
6. Com licença kohn lee-SEHN-sah
   Excuse me (to get past)
   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'.
   Com licença! Vou descer. – Pode passar. — Excuse me! I'm getting off. – Go ahead.
7. Sim / Não seen / nown
   Yes / No
   '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.
   Quer mais alguma coisa? – Não, obrigado. — Anything else? – No, thanks.
8. Você fala inglês? voh-SEH FAH-lah een-GLEHS
   Do you speak English?
   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.
   Desculpe, você fala inglês? – Um pouquinho. — Excuse me, do you speak English? – A tiny bit.
9. Não entendo nown ehn-TEHN-doo
   I don't understand
   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.
   Não entendo. Mais devagar, por favor. — I don't understand. More slowly, please.
10. Tchau chow
    Goodbye
    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.
    Obrigado, tchau! – Tchau, boa tarde! — Thanks, bye! – Bye, have a good afternoon!

Get a table, order, pay, be polite about food.

1. Uma mesa para dois, por favor OO-mah MEH-zah PAH-rah doys, por fah-VOR
   A table for two, please
   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.
   Boa noite, uma mesa para dois, por favor. – Tem reserva? — Good evening, a table for two, please. – Do you have a reservation?
2. Eu queria… ay-oo keh-REE-ah frame
   I'd like…
   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.
   Eu queria um pão de queijo. Eu queria um suco de laranja. — I'd like a cheese bread. I'd like an orange juice.
3. O cardápio, por favor oo kar-DAH-pyoo, por fah-VOR
   The menu, please
   '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.
   O cardápio, por favor. Tem cardápio em inglês? — The menu, please. Do you have a menu in English?
4. Um cafezinho, por favor oon kah-feh-ZEEN-yoo, por fah-VOR
   A coffee (= a small, strong black coffee, sometimes already sweetened), please
   '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.
   Um cafezinho, por favor. – Com açúcar? – Sem açúcar, obrigada. — A coffee, please. – With sugar? – No sugar, thanks.
5. Com gás ou sem gás? kohn GAHS oh sehn GAHS
   Sparkling or still?
   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.
   Água com gás ou sem gás? – Sem gás, por favor. — Sparkling or still water? – Still, please.
6. A conta, por favor ah KOHN-tah, por fah-VOR
   The bill, please
   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).
   Moço, a conta, por favor. – Já trago. — Excuse me, the bill, please. – Coming right up.
7. Posso pagar com cartão? POH-soo pah-GAR kohn kar-TOWN
   Can I pay by card?
   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.
   Posso pagar com cartão? – Pode. Débito ou crédito? — Can I pay by card? – Yes. Debit or credit?
8. Saúde! sah-OO-jee
   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.
   Saúde! – Saúde! — Cheers! – Cheers!
9. Bom apetite! bohn ah-peh-CHEE-chee
   Enjoy your meal!
   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.
   Bom apetite! – Obrigado, igualmente. — Enjoy your meal! – Thanks, you too.
10. Serviço 10% sehr-VEE-soo, dehz por SEHN-too sign
    Service charge (on the bill)
    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.
    Serviço 10% (opcional): R$ 9,50. Total: R$ 104,50. — Service 10% (optional): 9.50 reais. Total: 104.50 reais.

Ask prices, pay, browse without buying, read the two signs that matter.

1. Quanto custa…? KWAHN-too KOOS-tah frame
   How much is…?
   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.
   Quanto custa isso? Quanto custa uma passagem? — How much is this? How much is a ticket?
2. Tá muito caro tah MWEEN-too KAH-roo
   That's too expensive
   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.
   Tá muito caro. Faz por trinta? – Faço por quarenta. — That's too expensive. Will you do thirty? – I'll do forty.
3. Dinheiro ou cartão? jeen-YAY-roo oh kar-TOWN
   Cash or card?
   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.
   Dinheiro ou cartão? – Cartão, crédito. — Cash or card? – Card, credit.
4. A nota, por favor ah NOH-tah, por fah-VOR
   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.
   CPF na nota? – Não, obrigado. A nota, por favor. — Tax number on the receipt? – No, thanks. The receipt, please.
5. Só estou olhando, obrigado soh ees-TOH oh-LYAHN-doo, oh-bree-GAH-doo
   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'.
   Posso ajudar? – Só estou olhando, obrigada. — Can I help you? – I'm just looking, thanks.
6. Só isso, obrigado soh EE-soo, oh-bree-GAH-doo
   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.
   Mais alguma coisa? – Só isso, obrigado. — Anything else? – That's all, thanks.
7. Um desse, por favor oon DEH-see, por fah-VOR
   One of these, please
   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'.
   Um desse, por favor. – Pra viagem ou pra comer aqui? — One of these, please. – To take away or to eat here?
8. Tem…? tehn frame
   Do you have…?
   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.
   Tem um tamanho maior? Tem Wi-Fi? — Do you have a bigger size? Do you have Wi-Fi?
9. Aberto / Fechado ah-BEHR-too / feh-SHAH-doo sign
   Open / Closed
   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.
   Aberto das 9h às 18h. Fechado aos domingos. — Open from 9 am to 6 pm. Closed on Sundays.
10. Promoção / Caixa proh-moh-SOWN / KY-shah sign
    Sale / 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.
    Promoção: 30% de desconto. Pague no caixa. — Sale: 30% off. Pay at the checkout.

