5 min read

73 Basic Portuguese Phrases for Your Next Trip to Brazil 🇧🇷

Learn essential Portuguese phrases for your trip to Brazil and communicate like a local. Perfect for travelers eager to immerse in Brazilian culture.

Tobi Miles

March 30, 2024

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73 Basic Portuguese Phrases for Your Next Trip to Brazil 🇧🇷

Oi, tudo bem? 😎 (Oh-ee, too-doo beng? - Hi, how's it going?) Welcome to the ultimate guide to mastering Portuguese phrases for your upcoming Brazilian adventure! Brazil, the land of samba, soccer, and endless festivities, has a unique twist on the Portuguese language that will make you fall in love with its rhythmic charm. Get ready to impress the locals with your linguistic skills and dive into the vibrant Brazilian culture like a true "gringo" (foreigner)! 🎉

Greetings and Pleasantries 🙌

Olá - Oh-lah - Hello
Bom dia - Bong dee-ah - Good morning
Boa tarde - Boh-ah tar-day - Good afternoon
Boa noite - Boh-ah noy-chee - Good evening/night
Tudo bem? - Too-doo beng? - How are you?
Eu estou bem, obrigado/a - Eh-oo es-toh beng, oh-bree-gah-doo/dah - I'm fine, thank you
Por favor - Poor fah-vor - Please
Com licença - Kong lee-seng-sah - Excuse me
Desculpe - Des-cool-pee - Sorry
Muito obrigado/a - Moo-ee-toh oh-bree-gah-doo/dah - Thank you very much
De nada - Gee nah-dah - You're welcome
Até logo - Ah-teh loh-goo - See you later
Tchau - Chow - Bye

In Brazil, greetings are essential for establishing a friendly rapport. Brazilians are known for their warmth and hospitality, so don't be shy to strike up a conversation with a heartfelt "Olá!" 😄

Getting Around 🚕

Onde fica...? - Ohn-gee fee-kah...? - Where is...?
A estação de metrô - Ah es-tah-sow gee meh-troh - The subway station
O ponto de ônibus - Ooh pong-toh gee oh-nee-boos - The bus stop
O aeroporto - Ooh ah-eh-roh-por-toh - The airport
O hotel - Ooh oh-teh-ooh - The hotel
O restaurante - Ooh hes-tow-rahn-chee - The restaurant
O banheiro - Ooh bahn-yeh-roh - The bathroom
Esquerda - Es-kehr-dah - Left
Direita - Gee-ray-tah - Right
Reto - Heh-toh - Straight ahead
Você pode me ajudar? - Voh-seh poh-gee mee ah-zhoo-dar? - Can you help me?
Quanto custa a passagem? - Kwahn-toh koos-tah ah pah-sah-zheng? - How much is the fare?
Você aceita cartão de crédito? - Voh-seh ah-say-tah kar-tow gee kreh-gee-toh? - Do you accept credit cards?

Navigating through Brazil's bustling cities can be an adventure in itself. Make sure to familiarize yourself with these handy phrases to get around like a pro! 🗺️

Dining Out 🍽️

O cardápio, por favor - Ooh kar-dah-pee-oh, poor fah-vor - The menu, please
Eu gostaria de... - Eh-oo gos-tah-ree-ah gee... - I would like...
Café da manhã - Kah-feh dah mahn-yah - Breakfast
Almoço - Ow-moh-soh - Lunch
Jantar - Zhahn-tahr - Dinner
Vegetariano/a - Veh-zheh-tah-ree-ah-noh/nah - Vegetarian
Carne - Kar-nee - Meat
Frango - Frahn-goh - Chicken
Peixe - Pay-shee - Fish
Arroz - Ah-hoys - Rice
Feijão - Fay-zhow - Beans
Salada - Sah-lah-dah - Salad
Sobremesa - Soh-breh-meh-zah - Dessert
A conta, por favor - Ah kong-tah, poor fah-vor - The bill, please
Uma mesa para dois/quatro - Ooh-mah meh-zah pah-rah doy-s/kwah-troh - A table for two/four
Uma cerveja, por favor - Ooh-mah sehr-veh-zhah, poor fah-vor - A beer, please
Um suco de... - Oong soo-koh gee... - A juice of...
Água - Ah-gwah - Water

Brazilian cuisine is a flavorful fusion of indigenous, African, and European influences. Don't miss out on trying the famous "feijoada" (black bean stew), "churrasco" (barbecue), and "brigadeiros" (chocolate truffles). And remember, in Brazil, food is a celebration of life! 🎊

