Portuguese for a trip to Brazil: phrases for everyday situations

Brazilians are generally warm and patient with visitors who try a few words of Portuguese, and even small efforts tend to be appreciated. The phrases below are Brazilian Portuguese; Portugal uses a different accent and some different words, explained in Brazilian vs European Portuguese.

Greetings and small talk

• Oi / Olá: hi / hello. Oi is everyday and friendly.
• Bom dia / Boa tarde / Boa noite: good morning / afternoon / evening.
• Tudo bem?: how are you? The usual reply is tudo bem or tudo bom. It works as both question and answer.
• Prazer: nice to meet you.
• Tchau: bye.

Thanks, please and sorry

• Obrigado (if you're a man) / Obrigada (if you're a woman): thank you. The form matches the speaker, not the person you're thanking.
• Valeu!: thanks! Very informal, very common.
• Por favor: please.
• De nada: you're welcome.
• Com licença: excuse me, when passing someone or getting attention.
• Desculpa: sorry.

Small but very Brazilian

• Beleza?: all good? Informal greeting; answered with beleza.
• Pode ser: sure, that works. Useful when someone suggests something.
• Com certeza: definitely, of course.
• Nossa!: wow! / oh my! An all-purpose exclamation.

Food and drink

• Uma mesa para dois, por favor. A table for two, please.
• O cardápio, por favor. The menu, please.
• Eu queria... / Me vê... I'd like... (Me vê um suco is a common, casual way to order.)
• Sem açúcar / sem gelo: without sugar / without ice. Fresh juices are often sweetened by default.
• A conta, por favor. The bill, please.
• Está ótimo! It's great!

Many restaurants add a service charge to the bill; check before adding more.

Getting around

• Onde fica...? Where is...? Onde fica a estação de metrô?
• É longe? Is it far?
• Quanto custa? How much does it cost?
• Para o aeroporto, por favor. To the airport, please.
• Pode me deixar aqui. You can drop me here.

Distances in Brazilian cities can be large, and people often give directions with landmarks rather than street names. Perto da padaria (near the bakery) is a perfectly normal direction.

When you don't understand

• Não entendi. I didn't understand.
• Pode falar mais devagar? Can you speak more slowly?
• Como se diz... em português? How do you say... in Portuguese?

Before you go

Brazilian Portuguese can sound fast at first, but it becomes familiar quickly with some listening practice. Learning the core words in advance, such as those in the Portuguese A1 flashcards, means you'll recognise them in fast speech instead of hearing a blur. And once you're there, using the language on the trip is the best practice of all.