by Olly RichardsIf you’re learning Brazilian Portuguese because you’re moving to Brazil or are planning a trip to Brazil, there are a few simple Brazilian Portuguese phrases that will make your time there go a lot more smoothly.
From standard greetings to having a casual conversation to learning how to ask for directions, order food or deal with an emergency, these 67 Brazilian Portuguese phrases will enrich your trip by helping you communicate.
While Google translate and other translation apps can be a lifesaver in a pinch, there’s no substitute for being able to break out an essential phrase in real time without having to wait for your translation to load.
Check out these handy Brazilian Portuguese phrases to keep in your back pocket on your trip.
By the way, if you want to learn Portuguese fast (including Brazilian Portuguese phrases) and have fun while doing it, my top recommendation is Portuguese Uncovered which teaches you through StoryLearning®.
With Portuguese Uncovered you’ll use my unique StoryLearning® method to learn Portuguese naturally through story… not rules. It’s as fun as it is effective.
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Table of Contents
Greetings And Salutations
Whether you’re bumping into a person you’ve met before or meeting someone for the first time, a few key Brazilian Portuguese phrases will help get the conversation rolling.
- #1 Hi. Oi.
- #2 Hello. Olá.
- #3 Good morning. Bom dia.
- #4 Good afternoon. Boa tarde.
- #5 Good evening/night. Boa noite.
- #6 How are you? Tudo bem?
- #7 Nice to meet you. Prazer em te conhecer or Prazer (for short).
- #8 Nice to see you again. Prazer em te revê.
- #9 What’s your name? Qual é seu nome?
- #10 My name is… Meu nome é….
- #11 Where are you from? De onde voce é?
- #12 I’m from… Sou de….
- #13 What places are you planning to visit? Quais lugares voce planeja visitar?
- #14 I’m planning to visit…? Estou planejando visitar….
- #15 See you later. Até mais.
- #16 See you soon. Até em breve.
Getting Around And Asking For Recommendations
If you’re new to a city or town and want to know what the attractions are and how to get to them, theseBrazilian Portuguese phrases can help get you where you want to go. There’s nothing like asking a local to find out the best things to do, see and eat.
- #17 Excuse me… Com licença.
- #18 Sorry. Me desculpe.
- #19 Where can I find…? Onde eu encontro…?
- #20 I don’t understand. Eu não entendo.
- #21 I am learning Portuguese. Estou aprendendo português.
- #22 Can you repeat that please? Pode repetir por favor?
- #23 Can you speak more slowly please? Pode falar mais devagar por favor?
- #24 Is there a bank nearby? Tem banco aqui perto?
- #25 How do I get to…? Como chego ao ….?
- #26 Which way is the beach? Onde fica a praia?
- #27 Can you show me where it is on the map? Pode me mostrar onde fica na mapa?
- #28 Which bus line/number do I need to take? Qual linha/número de ônibus preciso pegar?
- #29 What time does the bus leave? Que horas o ônibus sai?
- #30 How much does a one-way/round trip ticket cost? Quanto custa uma passagem ida/ida e volta?
- #31 Is there a good restaurant nearby? Tem restaurante bom por aqui?
- #32 What do you recommend to see here? Quais são as atrações aqui?
- #33 Are there any typical local dishes? Tem alguns pratos típicos da região?
Buying Things
Before heading home, you’ll want to pick up a few memorabilia or gifts for your friends and family at home. Brazilian rum, called cachaca makes a nice gift. Many Brazilian towns also have stands featuring the works of local artisans.
And, if in doubt, you can always pick up a pair of Havaianas which are a bargain in Brazil as compared to abroad. While some places have fixed prices, you can often get a 5-10% discount on the total of your purchases if you pay in cash.
- #34 Excuse me, how much does this cost? Desculpe, quanto custa isso?
- #35 I like this. Gostei disso.
- #36 This is beautiful. Isto é lindo.
- #37 This is stylish. Isto é chic.
- #38 Do you have this in a different size/color? Tem em outro tamanho/cor?
- #39 Do you have any sales? Tem algumas promoções?
- #40 Can you give me a discount? Pode fazer um desconto?
- #41 What time do you close? Que horas voces fecham?
Ordering Food And Drink
Eating and drinking will be some of the highlights of your trip, so make sure you have Brazilian Portuguese phrases to cover the basics in a restaurant.
Brazil is famous for its buffet lunches, where you won’t need a menu. However, for all other restaurant experiences, you’ll need to be able to make your way around a menu and interact with the staff.
In many traditional restaurants in Brazil, it’s common to serve couple-sized portions for two people. You could ask to make a smaller portion if you’re dining alone. Also, remember that it’s not customary to tip extra in Brazil. Often the bill will come with a tip included.
- #42 Can I see a menu? Posso ver um cardápio?
- #43 I’d like to order please. Gostaria de pedir por favor.
- #44 What do you recommend? O que voce recomenda?
- #45 Is this for one person? Isto é para uma pessoa?
- #46 Can you make this for one person? Pode preparar para uma pessoa?
- #47 Where is the bathroom? Onde fica o banheiro?
- #48 Could I get the check? Gostaria de pagar.
