This article deals with Portuguese as spoken in Europe, Africa and Asia. For Portuguese as spoken in Brazil, see Brazilian Portuguese phrasebook.
Portuguese is a Romance language closely related to Spanish, and even more closely related to Galician (in fact, many people consider that Galician and Portuguese are the same language). It is spoken as the official language of Portugal and Brazil, with some differences in pronunciation, spelling, and use of pronouns. It is also the official language of Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé e Príncipe, Angola, Mozambique, and the co-official language of East Timor, and Macau. It is spoken mainly by the elderly in Goa, Daman and Diu in India. There are around 200 million Portuguese native speakers, the vast majority in Brazil.
The Portuguese we will include in this phrasebook is of the European usage which differs from the Brazilian in sounds and pronunciation. Even though both European and Brazilian speakers will slightly understand each other if they do communicate.
Needless to say, if you know a Romance language, it will be easier for you to learn Portuguese. However, people who know a little Spanish may hastily conclude that Portuguese is close enough that it need not be studied separately. While they may be able to figure out the meaning of some signage, items on a menu, etc., understanding of verbal communication will be very low to nothing. Words such as "gente" (people) are pronounced so differently in either variant of Portuguese, that you would hardly recognise them. Also, some personal names such as "Jorge Ramos," for example, will be pronounced quite differently as well.
If you know Spanish, watch for a lot of new vowels, a huge number of contractions (comparable to del and al) and irregular plurals. For the non-fluent, some pronunciation differences can be easily missed, such as año (year) becoming ano. If you speak good French, you may find Portuguese pronunciation to be fairly easy, though much of the vocabulary will have changed substantially.
The pronunciation in Portugal differs significantly from that in Brazil. The difference is basically in pronunciation and a few vocabulary differences, which make it tricky even for Brazilians to understand the European Portuguese accent. Now the European uses a lot of those oo's which are not used in Brazilian.
Vowels
a
as the 'a' in "far" [ah] / as the 'a' in "cat"
e
as the 'e' in "get" [eh]
i
as the 'ee' in "week" [ee] / as the 'i' in "hit"
o
as the 'o' in "open" [oh]
u
as the 'oo' in "look" / as the 'oo' in "book"
Other Vowels
á
as the 'a' in "tar" but held longer
â
as the 'a' in "bat" but short
ã
a nasal sound like 'an' in "angry"
é
long sound as the 'e' in "bled"
ê
similar to the 'ea' in "bread"
êm, em, ém
nasal sound like 'en' in "end"
ó
like the 'o' in "hot"
ô
like the 'oa' in "coat"
Consonants
b
as 'b' in "boy"
c
as 'c' in "car" with a,o,u
c
as 's' in "sand" with e,i
ç
as 's' in "sun" with a,o,u
ch
as 'sh' in "shoe"
d
as 'd' in "desk"
f
as 'f' in "fist"
g
as 'g' in "go" with a,o,u
g
as 'su' in "pleasure" with e,i
gu
as 'gee' in "geek" with gui, as 'ge' in "get" with gue
gua
as 'gua' in "agua" [gwah]
h
is a silent letter at the beginning of a word
lh
as 'li' in "million"
nh
as 'ny' in "canyon"
j
as 'su' in "treasure"
k
as 'k' in "kiss" [foreign sounds]
l
as 'l' in "lip"
m
as 'm' in "monkey"
n
as 'n' in "nice"
p
as 'p' in "post"
q
as 'k' in "kite" [especially with 'u']
r
a rolled 'r' as in Spanish or Italian 'r' sound [not guttural like in Brazil]
s
as 's' in "sun" when at the beginning of a word or when followed by an 's'
s
as 'sh' sound when at the end of a word or when followed by a consontant other than 's' eg. Gostaria [goosh-tah-REE-ah]
s
as 'z' in "zoo" if preceded and followed by vowels eg. casa [KA-za]
t
as 't' in "tent"
v
as 'v' in "vine"
x
as 'x' in "taxi", as 'sh' in "ship", as 's' in "same"
z
as 'z' in "zest", end of a word 'su' in "pleasure"
Common diphthongs
au
as 'ow'in "cow"
ia
as 'ia' in "Lydia"
io
as 'io' in "frio" also 'ew' sound in "new" [yoo]
ei
as 'ay' in "play"
oa
as 'oa' in "boa"
oe
as 'we' in "wet"
oi
as 'wee' in "weed"
ou
as 'oo' in "took"
ua
as 'wa' in "water"
ui
as 'wee' in "week"
ue
as 'e' in "get"
Triphtongs
eia
as 'ay' in "pay" plus 'a' in "far" [all pronounced together]
uei
as 'ay' in "way"
Stress
As a general guide, stress the penultimate (last-but-one) syllable except where there is an accent, or the word ends with a diphthong (that is, 2 vowels which are pronounced as a single syllable – explained in full later on), or if it ends with any of the following letters: i; l; r; z; im; um; ins; uns – in which case, the stress is on the last syllable.
