Most Useful Portuguese Phrases for Tourists

Planning a trip to a Portuguese-speaking country? Don’t get lost in translation! Learn essential Portuguese phrases for smooth travels. From greetings like “Olá” and “Bom dia” to asking for directions (“Onde está…?”), this guide equips you with the basics. Discover how to order food, ask for help, and navigate like a local. Start speaking Portuguese with confidence today!

Important information

• Greetings: Start with “Olá” (hello). Use “Bom dia” (good morning), “Boa tarde” (good afternoon), or “Boa noite” (good night/evening) depending on the time. Say “Tchau” (Brazil) or “Adeus” (Portugal) for goodbye.
• Essentials: “Por favor” (please), “Obrigado/a” (thank you), “De nada” (you’re welcome), “Com licença” (excuse me), and “Desculpe” (sorry) are key polite phrases.
• Questions: Ask “Onde está…?” (where is…?), “Quanto é…?” (how much is…?), or “Que horas são?” (what time is it?). “Fala inglês?” helps you find English speakers.
• Dining: “Quanto custa?” (how much does this cost?) is useful in restaurants and shops. “Conta” means the bill, and “Gorjeta” is a tip (Brazil).
• Directions: Use “Esquerda” (left), “Direita” (right), and “Em frente” (straight ahead) to navigate. “Onde fica…?” (where is…?) helps locate specific places.

Most Useful Portuguese Phrases for Tourists

Asking for directions involves basic terms:

• “Esquerda” (Left),
• “Direita” (Right),
• “Em frente” (Straight ahead).

“Perto” means near, and “longe” means far. To pinpoint a location, ask “Onde fica…?” (Where is…?) followed by the place, such as “o banheiro” (bathroom), “o hotel” (hotel), or “o museu” (museum).

Basic Greetings and Introductions

“Olá” is a common Portuguese greeting, similar to “Hi” or “Hello” in English. To ask someone how they’re doing, use “Como vai?”. A simple “Bem” (“Well”) works as a reply, or you could say “Eu estou bem” (“I am good”). “Prazer” is the equivalent of “Nice to meet you”. Portuguese also has time-specific greetings: “Bom dia” for “Good morning”, “Boa tarde” for “Good afternoon”, and “Boa noite” for both “Good evening” and “Good night”.

Polite and Helpful Expressions

Mastering politeness in Portuguese is easy. Use “Por favor” for “please”. Express gratitude with “Obrigado” (male) or “Obrigada” (female”. Use “Desculpe” for both “excuse me” and “sorry”.

Questions and Requests

Shopping and Dining Phrases

Dining in Portuguese-speaking countries like Brazil and Portugal? Here’s a handy vocabulary guide. To inquire about the price, simply ask, “How much does this cost?”. Let’s start with the meals. Breakfast is “Café da manhã” in Brazil and “Pequeno-almoço” in Portugal. For lunch, use “Almoço”. For dinner, it’s “Jantar”.

Directional Phrases

Lost? Just ask “Onde está…?” (Where is…?). “Onde fica…?” works equally well, guiding you to your destination. Need the route? Try “Como chego ao (à)?” (How do I get to…?). For public transport like trains or buses, ask “Para onde vai esse trem/ônibus?” (Where does this train/bus go?).