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If you are looking for a way to learn Portuguese quickly, one easy way to go about it is to study lists of common Portuguese phrases.
If you are planning a trip to Portugal, Brazil, or any other area where Portuguese is commonly spoken Memorizing and practicing Portuguese phrases that are used daily will help you get around.
While it’s still important to build up your vocabulary by learning Portuguese words, memorizing and learning Portuguese phrases will help. Studying phrases and their meanings will help you get a better idea about how to properly construct sentences in Portuguese, which will also improve your fluency.
Here are some good Portuguese phrases to study and learn to help improve your ability to hold daily conversations with native speakers.
Bonus: Download a free PDF file with 45 Portuguese phrases you need to learn now
1. Bom dia
Meaning: Good morning
One of the most important things to learn in Portuguese is Portuguese greetings. There are several common Portuguese phrases that are used to greet people depending on the time of day.
This is probably the first Portuguese phrase of greeting that you will get to use. This phrase is used to greet someone in the morning, any time from sunrise to around noon or 1 pm.
2. Boa tarde
Meaning: Good afternoon
If it is no longer morning, this is the Portuguese phrase that you should use to greet people. It is appropriate for anyone as long as the sun hasn’t set yet.
3. Boa noite
Meaning: Good evening
Once the sun goes down, this is an appropriate phrase to use to greet people. You can also say this when you are about to leave. The important thing to remember is that it is used at night.
4. Meu nome é
Meaning: My name is
This is a basic phrase that you can use to introduce yourself to a Portuguese speaker. Just add your actual name.
5. Muito prazer em conhecê-lo
Meaning: I’m pleased to meet you.
If you have just been introduced to a Portuguese speaker, this is the polite response to use.
6. Qual é o seu nome?
Meaning: What is your name?
You can use this Portuguese phrase to ask about someone’s name.
7. Como vai você?
Meaning: How are you?
In Portuguese, much like in other languages, once you have greeted someone and introductions have been made you should make a polite inquiry into someone’s health. This is the Portuguese phrase that you can use to do so.
8. Tudo bem?
Meaning: How are you?
This is another way that you can say “how are you” in Portuguese.
9. Como vai?
Meaning: How’s it going?
This is a more casual way of saying “how are you” in Portuguese.
10. Eu estou bem
Meaning: I’m good.
This is an appropriate way to answer the three Portuguese phrases that we talked about above. If a Portuguese speaker asks “como vai você?” or “tudo bem?” or “como vai”, you can just say this.
11. Eu estou bem, e tú?
Meaning: I’m good, how are you?
This is a slightly more polite way to answer the question “how are you?” in Portuguese.
12. Até breve!
Meaning: See you soon!
If you need to say goodbye to someone who is leaving your group, you can say this.
13. Até logo!
Meaning: See you later!
This is another way that you can say goodbye to someone who is leaving. This can be used as a general farewell but it is also commonly used when saying farewell to someone you know you are going to be seeing at a later date.
For example, if you had lunch with a group of classmates and one is leaving, but you all have class at 4 pm you can say “Até logo” because you know you are seeing them then.
14. Até amanhã
Meaning: See you tomorrow
This is another way to say goodbye in Portuguese, but this one is used when you know that there is a specific time that you will see them again. In this case, you will see them again tomorrow.
15. Por favor
Meaning: Please
This is one of those polite Portuguese phrases that you want to know and use as much as possible. If you say this after a statement, it makes what you say sound more polite. It can also be used on its own to call someone’s attention to you.
For example, if you are in a restaurant, you can say “por favor” to get a servers attention. Once you have it, you can then make your request.
16. Com licenca
Meaning: Excuse me
This is another one of those polite Portuguese phrases that you will want to know.
17. O senhor
Meaning: Sir
If you don’t know the name of someone that you are addressing and they are male, you can use this phrase to get their attention.
18. A senhora
Meaning: Ma’am
If you don’t know the name of someone that you are addressing and they are female, you can use this phrase to get their attention.
19. Fala Ingles?
Meaning: Do you speak English?
If you need to ask for something important and you are unsure that you can make your request understood in Portuguese, you can use this phrase.
20. Alguém aqui fala inglês?
Meaning: Does anyone here speak English?
Basically “fala ingles” if you are addressing a group of Portuguese speakers.
21. Não compreendo
Meaning: I don’t understand
You can say this if you are having a hard time understanding what a Portuguese speaker is saying to you.
22. Eu compreendo
Meaning: I understand
You can say this if you want to confirm that you understood what a Portuguese speaker is saying to you.
23. Não entendi
Meaning: I don’t understand what you said
Another way of saying that you didn’t understand what a Portuguese speaker said to you.
24. Fale mais devagar, por favor
Meaning: Please speak more slowly
If you can’t catch what a Portuguese speaker said, you can say this phrase. If they speak slower, you might be able to eventually say “eu compreendo”.
