Intro
Are you planning your next vacation and want to travel to Portuguese-speaking country? Good call! Here you will easily learn the 62 most relevant phrases that any English-speaking beginner needs to know for their next vacation.
In this post you will find:
You will find the material to download below.
Speaking a little Portuguese will allow you to enjoy the travel experience more intensely and to be more self-sufficient in the foreign country.
- Although in tourist areas many native speakers do speak English, locals will appreciate that you speak their language ā even if it is only ābroken Portugueseā.
- Knowing some Portuguese basics will allow you to get to know better the locals and the culture of your travel destination.
If you want to dive deeper in the Portuguese language, you have this same content explained exclusively in Portuguese, with subtitles in Portuguese and English, and free material to practice and to download.
If you want to learn the pronunciation of Portuguese from scratch, you have this video with free materials for download. In it you will learn:
- Your first sentences in Portuguese (starting on minute 01:25)
- The Portuguese alphabet (starting on minute 06:28)
- The vowels and the word stress of Portuguese (starting on minute 09:41)
- The pronunciation of consonants in Portuguese (starting on minute 23:30)
This video is the first lesson of the FREE online Portuguese mini-course for English speakers. You have a sneak peek, that you can access freely, no need to sign up.
- You can sign up with two clicks.
- In five lessons you will learn the basics of the language.
- You have videos, audios, PDFs, flashcards, and quizzes to practice, and you will obtain the certificate of completion.
How To Learn Portuguese Online & For Free ā Sneak Peek
In this video (with FREE material that you can download) you will find vocabulary about the city (starting on minute 14:22) and food (starting on minute 22:03) that will be very useful for your trip.
I also advise you to watch this free guide with short videos where I teach you phrases in Portuguese that will be useful on your vacation, too. You will learn useful Portuguese in a matter of minutes!
Learn Useful Portuguese Phrases with Free Videos & Materials
At the end of this post, you will find more free material to learn Portuguese.
Who is this Portuguese guide for? What Portuguese is taught, from Portugal or Brazil?
This "Survival Portuguese" guide is totally FREE and it will help youā¦
- If you do not speak any Portuguese at all.
- If you do speak a little Portuguese, but you want to learn helpful phrases to use in your next trip.
I speak and teach Brazilian Portuguese, but what you will learn in this guide will also be helpful if you travel to Portugal or any other Portuguese-speaking country.
- The pronunciation of Portuguese in Portugal, for example, will be a little different from mine, but the language is the same!
I will explain some differences between Brazilian Portuguese and Portuguese (focusing on the differences that are found in the 62 phrases of this guide) in this post, where I explain all the content more thoroughly.
Free download: PDF and MP3 Portuguese phrasebook for travelers
You can download here for FREE (no need to register) the PDF and MP3 files of this Portuguese phrasebook for English-speaking tourists.
In this link you will find the explanations of the phrases, the tables with the vocabulary and the audio, and two additional quizzes, so you can practice for FREE.
At the end of this post you will find a quiz and more free materials to learn Portuguese.
Download the Portuguese phrasebook-PDF (includes exercises and answers). You can take the travel phrasebook with you, on your smartphone, or as a printed copy, and use it whenever you need during your trip.
Download the ācheat sheetā of this travel phrasebook in PDF format.
Download the additional ācheat sheetsā with the words and phrases that you can have on your smarphone and will come in handy when you are abroad.
Download for free the audio with the Portuguese phrases for the holidays (Portuguese + English).
Download for free the audio with the travel vocabulary and phrases (only Portuguese).
Practice the Portuguese travel phrases with the cards.
How do I name the numbers up to 100 in Portuguese?
Before going on vacation, you should know the numbers in Portuguese. But do not worry, because they are quite simple.
You have all the numbers up to 100 on interactive flashcards. You can choose your learning or gaming mode.
In the video, you will learn the numbers starting on minute 04:41:
In this short video you can learn the numbers in Portuguese quickly. You have free material to practice here.
How can I greet and be polite in Portuguese?