I wish to change part of this traveller's check. May I have the difference in currency of my country?
Desejo cambiar parte deste cheque de viagem. ¿Posso recibir a diferença em dinheiro do meu país? (" ")
I am sorry, but it is not possible. All foreign currency is delivered daily to the Government Bank.
Sinto muito, mas não é possível. Toda divisa estrangeira entrega-se diariamente ao Banco do Governo. (" ")
May I send (/receive) money to (/from) a private address in the country of... by postal or telegraphic service?
¿Posso enviar (/recibir) dinheiro para (/de) um endereço particular no país de... por serviço postal ou telegráfico? (" ")
Not in the bank, sir, but the post office nearby in this street might perhaps be able to do that.
Não no banco, senhor, mas o posto dos correios perto nesta rua quiçás possa fazer esso. (" ")
Eating
A table for one person (/two, three... persons), please.
Uma mesa para uma pessoa (/duas, três... pessoas), por favor. ()
May I seat (/may we seat) beside the window?
¿Posso sentar-me (podemos sentar-nos) junto à janela? (" ")
Can I look at the menu, please?
¿Posso ver a ementa, por favor? ()
Can I look in the kitchen?
¿Posso olhar na cozinha? ()
Is there a house specialty?
¿Há alguma especialidade da casa? ()
Is there a typical local specialty?
¿Existe alguma especialidade típica da localidade? ()
Please bring an assortment of appetizers.
Faz favor de trazer acepipes variados. (" ")
I'm a vegetarian.
Sou vegetariano. ()
I don't eat pork.
Não como carne de porco. ()
I don't eat beef.
Não como carne de vacuno. ()
I only eat kosher food.
Somente como alimentos "kosher". ()
Note: most Portuguese speakers will not understand the Hebrew term "kosher", foods will therefore need to be requested one by one.
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
¿Pode preparar a comida "leve", por favor? (pouco óleo/pouca manteiga/pouca gordura) ()
fixed-price meal
prato feito ()
a la carte
pela ementa ()
breakfast
desjejum, almoço da manhá, primeira refeição ()
lunch
almoço do meio-dia, segunda refeição ()
tea (meal)
chá ("merenda da tarde") ()
supper
janta, ceia, ultima refeição ()
I want _____.
Desejo ____. ()
I want a dish containing _____.
Desejo um prato que contenha ____. ()
chicken
frango ()
beef
carne de vacuno. ()
fish
peixe ()
tunny
atum (" ")
sardine
sardinha (" ")
cod
bacalhau (" ")
ham
presunto ()
sausage
salchicha ()
cheese
queijo ()
eggs
ovos ()
salad
salada ()
olives
azeitonas (" ")
onion
cebolha (" ")
potato
batata (" ")
tomato
tomate (" ")
maize corn
milho (" ")
(fresh) vegetables
vegetaes (frescos) ()
(fresh) fruit
fruta (fresca) ()
Note: Brazil and Portuguese-speaking African or Asian countries have an inmense diversity of fruits and other vegetables not found in Portugal, and for which there are no English names. They are known by their native names in those countries.
orange
laranja (" ")
lemon
limão (" ")
apple
maçá (" ")
pear
pera (" ")
banana
banana (" ")
grapes
uvas (" ")
pineapple
ananáz, abacaxí (" ")
peach
pêssego (" ")
apricot
alperce (" ")
coconut
coco (" ")
strawberry
morango (" ")
melon
melão (" ")
water-melon
melancia (" ")
almonds
amendoas (" ")
nuts
nozes (" ")
hazelnuts
avelãs (" ")
chestnuts
castanhas (" ")
peanuts
amendoins (" ")
bread
pão ()
biscuits
biscoitos, bolachas (" ")
toast
torrada ()
chocolate
chocolate (" ")
noodles
pasta de "noodles" ()
Note: it is not common in Portuguese-speaking countries, it will be better understood by the general term "macarrão", but that term does not specifically refer to noodles.
rice
arroz ()
beans
feijão ()
May I have a glass of _____?
¿Pode dar-me um vaso, copo com ____? ()
May I have a cup of _____?
¿Pode dar-me uma taça, xícara com ____? ()
May I have a bottle of _____?
¿Pode dar-me uma garrafa com ____? ()
milk
leite (" ")
coffee
café ()
tea (drink)
chá ("bebida") ()
juice
suco ()
sugar
açúcar (" ")
(bubbly) water
agua (gasificada, gaseosa) ()
(still) water
agua (mineral) ()
beer
cerveja ()
red/white wine
vinho (tinto/branco) ()
May I have some _____?
¿Pode dar-me algo de ____? ()
salt
sal ()
black pepper
pimenta preta ()
butter
manteiga ()
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
¡Por favor, garçon! ()
I'm finished.
Hei terminado. ()
It was delicious.
Esteve delicioso. ()
Please clear the plates.
Por favor retire os pratos. ()
The check, please.
A conta, por favor. ()
Bars
Do you serve alcohol?
