Portuguese Phrases for Travel (Brazil & Portugal)
🇵🇹 Portuguese · 50 cards · A1 · by Mariana Costa
I grew up in Porto and have spent the last ten years in São Paulo, so I hear how the same phrase lands on two different sides of the Atlantic. That is why every card carries a Brazil/Portugal note: banheiro is a toilet in Rio but a lifeguard in Lisbon, oi is a warm hello in Brazil and closer to "huh?" in Portugal, and your train is a trem or a comboio depending on the ticket. Work through the first twenty cards — greetings and politeness — before you touch directions, restaurants and hotels. Say every line out loud: these phrases are meant to leave your mouth, not sit on a page.
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How to use this deck
Flip through the cards, then switch to Quiz. Tap the play button on any row to hear it. The full table below is there to read, print or copy into your own flashcard app.
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All 50 cards
| # | Portuguese | English | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bom dia Used from waking up until lunch; in Portugal it often stretches to 13:00. Identical in Brazil and Portugal. | Good morning, good day | Bom dia! O museu abre a que horas? Good morning! What time does the museum open? | |
| 2 | Boa tarde From after lunch until dark. Same in both countries; in Portugal it is expected when you walk into any shop. | Good afternoon | Boa tarde, queria fazer o check-in. Good afternoon, I'd like to check in. | |
| 3 | Boa noite One phrase for both arriving and leaving at night — there is no separate "good evening". Same in Brazil and Portugal. | Good evening, good night | Boa noite, já fechou a cozinha? Good evening, has the kitchen already closed? | |
| 4 | Olá Safe and neutral everywhere. The default hello in Portugal; in Brazil people say "oi" far more in speech. | Hello | Olá! Onde é a estação de metro, por favor? Hello! Where is the metro station, please? | |
| 5 | Oi Brazil's everyday hello, informal but used with almost anyone. In Portugal "Oi?" mostly means "What?" and can sound abrupt — use "Olá" there. | Hi | Oi, você trabalha aqui? Hi, do you work here? | |
| 6 | Tudo bem? Brazil: greeting and question in one; answer "Tudo bem" or "Tudo bom". Used in Portugal too, but "Como está?" is the polite option there. | How are you?, how's it going? | Tudo bem? Cheguei agora de São Paulo. How's it going? I've just arrived from São Paulo. | |
| 7 | Por favor The default everywhere and the only form used in Brazil. In Portugal you will also hear "se faz favor". | Please | Um café e um copo de água, por favor. A coffee and a glass of water, please. | |
| 8 | Se faz favor Portugal only, often shortened to "faz favor"; it is also how you call a waiter. Brazilians do not say it. | Please, excuse me | Se faz favor, onde é a saída? Excuse me please, where is the exit? | |
| 9 | Obrigado / Obrigada Agrees with the speaker, not the listener: men say obrigado, women obrigada. In casual Brazilian speech it is clipped to "brigado/brigada". | Thank you | Obrigada, o jantar estava delicioso. Thank you, the dinner was delicious. | |
| 10 | De nada Understood everywhere. Brazil also says "por nada" or "imagina"; "não tem de quê" is used in both countries. | You're welcome | De nada, bom passeio! You're welcome, enjoy your walk! | |
| 11 | Com licença For squeezing past people, entering a room or leaving the table. Used constantly in Brazil; "dá licença" is common in both countries. | Excuse me (to pass or enter) | Com licença, posso passar? Excuse me, may I get past? | |
| 12 | Desculpe Polite form in both countries; say "desculpa" to a friend. Also used to get a stranger's attention. | Sorry, excuse me | Desculpe, foi sem intenção. Sorry, it wasn't on purpose. | |
| 13 | Muito prazer Said when you are introduced. Brazilians often shorten it to just "prazer"; same usage in Portugal. | Nice to meet you | Muito prazer, estou de férias em Lisboa. Nice to meet you, I'm on holiday in Lisbon. | |
| 14 | Tchau Brazil's standard goodbye, spelled "tchau"; Portugal writes "chau" and uses "adeus" freely. In Brazil "adeus" sounds final, almost dramatic. | Bye | Tchau, até amanhã! Bye, see you tomorrow! | |
| 15 | Fala inglês? Portugal drops the pronoun like this; in Brazil you'll hear "Você fala inglês?". Both are polite. | Do you speak English? | Desculpe, fala inglês? Preciso de uma informação. Excuse me, do you speak English? I need some information. | |
| 16 | Não falo português Soften it with "bem": "não falo bem português". Same in Brazil and Portugal. | I don't speak Portuguese | Não falo português, pode escrever aqui? I don't speak Portuguese, can you write it down here? | |