A simple āOI!ā (āhello!ā) and words like āPOR FAVORā (āpleaseā) and āOBRIGADOā / āOBRIGADAā (āthank youā) can open many doors in a foreign country.
Here are the most basic phrases to say hello, to say goodbye and to be polite on your next vacation. You will see how easy it is to break the ice in Portuguese!
| Oi! | Hello! |
| Como vai? | How are you doing? |
| Bem, obrigado/a. | I am doing well, thanks. |
| Muito bem, obrigado/a. | Very well, thank you. |
| AtƩ logo! | See you later! |
| Adeus! | Goodbye! |
| Sim. | Yes. |
| NĆ£o. | No. |
| Por favor. | Please. |
| Desculpe. | Pardon. |
| NĆ£o tem problema. | That is OK. |
| Obrigado/a. | Thank you. |
| De nada. | You are welcome. |
Portuguese basic phrases for English-speaking travelers: how to greet, how to say goodbye and how to be polite
Do you want to learn more greetings in Portuguese? You have this short video with free material to practice.
If you want to learn more useful phrases to be friendly in Portuguese, you have this video with free material to practice.
If you want to know the most basic Portuguese phrases, you have the first lesson of the complete online Portuguese course for English-speaking beginners. You have the material available for free.
How can I introduce myself in Portuguese?
When you arrive at your destination on your next vacation, you will have to inform your name and your place of origin in Portuguese. Here are the basic phrases to introduce yourself in Portuguese.
| VocĆŖ ou o sr./a sra.? | Formal or informal? |
| Eu sou o/a ā¦ . | I am ā¦ . |
| Eu me chamo ā¦ . | My name is ā¦ . |
| O meu nome Ć© ā¦ . | My name is ā¦ . |
| Como vocĆŖ se chama? | What is your name? |
| Como o sr./a sra. se chama? | What is your name? |
| Muito prazer! | Nice to meet you! |
| Igualmente! | You too! |
basic Portuguese phrases: introductions for English-speaking travelers
Here are the basic phrases in Portuguese to talk about the place of origin and residence of a person.
| Eu sou de ā¦ (cidade, paĆs). | I am fromā¦ (city, country). |
| De onde vocĆŖ Ć©? | Where are you from? |
| De onde o sr./a sra. Ć©? | Where are you from? |
| Eu moro em ā¦ (cidade, paĆs). | I live inā¦ (city, country). |
| Onde vocĆŖ mora? | Where do you live? |
| Onde o sr./a sra. mora? | Where do you live? |
useful Portuguese phrases: how to indicate your place of origin and your place of residence
In this short video, you will learn the basic phrases to introduce yourself in Portuguese. You have free material to practice.
How to solve misunderstandings in Portuguese?
If you speak little Portuguese, you should know some phrases to facilitate communication. You will learn them quickly here.
| NĆ£o compreendo. | I do not understand. |
| NĆ£o entendo. | I do not understand. |
| O que significa ā¦ ? | What does ā¦ mean? |
| Mais devagar, por favor. | Slowly, please. |
| VocĆŖ fala inglĆŖs? | Do you speak English? |
| O sr./a sra. fala inglĆŖs? | Do you speak English? |
| Eu nĆ£o falo portuguĆŖs. | I do not speak Portuguese. |
| Eu falo um pouquinho de portuguĆŖs. | I speak a little Portuguese. |
Portuguese phrases to deal with communication difficulties and to indicate the languages you speak: basics for travelers
In this short video you will find useful phrases to improve communication in Portuguese. You have free material available.
What verbs do I need to know in Portuguese for my vacation?
In the 62 phrases in Portuguese, you will see that the essential verbs of the language are used many times. You will use them to place orders, and indicate your wishes and your needs.
| Eu (nĆ£o) tenho | I (do not) have |
| eu (nĆ£o) preciso | I (do not) need |
| eu (nĆ£o) posso | I can (not) |
| eu (nĆ£o) quero | I (do not) want |
| eu (nĆ£o) queria | I would (not) like |
must-know Portuguese verbs to indicate your needs and desires: basics for English-speaking travelers
How can I indicate my basic needs in Portuguese in my next holiday?
