Brazilian Portuguese vs European
Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese are the same language but sound very different. Brazilian Portuguese is generally softer, with clearer vowels and a more open pronunciation — many people find it easier to understand. European Portuguese is faster with many silent syllables. If you've learned European Portuguese from an app, don't worry — you'll be understood in Brazil.
Pronunciation Guide
Key sounds: ão sounds like "owng" (not "ow"). lh sounds like "ly" (like billion). nh sounds like "ny" (like onion). x often sounds like "sh" (caixa = "ky-sha"). r at the start of a word sounds like "h" (Rio = "Hee-oo").
Greetings & Basics
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Oi / Olá | oh-ee / oh-LAH | Hi / Hello |
| Tudo bem? | TOO-doo beng? | How are you? (literally "all well?") |
| Tudo bem, obrigado/a | TOO-doo beng, oh-bree-GAH-doo/da | I'm well, thank you (m/f) |
| Por favor | poor fah-VOOR | Please |
| Desculpa / Desculpe | des-KOOL-pah | Sorry / Excuse me |
| Não entendo | now en-TEN-doo | I don't understand |
| Você fala inglês? | voh-SAY FAH-lah een-GLESH? | Do you speak English? |
| Quanto custa? | KWAN-too KOOS-tah? | How much does it cost? |
| Onde fica...? | ON-jee FEE-kah? | Where is...? |
| Socorro! | soh-KOH-hoo! | Help! |
At Restaurants
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Uma mesa para dois, por favor | A table for two, please |
| O cardápio, por favor | The menu, please |
| Eu gostaria de... | I would like... |
| Sem pimenta, por favor | Without chilli, please |
| A conta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Está delicioso! | It's delicious! |
| Pode repetir? | Can you repeat that? |
| Prato feito / PF | Set lunch plate (rice, beans, meat, salad) |
| Saúde! | Cheers! |
Getting Around
- Onde é o metrô? — Where is the metro?
- Quanto custa um Uber daqui para...? — How much is an Uber from here to...?
- Pode me levar para esse endereço? — Can you take me to this address?
- Vire à direita / esquerda — Turn right / left
- Em frente — Straight ahead
- Estou perdido/a — I'm lost
- Qual é o próximo ônibus para...? — What is the next bus to...?
Beach & Social Phrases
- Que legal! — How cool! / That's great! (very common Brazilian expression)
- Saudade — a feeling of nostalgic longing (no English equivalent — use it and Brazilians will love you)
- Boa viagem! — Have a good trip!
- Você é de onde? — Where are you from?
- A água está boa? — Is the water nice?
- Vou ali e já volto — I'll be right back (common phrase)
- Deixa eu ver — Let me see
- Que saudade! — I've missed [this/you] so much!