| 17 | Não entendo In Brazil people usually say "Não entendi" (past tense) even about something just said; Portugal prefers the present. | I don't understand | Não entendo. Pode explicar outra vez? I don't understand. Can you explain again? | |
| 18 | Pode repetir, por favor? "Pode..." is the standard polite request in both countries. In Portugal you may end with "se faz favor" instead. | Can you repeat that, please? | Não ouvi bem — pode repetir, por favor? I didn't quite hear — can you repeat that, please? | |
| 19 | Pode falar mais devagar? Extremely useful in Portugal, where unstressed vowels get swallowed. Brazilians say the same, often as "Fala mais devagar, por favor". | Can you speak more slowly? | Pode falar mais devagar? Não entendi nada. Can you speak more slowly? I didn't understand a thing. | |
| 20 | Como se diz ... em português? Handy because answers differ: a travel ticket is "bilhete" in Portugal, "passagem" (transport) or "ingresso" (events) in Brazil. | How do you say ... in Portuguese? | Como se diz "ticket" em português? How do you say "ticket" in Portuguese? | |
| 21 | O meu nome é... Portugal keeps the article ("o meu"); Brazil says "Meu nome é...". Also "Chamo-me..." (PT) / "Me chamo..." (BR). | My name is... | O meu nome é Ana, tenho uma reserva. My name is Ana, I have a reservation. | |
| 22 | Onde é o banheiro? Brazil only. In Portugal say "Onde é a casa de banho?" — there "banheiro" means a lifeguard. | Where is the toilet? | Com licença, onde é o banheiro? Excuse me, where is the toilet? | |
| 23 | Onde fica a estação? Portugal: "estação de comboios" or "de metro". Brazil: "estação de trem" or "de metrô" (stressed on the last syllable). | Where is the station? | Onde fica a estação mais próxima? Where is the nearest station? | |
| 24 | Como chego ao centro? Portugal uses "chegar a"; in Brazil "Como eu chego no centro?" is completely normal. | How do I get to the centre? | Como chego ao centro a pé? How do I get to the centre on foot? | |
| 25 | É longe? "Dá para..." (is it possible to) is common in both countries and worth stealing. | Is it far? | É longe ou dá para ir a pé? Is it far, or can we walk there? | |
| 26 | Siga em frente You will hear this rather than say it. Portugal: "até ao semáforo"; Brazil: "até o semáforo", and often "sinal" or "farol" instead of "semáforo". | Go straight ahead | Siga em frente até ao semáforo. Go straight ahead as far as the traffic light. | |
| 27 | Vire à direita Left is "à esquerda". Portugal also says "vá pela direita"; informal Brazilian speech uses "vira à direita" or "pega à direita". | Turn right | Vire à direita depois da igreja. Turn right after the church. | |
| 28 | Estou perdido / Estou perdida The ending agrees with you: a man says perdido, a woman perdida. Same in both countries. | I'm lost | Estou perdida, este mapa não ajuda. I'm lost, this map isn't helping. | |
| 29 | Pode me ajudar? Brazilian word order. Portugal attaches the pronoun: "Pode ajudar-me?" Both are understood everywhere. | Can you help me? | Pode me ajudar? Não encontro o meu hotel. Can you help me? I can't find my hotel. | |
| 30 | Um bilhete para... "Bilhete" is standard in Portugal and fine for metro/bus in Brazil, but for planes and long-distance coaches Brazilians say "passagem". | One ticket to... | Um bilhete para Sintra, ida e volta. One ticket to Sintra, return. | |
| 31 | A que horas sai o trem? "Trem" is Brazil. In Portugal: "A que horas parte o comboio?" — "comboio" will not be understood in Brazil. | What time does the train leave? | A que horas sai o trem para o aeroporto? What time does the train to the airport leave? | |
| 32 | Onde pego o ônibus? Brazil: ônibus + pegar. Portugal: "Onde apanho o autocarro?" Two completely different words for the same bus. | Where do I catch the bus? | Onde pego o ônibus para a praia? Where do I catch the bus to the beach? | |
| 33 | Quanto tempo leva? Used in both countries; in Portugal "Quanto tempo demora?" is even more frequent, and Brazilians say that too. | How long does it take? | Quanto tempo leva de táxi até lá? How long does it take by taxi to get there? | |
| 34 | Pode chamar um táxi? Same in both countries, still the normal request at hotel reception even in the age of apps. | Can you call a taxi? | Pode chamar um táxi para as oito? Can you call a taxi for eight o'clock? | |
| 35 | Quanto custa? Universal. Brazil also says "Quanto é?" or "Quanto fica?"; Portugal often "Quanto é que custa?" | How much does it cost? | Quanto custa a entrada no museu? How much is entry to the museum? | |
| 36 | Aceitam cartão? In Portugal the debit network is "multibanco": "Aceitam multibanco?" In Brazil you may be asked "débito ou crédito?" | Do you take cards? | Aceitam cartão ou só dinheiro? Do you take cards, or cash only? | |
