Written Portuguese is fairly readable for speakers of other Romance languages, but the Portuguese spoken in Portugal can sound like another language altogether: unstressed vowels are swallowed, a final s is pronounced sh, and there are many nasal sounds. The Portuguese greatly appreciate visitors who try a few words of their language, and many, especially young people, speak good English; it is best not to assume they enjoy being addressed in Spanish. For the history of the language, see the history of Portuguese.
Greetings and courtesy
| English | Portuguese | Approximate pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Bom dia | bong DEE-a |
| Good afternoon | Boa tarde | BOH-a TARD |
| Good evening, good night | Boa noite | BOH-a NOYT |
| Hello / Goodbye | Olá / Adeus or Tchau | oh-LAH / a-DEH-oosh, chow |
| Please | Por favor | poor fa-VOR |
| Thank you (said by a man / by a woman) | Obrigado / Obrigada | oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-da |
| You're welcome | De nada | de NAH-da |
| Excuse me | Desculpe / Com licença | desh-KOOLP / kong lee-SEN-sa |
| Yes, no | Sim, não | sing, nowng |
| I don't understand | Não percebo | nowng per-SEH-boo |
| Do you speak English? | Fala inglês? | FAH-la eeng-GLESH |
At the café and restaurant
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| An espresso | Um café (in Lisbon also uma bica) |
| A milky coffee in a glass | Um galão |
| A small draught beer | Um imperial (in Porto um fino) |
| A custard tart | Um pastel de nata |
| The menu, please | A ementa, por favor |
| Dish of the day | O prato do dia |
| Still / sparkling water | Água sem gás / com gás |
| The bill, please | A conta, se faz favor |
| It was delicious | Estava delicioso |
Watch out for the couvert: bread, butter, olives and cheese brought to the table at the start of the meal are not free; if you don't want them, just politely decline. See Portuguese food.
Numbers
Um/uma (1), dois/duas (2), três (3), quatro (4), cinco (5), seis (6), sete (7), oito (8), nove (9), dez (10), vinte (20), cem (100), mil (1,000).
Directions and transport
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Where is...? | Onde fica...? |
| The station / the bus stop | A estação / a paragem do autocarro |
| A ticket to... | Um bilhete para... |
| Right / left / straight on | À direita / à esquerda / em frente |
| Is it far? | É longe? |
| The toilet | A casa de banho |
Shopping and emergencies
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| How much is it? | Quanto custa? |
| Can I pay by card? | Posso pagar com cartão? |
| Help! | Socorro! |
| Call a doctor | Chamem um médico |
| The pharmacy | A farmácia |
The single emergency number is 112.
European and Brazilian Portuguese
The Portuguese of Portugal differs from Brazilian Portuguese in pronunciation, some vocabulary and grammar: a bus is autocarro in Portugal and ônibus in Brazil, a train comboio and trem, breakfast pequeno-almoço and café da manhã. Everyone understands each other, but phrasebooks and apps often teach the Brazilian variety. And if a Portuguese person says pois, they are simply agreeing: it may be the most used word in the country.