Allergies And Dietary Preferences
If you have allergies or dietary preferences, it’s important to be able to communicate those things to the waitstaff.
- #49 I’m lactose-intolerant. Tenho intolerância à lactose.
- #50 I have celiac disease, I’m allergy to gluten. Sou celíaca, sou alérgica ao glúten.
- #51 I’m a vegetarian. Sou vegetariana.
- #52 I’m a vegan. Sou vegana.
- #53 I’m allergic to…. Tenho alergia de…..
Brazil has a lot of fruit juice stands where you can order a fresh juice or juice made from a frozen pulp. You can also order vitaminas which are fruit milkshakes where the juices are made with milk instead of water.
The juice makers can sometimes be a bit heavy-handed with the sugar, but you can ask for a sugar-free version or with just a little sugar.
- #54 I would like a …… juice. Gostaria de um suco de …..
- #55 I would like a fruit milkshake of …. Gostaria de uma vitamina de….
- #56 No sugar please. Sem açúcar, por favor.
- #57 Just a little bit of sugar please. Só um pouquinho de açúcar por favor.
Bars In Brazil
If you go to a bar, you’ll find that most people in Brazil drink beer. Depending on the type of bar, they might serve cocktails and wine as well.
If they serve cocktails, at some point you should definitely try a traditional Brazilian rum cocktail, the caipirinha. It’s very popular to drink the caipirinha with vodka instead of rum, and sometimes even sake, but for the original experience, you should try it with rum.
Also, many places offer a variety of fruits to add to the caiprinha such as strawberry and kiwi. The lime caipirinha with rum is the original, so give it a try first and then explore the other options.
The Brazilian chopp, or beer on tap, is a popular drink to order and you can usually order a 310 or 500ml glass. If there’s live music at the bar, they will charge a covert or a cover charge for the entertainment.
- #58 I would like a rum caipirinha with lime. Gostaria de uma caipirinha de cachaça com limão.
- #59 I would like a 310/500ml draft beer. Gostaria de um chopp de 310/500 ml.
- #60 I prefer a lot of foam. Prefiro com bastante espuma.
- #61 I prefer a little foam. Prefiro com pouco espuma.
Communicating In An Emergency
Hopefully you won’t encounter any emergencies during your trip to Brazil, but in case you do, here are some Brazilian Portuguese phrases to ask for help.
- #62 Help! Socorro!
- #63 Can you help me? Pode me ajudar?
- #64 I’ve been robbed. Fui roubado/a.
- #65 Where is the police station? Onde fica a polícia civil?
- #66 I need an ambulance. Preciso de uma ambulância.
- #67 Where is the nearest hospital? Onde fica o hospital mais próximo?
Please note that in Brazil, there are three branches of the police, the military, civil and federal police. If you have any problems such as being assaulted or robbed, you’ll need to file a report with the civil police.
In the case of a stolen bank card or passport, your bank or embassy will request a copy of the police report, so be sure you go to the effort of filing one, even if it’s a bit of a hassle.
FAQs About Brazilian Portuguese Phrases
What is a famous Brazilian saying?
A well-known Brazilian saying is Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura. This translates to “Soft water on hard stone, hits until it pierces,” meaning persistence overcomes obstacles. It's often used to encourage perseverance.
What is the most common phrase in Portuguese?
One of the most common phrases in Portuguese is Tudo bem? which means “How are you?” or “Is everything okay?” It's used frequently as a greeting or to check in with someone, similar to “How's it going?” in English.
How do you flirt in Brazilian Portuguese?
Flirting in Brazilian Portuguese often involves playful compliments and casual conversation. Common phrases include:
Você é linda(o) (You are beautiful/handsome).
Posso te conhecer melhor? (Can I get to know you better?).
A friendly tone and confidence are key in Brazilian flirting!
Do Brazilians say ciao?
Yes, Brazilians sometimes say ciao (or tchau, as it's spelled in Portuguese) to mean “goodbye.” It's an informal way to say farewell, similar to how it’s used in Italian, and is commonly used in everyday conversations in Brazil.
How to respond to Como vai?
You can respond to Como vai? (How are you?) with a simple phrase like Vou bem, obrigado/obrigada (I’m doing well, thank you), or just Tudo bem (All good). If you're feeling less well, you might say Não muito bem (Not very well).
Brazilian Portuguese Phrases
No matter where you’re heading in Brazil, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice your Brazilian Portuguese with these Brazilian Portuguese phrases.
Brazilians are generally quite open and friendly and will be happy to help you with whatever you need. They’ll also be appreciative of your efforts to speak their language.
Take your time when speaking and don’t get flustered. Remember, you’re a beginner and you get points for putting yourself out there and giving speaking Portuguese a proper go. Each day, you’ll be amazed at how much you pick up and how much better your Portuguese gets.
To get even more prepared for using these Brazilian Portuguese phrases, learn how to pronounce Brazilian Portuguese. And if you're worried that 67 phrases is a bit too much to remember for now, take the StoryLearning® approach and read short stories in Portuguese to learn and remember new vocabulary easily.
Enjoy the ride or, as they say in Portuguese, diverta-se!