| 37 | Está muito caro A polite way to walk away. Haggling is only normal at markets and fairs, in Brazil and Portugal alike. | It's too expensive | Está muito caro, obrigada. Vou pensar. It's too expensive, thank you. I'll think about it. | |
| 38 | Só estou olhando Brazil. In Portugal say "Estou só a ver" — European Portuguese uses "estar a + infinitive" instead of the gerund. | I'm just looking | Obrigada, só estou olhando. Thanks, I'm just looking. | |
| 39 | Uma mesa para dois Same in both. In Portugal you may be asked "dentro ou na esplanada?" (inside or on the terrace). | A table for two | Boa noite, uma mesa para dois? Good evening, a table for two? | |
| 40 | Queria... The polite way to order in both countries. Brazilian waiters also hear "Vou querer..."; plain "Quero" works but sounds blunt. | I'd like... | Queria um prato de peixe e uma salada. I'd like a fish dish and a salad. | |
| 41 | Sou vegetariano / Sou vegetariana The ending agrees with you. In Portugal check soups and rice — presunto or chouriço hides in them; in Brazil ask "tem opção vegetariana?" | I'm vegetarian | Sou vegetariana, tem algum prato sem carne? I'm vegetarian, do you have any dish without meat? | |
| 42 | Tenho alergia a... Shellfish is "marisco" in Portugal, "frutos do mar" in Brazil. Peanut is "amendoim" in both. | I'm allergic to... | Tenho alergia a marisco, é grave. I'm allergic to shellfish, it's serious. | |
| 43 | Água sem gás Sparkling is "com gás". Careful: "natural" means room temperature in both countries — ask for "fresca" (PT) or "gelada" (BR) if you want it cold. | Still water | Uma água sem gás, por favor. A still water, please. | |
| 44 | A conta, por favor Portugal: "A conta, se faz favor." Brazil: also "Pode fechar a conta?" Waiters do not bring it unasked in either country. | The bill, please | A conta, por favor, estamos com pressa. The bill, please, we're in a hurry. | |
| 45 | Saúde! For toasting and after someone sneezes, in both countries. Brazilians also clink glasses saying "Tim-tim!" | Cheers!, bless you! | Saúde! Ao nosso primeiro dia aqui. Cheers! To our first day here. | |
| 46 | Tenho uma reserva Identical in Brazil and Portugal, for hotels and restaurants. Add "no meu nome" if they ask whose it is. | I have a reservation | Tenho uma reserva para três noites. I have a reservation for three nights. | |
| 47 | Tem quarto livre? Portugal usually plural: "Tem quartos livres?" In Brazil small hotels will say "Tem vaga?" | Do you have a room available? | Tem quarto livre para esta noite? Do you have a room free for tonight? | |
| 48 | Tem wi-fi? The password is "a senha" in Brazil and "a palavra-passe" in Portugal, so ask "Qual é a senha?" / "Qual é a palavra-passe?" | Do you have wi-fi? | Tem wi-fi no quarto? Is there wi-fi in the room? | |
| 49 | Socorro! The real emergency shout in both countries. Emergency numbers: 112 in Portugal; in Brazil 190 (police), 192 (ambulance). | Help! | Socorro! Chamem a polícia! Help! Call the police! | |
| 50 | Preciso de um médico Correct in both countries; Brazilians also say "preciso ver um médico". The emergency room is "as urgências" (PT) / "o pronto-socorro" (BR). | I need a doctor | Não me sinto bem, preciso de um médico. I don't feel well, I need a doctor. |
Mariana Costa
Native Portuguese · Speaks English, Spanish
From Porto, with a decade in São Paulo. I flag Brazil versus Portugal on every card, since the same word can land very differently.
Published
Questions about this deck
- Do these Portuguese travel phrases work in both Brazil and Portugal?
- Most do: the greetings, obrigado/obrigada, por favor, quanto custa, a conta. About a dozen cards change from one country to the other — banheiro vs casa de banho, ônibus vs autocarro, trem vs comboio, bilhete vs passagem, senha vs palavra-passe. The note on each card says which side it belongs to, so learn the pair that matches your destination.
- How do I ask for the toilet in Portugal?
- Say "Onde é a casa de banho?" In Portugal "banheiro" means a lifeguard or bath attendant, so "Onde é o banheiro?" gets you a puzzled look. In Brazil it is the other way round: "banheiro" is the only natural word and "casa de banho" sounds foreign.
- Should I say obrigado or obrigada?
- It matches the speaker's gender, not the person you are thanking: a man always says "obrigado", a woman always "obrigada", in both Brazil and Portugal. The same rule applies to "estou perdido/perdida" and "sou vegetariano/vegetariana" in this deck. In casual Brazilian speech you will hear it clipped to "brigado".
- Is it rude to say "oi" in Portugal?
- Not rude exactly, but it is not a greeting there. In Portugal "Oi?" is mainly what you say when you did not catch something — like "Huh?" — and it can come across as abrupt. Use "Olá", "Bom dia" or "Boa tarde" in Portugal, and save "oi" for Brazil, where it is the most common hello of all.