With four phrases of āsurvival Portugueseā you can indicate your urgent needs.
| Estou com fome. | I am hungry. |
| Estou com sono. | I am sleepy. |
| NĆ£o tenho dinheiro. | I have no money. |
| Onde fica o banheiro? | Where is the restroom? |
how to indicate your needs in Spanish in your next holiday abroad
How can I manage emergencies in Portuguese during a trip?
Hopefully there is no unforeseen event on your vacation, but you should know some phrases to ask for help in Portuguese.
| Preciso de um mƩdico. | I need a doctor. |
| Preciso ir para o hospital. | I need to go to the hospital. |
| Preciso de ajuda! | I need help! |
| Ajuda! Socorro! | Help! Help! |
| PolĆcia! Fui roubado/a! | Police! I was robbed! |
asking for help and handling emergencies in Portuguese during a trip: phrases for English speakers
In this short video (you have more content and material to practice for free) you will learn how to talk about health in Portuguese.
How can I talk about money in Portuguese?
It is convenient that you learn some basic phrases in Portuguese to change currency, to withdraw money, and to pay in shops or restaurants. Here they are:
| Onde posso trocar dinheiro? | Where can I exchange money? |
| Aceitam cartĆ£o de crĆ©dito? | Do you accept credit card? |
| Aceitam dĆ³lares? | Do you accept dollars? |
| Onde tem um caixa eletrƓnico? | Where is there an ATM? |
| Posso pagar em dinheiro? | Can I pay in cash? |
| Posso pagar com cartĆ£o? | Can I pay with card? |
| Aqui estĆ”. | Here you go. |
| Isto Ć© tudo. | This is all. |
| (NĆ£o) Preciso da nota fiscal. | I (do not) need the receipt. |
how to handle money and to make purchases: helpful Portuguese phrases for English-speaking tourists
In this video you will learn basic phrases to make purchases. You have more free resources and materials to use in stores and in the market here.
What Portuguese phrases will I use in a hotel in my next vacation?
Here you will learn the basic phrases in Portuguese that travelers must know to check in at a hotel.
Spanish travel phrases for English speakers to use in the hotel
| (NĆ£o) Tenho uma reserva. | I (do not) have a reservation. |
| Preciso de um quarto duplo por trĆŖs noites. | I need a double room for three nights. |
| (NĆ£o) Quero cafĆ© da manhĆ£. | I (do not) want breakfast. |
| (NĆ£o) Quero um banheiro privativo. | I (do not) want a private bathroom. |
You will delve into the vocabulary and useful phrases for accommodation on your next trip to a Portuguese -speaking country in video #17 of this series of short videos, which includes material to practice for free.
What Portuguese phrases will I use in the restaurant as a traveler?
Eating is ā both ā a need and a pleasure. With a few sentences you will be able to communicate in the cafĆ© or in the restaurant in Portuguese.
| Para comer, eu queria ā¦ . | To eat, I would like ā¦ . |
| Para beber, eu queria ā¦ . | To drink, I would like ā¦ . |
| NĆ£o posso tomar ā¦ . | I canāt have ā¦ . |
| Tenho alergia a ā¦ . | I am allergic to ā¦ . |
| A conta, por favor. | The check, please. |
In this short video you will find more useful phrases to order food in the cafƩ or in the restaurant. You have more free material to practice.
What Portuguese phrases do I need to know to ask for directions and to obtain information about the public transport?
On your trip you will explore new places and, for that, you will need to ask for information. Here you will learn basic phrases in Portuguese for travelers that will be useful for getting around in a new city.
| Quanto custa uma passagem de ida para ā¦ ? | How much does a one-way ticket to ā¦ cost? |
| Eu queria uma passagem de ida e volta para ā¦ . | I would like a round-trip ticket to ā¦ . |
| Onde tem um ponto de Ć“nibus? | Where is there a bus stop? |
| Onde fica a estaĆ§Ć£o? | Where is the station? |
| Pode me levar para o aeroporto? | Can you take me to the airport? |
| Como posso ir para o centro? | How can I go to the city center? |
| Este Ć“nibus vai para o aeroporto? | Does this bus go to the airport? |
| Que trem vai para o centro? | Which train goes to the city center? |
Portuguese travel phrases to ask for directios and information about tra public transport for English-speaking tourists
You have more useful phrases to communicate in the city and in transport in this short video, with more free material to expand your vocabulary.