25. Pode dizer outra vez?
Meaning: Can you say that again?
You can use this phrase to ask a Portuguese speaker to repeat what they said. You can use it with “fale mais devagar” as well.
26. Preciso de tua ajuda
Meaning: I need your help
You can use this phrase to ask Portuguese speakers for help. If, for example, you need to ask someone from directions you say this first to get their attention before asking your specific question.
27. Onde fica a casa de banho?
Meaning: Where is the bathroom?
This is a pretty basic phrase that you are bound to find yourself needing to use at least once a day.
28. Quanto custa?
Meaning: How much does this cost?
If you plan to go shopping, this is one of those very useful Portuguese phrases to know.
29. Que horas são?
Meaning: What time is it?
This is another useful Portuguese phrase to know if you are out and about for sightseeing or business.
30. Que hora abre?
Meaning: What time does this place open?
If you have arrived at a place like a restaurant or store and found it is closed, you can use this phrase to ask passersby when it will be open.
31. Que horas fecha?
Meaning: What time does this place close?
This is also a rather useful Portuguese phrase to know when traveling.
32. Estou perdido/perdida
Meaning: I am lost.
This is a phrase you can use when you need to ask for someone’s help in finding a place. If you are addressing a male, use “perdido”, if you are addressing a female, use “perdida”.
33. Como chego ao/ à
Meaning: How do I get to?
This is another one of those Portuguese phrases that are very useful to know when traveling. It allows you to ask someone for directions to a specific place.
If the place you are asking about is a “masculine” noun, you should use “ao”. If it is a “feminine” noun, however, you use “à”
34. Você pode me mostrar no mapa?
Meaning: Can you show me on the map?
It’s always a good idea to have a map of the area you will be staying. With this phrase and a map, you can easily get a Portuguese speaker to give you directions.
35. Para onde vai esse trem?
Meaning: Where does this train go?
Trains are a popular form of travel in many Portuguese-speaking countries. You will probably find yourself riding a few, so this is a good phrase to know to make sure that you ride the right one.
36. Para onde vai esse ônibus?
Meaning: Where does this bus go?
“Ônibus” is the Portuguese word for public bus. You will want to know this phrase to make sure that you find the right bus to ride.
37. Onde posso encontrar um taxi?
Meaning: Where can I find a taxi?
If you want to take a taxi to get around, you can use this phrase to ask about where you can find one.
38. Onde se apahan o metro?
Meaning: Where do you catch the metro?
If the city you are in has a metro system, you can use this phrase to ask about where you can find the nearest station.
39. Eu estou doente
Meaning: I’m sick
If you are not feeling well, you can use this phrase to alert Portuguese speakers that you might need medical assistance.
40. A conta, por favor
Meaning: The bill please
This is a useful phrase to know if you are dining out.
41. Eu queria o menu, por favor
Meaning: I’d like a menu, please
Another useful phrase to know if you are dining out.
42. Aceita cartão de crédito?
Meaning: Do you accept credit card?
If you are shopping or dining out, you might find yourself having to use this phrase when it comes time to pay.
43. Gostaria de pagar em dinheiro
Meaning: I’d like to pay in cash
Another phrase you might want to use at a store or restaurant when the time has come to pay.
44. Estou com fome
Meaning: I’m hungry
This is a useful Portuguese phrase that you will probably find yourself needing to use every now and then. After you say this, you can ask about a good restaurant.
45. Vocês tem un quarto disponível?
Meaning: Do you have a room available?
If you have arrived at a hotel and hostel and you want to know if you can stay there, you can use this phrase.
Conclusion
Memorizing common Portuguese phrases are a great way to quickly learn how to communicate with native Portuguese language speakers. It is also a good idea to learn some common Portuguese idioms, which are phrases that have a different meaning from their literal meaning.
To help you in your language journey, we have provided this downloadable PDF file of Portuguese phrases. We suggest that you take this list and show it to an online native Portuguese speaking tutor. They can help explain to you the proper times and places to use these phrases.
Take note that most of the phrases we listed above in European Portuguese. European Portuguese is a regional variant of Portuguese that is associated with Portugal. It is the most common variant of Portuguese, but there are also a large number of Brazilian Portuguese speakers in the world.
Brazilian Portuguese is commonly associated with Portuguese speakers who come from Brazil. While European and Brazilian Portuguese share a common vocabulary and follow the same grammar rules, there are certain words and phrases that are more common to one variant than the others. There are also some differences in pronunciation.
These regional differences are another reason why it is important that you work with a native Portuguese speaking tutor. You need to specify that you want to learn European or Brazilian Portuguese so that they can help you with your pronunciation and accent to ensure that you will avoid any misunderstandings.
