Portuguese for Expats in Lisbon: The Phrases You Actually Need

You moved to Lisbon. You love the weather, the food, and the cost of living. But every time you try to speak Portuguese, the person behind the counter switches to English before you finish your sentence. Sound familiar?

This guide skips the textbook phrases and gives you the Portuguese you actually need for daily life in Lisbon. Every phrase is organized by the real situations you face as an expat, from ordering your morning galão to surviving a finanças appointment.

At the café

You will visit a café every day in Lisbon. These phrases will become second nature fast.

• "Um café, por favor." (oom kah-FEH, por fah-VOR) - One espresso, please.
• "Um galão, por favor." (oom gah-LOWN, por fah-VOR) - A latte, please.
• "Uma meia de leite." (OO-mah MAY-ah deh LAY-teh) - Half coffee, half milk.
• "Um pastel de nata." (oom pash-TEL deh NAH-tah) - One custard tart.
• "Pode ser com leite de aveia?" (POH-deh sehr kohm LAY-teh deh ah-VAY-ah) - Can it be with oat milk?

At the supermarket (Continente, Pingo Doce, Lidl)

• "Tem saco?" (tayn SAH-koo) - Do you have a bag?
• "Preciso de um saco, por favor." (preh-SEE-zoo deh oom SAH-koo, por fah-VOR) - I need a bag, please.
• "Onde é o...?" (ON-deh eh oo) - Where is the...? (followed by the product)
• "Tem cartão?" (tayn kar-TOWN) - Do you have a loyalty card? (The cashier will ask you this.)
• "Não, obrigado/obrigada." (nown, oh-bree-GAH-doo/dah) - No, thank you.

At the pharmacy (farmácia)

Pharmacists in Portugal are incredibly helpful and can recommend medication without a doctor's visit for many common issues.

• "Tem alguma coisa para...?" (tayn al-GOO-mah KOY-zah PAH-rah) - Do you have something for...?
• "...dor de cabeça" (dor deh kah-BEH-sah) - ...headache
• "...constipação" (kon-shtee-pah-SOWN) - ...a cold (not constipation, that is a famous false friend)
• "...dor de garganta" (dor deh gar-GAHN-tah) - ...sore throat
• "Preciso de uma receita médica?" (preh-SEE-zoo deh OO-mah reh-SAY-tah MEH-dee-kah) - Do I need a prescription?

Dealing with your landlord (senhorio)

• "O aquecimento não está a funcionar." (oo ah-keh-see-MEN-too nown esh-TAH ah foon-see-oh-NAR) - The heating is not working.
• "Há um problema com a canalização." (ah oom proh-BLEH-mah kohm ah kah-nah-lee-zah-SOWN) - There is a problem with the plumbing.
• "Quando é que pode vir ver?" (KWAHN-doo eh keh POH-deh veer vehr) - When can you come take a look?
• "A renda está paga." (ah REN-dah esh-TAH PAH-gah) - The rent is paid.
• "Posso ter o recibo, por favor?" (POH-soo tehr oo reh-SEE-boo, por fah-VOR) - Can I have the receipt, please?

At AIMA (immigration) and finanças (tax office)

Government offices can be stressful enough in your own language. These phrases will help you navigate the basics.

• "Tenho uma marcação." (TEN-yoo OO-mah mar-kah-SOWN) - I have an appointment.
• "Preciso de um NIF." (preh-SEE-zoo deh oom neef) - I need a tax number.
• "Preciso de renovar a minha autorização de residência." (preh-SEE-zoo deh reh-noo-VAR ah MEE-nyah ow-toh-ree-zah-SOWN deh reh-zee-DEN-see-ah) - I need to renew my residence permit.
• "Que documentos preciso?" (keh doh-koo-MEN-toosh preh-SEE-zoo) - What documents do I need?
• "Pode repetir, por favor?" (POH-deh reh-peh-TEER, por fah-VOR) - Can you repeat, please?
• "Pode falar mais devagar?" (POH-deh fah-LAR mysh deh-vah-GAR) - Can you speak more slowly?

Public transport and getting around

• "Onde é a estação de metro mais próxima?" (ON-deh eh ah esh-tah-SOWN deh MEH-troo mysh PROH-see-mah) - Where is the nearest metro station?
• "Este autocarro vai para...?" (ESH-teh ow-toh-KAH-roo vai PAH-rah) - Does this bus go to...?
• "Quero carregar o Viva Viagem." (KEH-roo kah-reh-GAR oo VEE-vah vee-AH-zhayn) - I want to top up the Viva Viagem card.
• "Pode parar aqui?" (POH-deh pah-RAR ah-KEE) - Can you stop here? (for taxis/Ubers)

Asking for directions in Lisbon neighborhoods

• "Como chego a...?" (KOH-moo SHEH-goo ah) - How do I get to...?
• "Fica longe?" (FEE-kah LONZH) - Is it far?
• "É para a esquerda ou para a direita?" (eh PAH-rah ah esh-KEHR-dah oh PAH-rah ah dee-RAY-tah) - Is it to the left or to the right?
• "Pode mostrar no mapa?" (POH-deh mosh-TRAR noo MAH-pah) - Can you show me on the map?

The big challenge: when they switch to English

This is the number one frustration for expats trying to learn Portuguese in Lisbon. You start speaking Portuguese, the other person hears your accent, and immediately switches to English. They are trying to be helpful, but it makes practice nearly impossible.

Here is the phrase that fixes it:

"Pode falar em português, por favor? Estou a aprender." (POH-deh fah-LAR ayn por-too-GESH, por fah-VOR? esh-TOH ah ah-pren-DEHR) - Can you speak in Portuguese, please? I am learning.

Most Portuguese people will smile, slow down, and happily switch back to Portuguese. They genuinely appreciate the effort. Another useful follow-up:

• "Desculpe, não percebi." (desh-KOOL-peh, nown per-seh-BEE) - Sorry, I did not understand.
• "O que significa...?" (oo keh sig-NEE-fee-kah) - What does ... mean?

The key is consistency. The more you insist on Portuguese, the more natural it becomes for both you and the people you interact with daily.

If you want to build a strong vocabulary foundation before these real-world encounters, learning through bilingual stories is one of the most effective approaches. You see these exact phrases used in context, which makes them stick in your memory when you need them at the café or the finanças counter.