Find things, buy a ticket, read the signs you walk past.

1. Onde fica…? OHN-jee FEE-kah frame
   Where is…?
   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 a estação? Onde fica o banheiro? — Where is the station? Where is the bathroom?
2. Onde fica o banheiro? OHN-jee FEE-kah oo bahn-YAY-roo
   Where is the bathroom?
   '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.
   Com licença, onde fica o banheiro? – No fundo, à direita. — Excuse me, where is the bathroom? – At the back, on the right.
3. Onde fica a estação? OHN-jee FEE-kah ah ees-tah-SOWN
   Where is the station?
   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.
   Onde fica a estação de metrô? – Reto, dois quarteirões. — Where is the metro station? – Straight on, two blocks.
4. Uma passagem para Paraty, por favor OO-mah pah-SAH-zhehn PAH-rah pah-rah-CHEE, por fah-VOR
   A ticket to Paraty, please
   '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.
   Uma passagem para Paraty, por favor. – Só ida ou ida e volta? — A ticket to Paraty, please. – One way or return?
5. Qual plataforma? kwahl plah-tah-FOR-mah
   Which platform?
   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.
   Qual plataforma para Santos? – Plataforma sete. — Which platform for Santos? – Platform seven.
6. Esquerda / direita / reto ees-KEHR-dah / jee-RAY-tah / HEH-too
   Left / right / straight on
   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.
   Sempre reto, depois à esquerda. — Straight on, then left.
7. Entrada / Saída ehn-TRAH-dah / sah-EE-dah sign
   Entrance / 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.
   Saída de emergência. — Emergency exit.
8. Empurre / Puxe ehn-POO-hee / POO-shee sign
   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.
   Empurre. – Puxe. — Push. – Pull.
9. Aproxime o cartão ah-proh-SHEE-mee oo kar-TOWN sign
   Tap your card (turnstile)
   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.
   Aproxime o cartão do leitor. – Passa o cartão, por favor. — Hold your card to the reader. – Tap your card, please.
10. Ponto de ônibus POHN-too jee OH-nee-boos sign
    Bus stop
    '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.
    Próxima parada: Avenida Paulista. — Next stop: Avenida Paulista.

Check in, get online, and get help when something goes wrong.

1. Tenho uma reserva TEHN-yoo OO-mah heh-ZEHR-vah
   I have a reservation
   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.
   Boa noite, tenho uma reserva no nome de Smith. — Good evening, I have a reservation under Smith.
2. A chave, por favor ah SHAH-vee, por fah-VOR
   The key, please
   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.
   A chave, por favor. Quarto doze. — The key, please. Room twelve.
3. Qual é a senha do Wi-Fi? kwahl EH ah SEHN-yah doo wye-FYE
   What's the Wi-Fi password?
   '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.
   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.
4. Que horas é o café da manhã? kee OH-rahs EH oo kah-FEH dah mahn-YAHN
   What time is breakfast?
   '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?'.
   Que horas é o café da manhã? – Das seis e meia às dez. — What time is breakfast? – From half past six to ten.
5. Socorro! soh-KOH-hoo
   Help!
   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.
   Socorro! Chama uma ambulância! — Help! Call an ambulance!
6. Preciso de um médico preh-SEE-zoo jee oon MEH-jee-koo
   I need a doctor
   '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.
   Preciso de um médico. Não estou me sentindo bem. — I need a doctor. I don't feel well.
7. Onde fica a farmácia? OHN-jee FEE-kah ah far-MAH-syah
   Where is the pharmacy?
   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.
   Onde fica a farmácia mais próxima? – Na esquina, a drogaria. — Where is the nearest pharmacy? – On the corner, the drugstore.
8. Chame a polícia, por favor SHAH-mee ah poh-LEE-syah, por fah-VOR
   Call the police, please
   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.
   Chame a polícia, por favor. Roubaram minha carteira. — Call the police, please. My wallet has been stolen.
9. Estou perdido / perdida ees-TOH pehr-JEE-doo / pehr-JEE-dah
   I'm lost
   '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.
   Estou perdida. Onde fica o Pão de Açúcar? — I'm lost. Where is Sugarloaf Mountain?
10. Pode chamar um táxi, por favor? POH-jee shah-MAR oon TAHK-see, por fah-VOR
    Can you call a taxi, please?
    '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.
    Pode chamar um táxi, por favor? – Claro, para onde? — Can you call a taxi, please? – Of course, where to?