Shopping and Bargaining 💰

Quanto custa? - Kwahn-toh koos-tah? - How much does it cost?
Isso é muito caro - Ee-soh eh moo-ee-toh kah-roh - That's very expensive
Você pode fazer um desconto? - Voh-seh poh-gee fah-zehr oong des-kong-toh? - Can you give me a discount?
Eu quero comprar... - Eh-oo keh-roh kohm-prar... - I want to buy...
Eu só estou olhando - Eh-oo soh es-toh oh-lhahn-doh - I'm just looking
Eu vou levar - Eh-oo voh leh-var - I'll take it
Você aceita dólares? - Voh-seh ah-say-tah doh-lah-res? - Do you accept dollars?
Onde posso encontrar...? - Ohn-gee poh-soh en-kon-trar...? - Where can I find...?
Eu gostei deste - Eh-oo gos-tay des-chee - I liked this one

Brazilians love to bargain, especially in markets and street fairs. Don't be afraid to negotiate prices, but always do so with a friendly smile and a "jeitinho brasileiro" (Brazilian way) 😉

Emergencies and Help 🆘

Socorro! - Soh-koh-hoh! - Help!
Eu preciso de ajuda - Eh-oo preh-see-zoh gee ah-zhoo-dah - I need help
Chame a polícia - Shah-mee ah poh-lee-see-ah - Call the police
Chame uma ambulância - Shah-mee ooh-mah ahm-boo-lahn-see-ah - Call an ambulance
Eu estou perdido/a - Eh-oo es-toh pehr-gee-doh/dah - I'm lost
Eu perdi minha carteira - Eh-oo pehr-gee mee-nyah kar-tay-rah - I lost my wallet
Eu fui roubado/a - Eh-oo foo-ee hoh-bah-doh/dah - I was robbed
Onde fica a delegacia de polícia? - Ohn-gee fee-kah ah deh-leh-gah-see-ah gee poh-lee-see-ah? - Where is the police station?
Eu preciso de um médico - Eh-oo preh-see-zoh gee oong meh-gee-koh - I need a doctor

While Brazil is generally safe, it's always good to be prepared for emergencies. Keep these phrases handy and remember, if you need assistance, don't hesitate to ask the friendly locals! 🤝

Making Friends and Flirting 😘

Qual é o seu nome? - Kwah-ooh eh ooh seh-oo noh-mee? - What's your name?
Prazer em conhecê-lo/la - Prah-zehr eng koh-nyeh-seh-loh/lah - Nice to meet you
Você é muito bonito/a - Voh-seh eh moo-ee-toh boh-nee-toh/tah - You're very handsome/beautiful
Você tem planos para hoje à noite? - Voh-seh teng plah-nohs pah-rah oh-zhee ah noy-chee? - Do you have plans for tonight?
Vamos dançar? - Vah-mohs dahn-sar? - Shall we dance?
Eu adoro seu sorriso - Eh-oo ah-doh-roh seh-oo soh-hee-zoh - I love your smile
Você quer sair comigo? - Voh-seh kehr sah-eer koh-mee-goh? - Do you want to go out with me?
Eu estou apaixonado/a por você - Eh-oo es-toh ah-pah-shoh-nah-doh/dah poor voh-seh - I'm in love with you

Brazilians are known for their warm and friendly nature, and they love to socialize. Use these phrases to break the ice and make new friends or even find romance under the sultry Brazilian sun! 💑

Useful Slang and Expressions 🗣️

Legal! - Leh-gow! - Cool!
É isso aí! - Eh ee-soh ah-ee! - That's it!
Beleza? - Beh-leh-zah? - All good?

Brazilian Portuguese is full of colorful slang and expressions that will make you sound like a true "carioca" (Rio de Janeiro native). Sprinkle these into your conversations and watch the locals beam with delight! 😄

Things to Avoid Saying 🙊

While Brazilians are generally easy-going, there are a few sensitive topics to avoid, such as:

Discussing politics or corruption 🙅‍♂️
Making negative comparisons between Brazil and other countries 🚫
Using the word "você" (you) in formal situations, opt for "o senhor/a senhora" instead 🎩

FAQ ❓

Q: Do I need to know Portuguese to visit Brazil?A: While knowing some basic phrases will definitely enhance your experience, many Brazilians in the tourism industry speak English. Don't be afraid to use gestures and a friendly smile to communicate! 😄

Q: What should I do if I accidentally offend someone?A: Apologize sincerely and explain that you didn't mean to cause offense. Brazilians are generally forgiving and understanding towards foreigners who are learning about their culture. 🙏

Q: How can I immerse myself in Brazilian culture?A: Attend local festivals, try authentic Brazilian dishes, listen to samba and bossa nova music, and most importantly, interact with the locals! Brazilians love to share their culture with visitors. 🎭

Now that you're armed with these essential Portuguese phrases, you're ready to embark on your Brazilian adventure! Remember, the key to having a fantastic time in Brazil is to embrace the laid-back, fun-loving spirit of the country. So, pack your sunscreen, put on your dancing shoes, and get ready to say "Saúde!" (Cheers!) to the trip of a lifetime! 🍹🌴

Boa viagem! (Have a good trip!) 🛫✨

Tobi Miles

Article updated:

March 30, 2024

A nomadic wordsmith savoring the world's flavors and penning stories that turn every journey into an epic.

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