Servem álcol? ()
Is there table service?
Há atendimento nas mesas? ()
A beer (/two beers), please.
Uma cerveja (/duas cervejas), por favor. ()
A glass of red (/white) wine, please.
Um copo com vinho tinto (/branco), por favor. ()
A pint, please.
Uma cerveja grande, por favor. ()
A bottle, please.
Uma garrafa, por favor. ()
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
____ ("licor puro") e ____ ("misturado"), por favor. ()
whiskey
wiski ()
vodka
vodka ()
rum
rum ()
gin
genebra (" ")
annissette
aniz (" ")
brandy
conhaque (" ")
cachaça pinga
cachaça pinga (" ")
Note: Brazilian distilled strong drink, known but uncommon in Europe, Africa or Asia.
water
agua ()
club soda
soda, refresco, refrigerante ()
guaraná soda
guaraná (" ")
Note: Brazilian soft drink, unknown in Europe, Africa or Asia.
tonic water
agua tonica ()
orange juice
suco de laranja ()
coke (soda)
coca ("refresco, refrigerante") ()
ice cubes, smashed ice
gelo em blocos, gelo esmagado (" ")
One more, please.
Traga-me outro, por favor. ()
Another round, please.
Outra ronda, por favor. ()
When is closing time?
¿A que hora fecham? ()
Cheers!
¡Saúde! ()
Snacks
Do you have any bar snacks?
¿Tem aperitivos, petiscos? ()
Note: in Brazil, Africa or Asia, and even in Portugal, there are certain popular foods that most Europeans will probably NOT appreciate. When in doubt, it is recommendable to ask first or to decline politely.
potato crisps
batatas fritas
peanuts
amendoins
almonds
amendoas
nozes
nuts
hazelnuts
avelãs
chestnuts
castanhas
olives
azeitonas
tunny
atum
salad
salada
anchovas
anchovies
shrimps
gambas
snails
caramujos
octopus
polvo
squid
lula
Shopping
Do you have this in my size?
¿Tem esto no meu tamanho? ()
How much is this?
¿Quanto é esto? ()
That's too expensive.
Esso é caro de mais. ()
Would you take _____?
¿Aceptaría ____? ()
expensive
caro ()
cheap
barato ()
I can't afford it.
Não posso pagar esso. ()
I don't want it.
Não quero esso. ()
You're cheating me.
O senhor está brincando conmigo. ()
I'm not interested.
Não estou interesado. (..)
OK, I'll take it.
Todo bem, comprarei esso. ()
Can I have a bag?
¿Pode dar-me uma bolsa? ()
Do you ship (overseas)?
Pode enviar a distancia (transcontinental) ()
I need...
Preciso de... ()
...toothpaste.
...creme dental. ()
...a toothbrush.
...uma escova dental. ()
...tampons.
...hygiene íntima femenina. ()
...soap.
...sabonete. ()
...shampoo.
...shampú. ()
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
...remédio contra a dor. ("acido acetil salicílico" ou outro analgésico) ()
...células eléctricas (geradores electroquímicos "pilhas" ou acumuladores electrolíticos "baterías"). ()
...writing paper.
...papel para escrever. ()
...a pen.
...uma caneta. ()
...English-language books.
...livros em inglês. ()
...English-language magazines.
...revistas em inglês. ()
...an English-language newspaper.
...um jornal em inglês. ()
...an English-English dictionary.
...um diccionário de inglês para inglês. ()
Driving
I want to rent a car (/a motorbike, a bicycle).
Desejo alugar um carro (/uma motocicleta, uma bicicleta). ()
Can I get insurance?
¿Posso contratar um seguro? ()
driver's licence (documentation for driving motor vehicles)
habilitação de motorista (documentação para dirigir veículos a motor) (" ")
Note: Portugal, Brazil and most other countries are part of the Paris or of the Genève international conventions.
stop (on a street sign)
pare ()
one way
sentido único ()
yield
ceda o passo ()
no parking
não estacione ()
speed limit
limite de velocidade ()
pedestrian crossing
passo de pedestres (" ")
traffic lights
luzes de trânsito (" ")
police control
controle de policia (" ")
gas (petrol) station
posto de gasolina ()
petrol
gasolina ()
Note: exclusively in Brazil there is distribution of gasoline mixed with alcohol. In Brazil, Portugal and other countries there is also real gas (not liquid) used as fuel for engines. These special fuels are clearly marked at petrol stations.
diesel
gas-oil, diesel ()
oil for two-stroke engine
óleo para motor dous tempos (" ")
Authority
I haven't done anything wrong.
Nao fiz nada de errado. ()
It was a misunderstanding.
Isto e' um mal-entendido ()
Where are you taking me?
Para onde me levam? ()
Am I under arrest?
Estou sob custodia? ()
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
Sou um cidadao Americano/Australiano/Britanico/Canadiano ()
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
Quero falar com a embaixada / o consulado Americano/Australiano/Britanico/Canadiano ()
