Essential Portuguese Phrases for Travelers: Your Complete Survival Guide

Planning a trip to Portugal or Brazil? Even a handful of Portuguese phrases can transform your travel experience. Locals appreciate the effort, and you will find doors opening that stay closed for tourists who only speak English. This guide gives you 40+ phrases organized by the situations you will actually face, with pronunciation guides for each one.

Polite basics

These phrases are the foundation of every interaction. Learn them first, and you will already stand out from most tourists.

• Olá (oh-LAH) - Hello
• Bom dia (bom DEE-ah) - Good morning
• Boa tarde (BOH-ah TAR-deh) - Good afternoon
• Boa noite (BOH-ah NOY-teh) - Good evening / Good night
• Por favor (por fah-VOR) - Please
• Obrigado / Obrigada (oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah) - Thank you (male / female speaker)
• Desculpe (desh-KOOL-peh) - Excuse me / Sorry
• Com licença (kohm lee-SEN-sah) - Excuse me (when passing by someone)
• Sim / Não (seem / nown) - Yes / No
• Fala inglês? (FAH-lah een-GLESH) - Do you speak English?

For a deeper look at Portuguese greetings including formal and informal options, check out our dedicated guide.

Airport and transport

• "Onde é a saída?" (ON-deh eh ah sah-EE-dah) - Where is the exit?
• "Onde posso apanhar um táxi?" (ON-deh POH-soo ah-pah-NYAR oom TAK-see) - Where can I catch a taxi?
• "Quanto custa até...?" (KWAHN-too KOOSH-tah ah-TEH) - How much does it cost to...?
• "Quero ir para..." (KEH-roo eer PAH-rah) - I want to go to...
• "A que horas é o próximo comboio?" (ah keh OH-rash eh oo PROH-see-moo kohm-BOY-oo) - What time is the next train? (Note: in Brazil, "trem" is used instead of "comboio.")
• "Um bilhete para..., por favor." (oom bee-LYEH-teh PAH-rah, por fah-VOR) - One ticket to..., please.

At the hotel

• "Tenho uma reserva." (TEN-yoo OO-mah reh-ZEHR-vah) - I have a reservation.
• "O meu nome é..." (oo meh-oo NOH-meh eh) - My name is...
• "A que horas é o check-out?" (ah keh OH-rash eh oo check-out) - What time is checkout?
• "Tem Wi-Fi?" (tayn wai-fai) - Do you have Wi-Fi?
• "Qual é a palavra-passe?" (kwahl eh ah pah-LAH-vrah PAH-seh) - What is the password? (In Brazil: "Qual é a senha?")
• "Pode chamar um táxi?" (POH-deh shah-MAR oom TAK-see) - Can you call a taxi?

At the restaurant

• "Uma mesa para dois, por favor." (OO-mah MEH-zah PAH-rah doysh) - A table for two, please.
• "O menu, por favor." (oo meh-NOO, por fah-VOR) - The menu, please.
• "O que recomenda?" (oo keh reh-koh-MEN-dah) - What do you recommend?
• "Queria..." (keh-REE-ah) - I would like...
• "Mais uma, por favor." (mysh OO-mah, por fah-VOR) - One more, please.
• "A conta, por favor." (ah KON-tah, por fah-VOR) - The bill, please.
• "Aceita cartão?" (ah-SAY-tah kar-TOWN) - Do you accept card?

For a complete list of Portuguese food vocabulary, including 50 essential words for menus and markets, see our detailed guide.

Shopping

• "Quanto custa?" (KWAHN-too KOOSH-tah) - How much does it cost?
• "Tem um tamanho maior/menor?" (tayn oom tah-MAH-nyoo my-OR / meh-NOR) - Do you have a bigger/smaller size?
• "Posso experimentar?" (POH-soo esh-peh-ree-men-TAR) - Can I try it on?
• "Levo este." (LEH-voo ESH-teh) - I will take this one.
• "É muito caro." (eh MWEEN-too KAH-roo) - It is very expensive.

Asking for directions

• "Onde fica...?" (ON-deh FEE-kah) - Where is...?
• "Como chego a...?" (KOH-moo SHEH-goo ah) - How do I get to...?
• "Fica longe?" (FEE-kah LONZH) - Is it far?
• "Pode mostrar no mapa?" (POH-deh mosh-TRAR noo MAH-pah) - Can you show me on the map?
• "Em frente / À esquerda / À direita" (ayn FREN-teh / ah esh-KEHR-dah / ah dee-RAY-tah) - Straight ahead / To the left / To the right

Emergencies

• "Preciso de ajuda!" (preh-SEE-zoo deh ah-ZHOO-dah) - I need help!
• "Chame a polícia!" (SHAH-meh ah poh-LEE-see-ah) - Call the police!
• "Chame uma ambulância!" (SHAH-meh OO-mah ahm-boo-LAHN-see-ah) - Call an ambulance!
• "Onde é o hospital mais próximo?" (ON-deh eh oo osh-pee-TAL mysh PROH-see-moo) - Where is the nearest hospital?
• "Perdi o meu passaporte." (per-DEE oo meh-oo pah-sah-POR-teh) - I lost my passport.

The emergency number in Portugal is 112, the same as the rest of the European Union.

European vs. Brazilian Portuguese: key differences for travelers

If you are traveling to Brazil instead of Portugal, the phrases above will still work. However, some words are different:

• "Comboio" (train) in Portugal becomes "trem" in Brazil.
• "Autocarro" (bus) in Portugal becomes "ônibus" in Brazil.
• "Pequeno-almoço" (breakfast) in Portugal becomes "café da manhã" in Brazil.
• "Casa de banho" (bathroom) in Portugal becomes "banheiro" in Brazil.

The biggest difference is pronunciation. European Portuguese sounds more closed and compact, while Brazilian Portuguese is more open and melodic. Both are mutually intelligible, so you will be understood either way.

Portuguese customs and etiquette for travelers

A few cultural tips that will help you travel more smoothly in Portugal.

• Always greet people. When entering a small shop, restaurant, or elevator, say "Bom dia," "Boa tarde," or "Boa noite." Not greeting people is considered rude.
• Lunch is the big meal. Restaurants serve lunch from about 12:00 to 14:30. Dinner starts late, usually after 19:30 or 20:00.
• The couvert is not free. Bread, olives, and spreads brought to your table at a restaurant are charged separately. You can send them back if you do not want them.
• Tipping is modest. Leaving 5 to 10 percent is generous. Rounding up the bill is also perfectly acceptable.
• Portuguese people are patient with learners. Do not be afraid to try. Even stumbling through a few phrases earns respect and friendlier service.