Learn Simple Portuguese!

A recent column in The Guardian had the title: Tim Dowling: six years of Duolingo and I speak a little Italian, but understand nothing. Can you relate to this feeling? Have you been studying Portuguese for years on end, without being able to have even a short conversation?

If this is you, know you are not alone. Portuguese is one of the most studied languages worldwide. However, it seems that only a few of the ones who learn it can actually use it in real life. One of the main reasons is that the majority of the resources available have the wrong approach. How so?

They help you remember the most common words, but do not teach you how to use them. They make you memorize verb conjugations and grammar rules, but you can never apply them instinctively. Basically, they teach you the theory of a language, but they never give you the tools to live it.

In this post, you will learn the Portuguese language that textbooks and traditional courses will not teach you. These simple phrases are the perfect way for you to learn portuguese before visiting Portugal!

Why Learn Simple Portuguese

As with other languages, there are many different ways to say the same thing in Portuguese. You can adapt the same sentence for a formal or casual context and mold it around the person you are speaking to. Besides, there are regional differences to take into consideration. And all of this can make a language seem like a huge barrier rather than an opportunity.

Focusing on basic Portuguese helps you not feel overwhelmed. Besides, travel phrases are the perfect way to apply what you learn instantly and see your efforts rewarded instantly. Portuguese natives love it when English speakers try to communicate in their language. Even a simple greeting can make a difference in your experience.

A waiter serving drinks to a senior couple in a stylish, rustic restaurant setting. — Travel phrases are the perfect way to apply what you learn instantly and see your efforts rewarded instantly

At Portuguese with Carla & Friends, we teach you real-life European Portuguese with no fluff. You get exposed to everyday language, learn from natives, and exercise all of your language skills. Our course – The Journey – uses science-proven methods so you can actually learn to speak Portuguese. Click HERE to learn more about it!

Basic Portuguese Phrases

Below, you will learn a few basic portuguese phrases. We have grouped these sentences by situation to make them easier for you to use. You will also find the English translation or equivalent.

Communicating in the local language will give you a much deeper understanding of Portuguese culture. Are you ready to get started?

Bom dia (Good Morning), Boa tarde (Good Afternoon), and Boa noite (Good Evening or Good Night)

If you already know us, you have likely heard all of these Portuguese greetings. Many of our YouTube videos start with Carla’s introduction: Olá. Bom dia. Boa tarde. Boa noite. (Hello. Good morning. Good afternoon. Good night.)

Greetings are a great place to start when exploring a new language. They help you break the ice and get the conversation started. The first few times you meet someone, you want to keep things more formal. But after a while, you can use a more informal greeting to reduce distance. Here are four casual greetings you can use to impress your new native friends:

Boas! (Hey / Hi)
Tudo bem? (You good? / Everything okay?)
Como é que é? (What’s up? / How’s it going?)
Então? (So? / What’s up?)
Viva! (Hey! – more common in some regions and among older people)

Essential Phrases for Travelers

Besides greeting people, you will need other phrases to communicate with the locals. Here are the essential Portuguese phrases you will not learn in a regular textbook. Start by looking into polite expressions.

Traveler with suitcase waiting at train station platform. — The essential Portuguese phrases you will not learn in a regular textbook

Com licença (Excuse Me) and Other Expressions

The Portuguese appreciate it when you make an effort to speak their language. So even learning a few polite expressions can make a real difference in your trip. Most foreigners learn to say thank you, which is Obrigada if you are a female, and Obrigado if you are a male.

Similarly, they often learn Por favor (Please) and De nada (You’re welcome). And, of course, most visitors try to answer basic questions with a Sim (Yes) or Não (No). Here are five more expressions you can use in any situation:

Já agora… (While we’re at it… / By the way…)
Pois… – (Yeah… / Right…)
Olhe… – Used to get attention politely (Listen… / Excuse me…)
Mais ou menos. (So-so / Kind of)
Logo se vê. (We’ll see)

Travel-Specific Phrases

There are many travel phrases you can learn and use in Portugal. If you want to ask for directions, you can say Como vou para…? (How do I go to…?) or Onde fica…? (Where is…?). For example, if you need a bathroom, you can ask: Onde fica a casa de banho? (Where’s the bathroom?).

Conversely, if you want to ask where something is, you can say Onde está…? (Where is…?). And to ask about prices, say: Quanto custa? (How much is it?). But other, more specific sentences help you blend in with the locals. Here are five such phrases to add to your traveling notebook:

Pode dar uma ajuda? (Can you give me a hand?)
O que é que tem hoje? (What’s on the menu today? – lit. What do you have today?)
Tem um saco? (Do you have a bag?)
Faz desconto? (Do you offer a discount?)
É para levar. (It’s for takeaway.)

Two backpackers checking the digital board at a train station for travel information. — Learn simple Portuguese: travel phrases you can use when you visit Portugal

Eu não entendo – How to React When You Don’t Understand a Native

Understanding native Portuguese speakers can be a challenge, especially if they talk fast and have a strong accent. You might feel discouraged if you do not understand someone. But that should not take the fun out of learning and using Portuguese on your trip.

Instead of saying Não falo português. (I don’t speak Portuguese.) Try to keep the conversation going. Here are a few options you can use when that happens:

Pode falar mais devagar? (Can you speak slower?)
Eu não entendo. (I don’t get it.)
Pode repetir? (Can you repeat?)
Não sei a palavra em português para isto. (I don’t know the Portuguese word for this.)
Fale devagarinho, se faz favor (Speak slowly, please)

A Note on Basic Portuguese Pronunciation

Pronunciation is another critical aspect for learners. After all, Portuguese has specific sounds that can be challenging to use. Stress patterns are similar to English, as they both have a stress-timed rhythm. However, you also need to account for word structure and accent marks, which can change the way you pronounce words. Additionally, the Portuguese language has lots of nasal sounds.

Brazilian Portuguese vs European Portuguese

It is always critical to mention that you will find major differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary between the variants of Portuguese. European and Brazilian Portuguese have much in common, but they can become confusing if you learn both of them at once.

Even simple expressions can change. For example, to say “You’re welcome,” you would say Não há de quê in Brazil and Não tem de quê in Portugal. Another sentence that changes is Qual é o seu nome?, used in Brazil, and Como se chama? (What’s your name?), used in Portugal.

Additionally, one of the most common changes in grammar is the widespread use of Você as a pronoun in Brazil. In some Portuguese regions, natives consider it rude and prefer to suppress it altogether. As such, to ask if someone speaks English in Brazilian portuguese, you would say: Você fala inglês? Contrarily, in European Portuguese, you would cut it down to: Fala inglês?

To mitigate these differences, choose one variant and focus your learning efforts on it. This way, you will start with a clearer path to becoming fluent.

Learn Simple Portuguese – Go Beyond The Basics!

Portuguese is a Latin language, like Italian, Spanish, French, and Romanian. It has ancient roots and a rich cultural background. That often results in one of the biggest challenges for English speakers: tricky grammar.

Portuguese grammar is complex and boring, difficult to understand and apply. But the right approach can help you learn this beautiful language and actually use it in your life. No drama, no complications. Just an instinctive way to listen, speak, read, and write.

The Journey gives you exactly that! It is an immersion-based program that delivers all the tools you need to make Portuguese your own language! Click the button below to learn more.

European Portuguese, made instinctive.

Meet The Journey – a shift from studying rules to feeling the language. By wrapping pronunciation, grammar, and conversation in an engaging adventure, your brain instinctively picks up the patterns, making fluency effortless and enjoyable.

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