You will learn useful phrases for tourists and more very helpful vocabulary to plan your next trip to a Portuguese-speaking country in the comment of video #19 of this very practical series of short videos in Portuguese with free material to practice.
Finally, a short video about the holidays.
A quiz to help you practice these helpful Portuguese travel phrases
The quiz will help you practice the phrases of this guide. In the quiz there is at least one incorrect answer. Some questions are "action ā ā ā > reaction", and some are "true" ("VERDADEIRO") or "false" ("FALSO") questions.
In short: Portuguese phrases you cannot travel without
Congratulations, you have learned the most relevant Portuguese phrases to manage usual communication on a trip!
You will see the most important phrases, without translation, so that you remember their meaning. It is the summary of all this content.
Phrases in Portuguese for travelers to greet and to be polite.
| Oi! |
| Como vai? |
| Bem, obrigado/a. |
| Muito bem, obrigado/a. |
| AtƩ logo! |
| Adeus! |
| Sim. |
| NĆ£o. |
| Por favor. |
| Desculpe. |
| NĆ£o tem problema. |
| Obrigado/a. |
| De nada. |
Phrases in Portuguese to introduce yourself.
Eu me chamo ā¦ .
Como vocĆŖ se chama?
Muito prazer!
Phrases in Portuguese to indicate your place of origin.
| Eu sou de ā¦ (cidade, paĆs). |
| De onde vocĆŖ Ć©? |
| Eu moro em ā¦ (cidade, paĆs). |
| Onde vocĆŖ mora? |
Phrases in Portuguese to avoid misunderstandings during your vacation.
NĆ£o entendo.
| O que significa ā¦ ? |
| Mais devagar, por favor. |
| VocĆŖ fala inglĆŖs? |
| Eu nĆ£o falo portuguĆŖs. |
Phrases in Portuguese to indicate basic needs in Portuguese for tourists.
| Estou com fome. |
| Estou com sono. |
| NĆ£o tenho dinheiro. |
| Onde fica o banheiro? |
Phrases in Portuguese to ask for help during an emergency on a trip.
Preciso de um mƩdico.
Preciso de ajuda!
PolĆcia! Fui roubado/a!
Phrases in Portuguese to talk about money and make purchases on your vacation.
| Onde posso trocar dinheiro? |
| Aceitam cartĆ£o de crĆ©dito? |
| Aceitam dĆ³lares? |
| Aqui estĆ”. |
| Isto Ć© tudo. |
| (NĆ£o) Preciso da nota fiscal. |
Phrases in Portuguese travelers must know to use at the hotel.
| (NĆ£o) Tenho uma reserva. |
| Preciso de um quarto duplo por trĆŖs noites. |
| (NĆ£o) Quero cafĆ© da manhĆ£. |
Phrases in Portuguese to order food in the restaurant on vacation.
| Para comer, eu queria ā¦ . |
| Para beber, eu queria ā¦ . |
| A conta, por favor. |
Phrases for travelers in Portuguese to ask for directions and to use in the transport.
| Quanto custa uma passagem de ida para ā¦ ? |
| Eu queria uma passagem de ida e volta para ā¦ . |
| Onde tem um ponto de Ć“nibus? |
| Pode me levar para o aeroporto? |
| Este Ć“nibus vai para o aeroporto? |
How to keep on learning Portuguese online & for free: videos and downloadable material for English-speaking beginners
You can learn the basics of Brazilian Portuguese with the FREE mini course for English speakers with videos, PDFs, audios, and certificate:
Online Mini-Course: Brazilian Portuguese for English Speakers (A1 ā Beginners)
Free course preview (sneak peek), with many free learning tips, available here, no registration needed.
Learn Useful Portuguese Phrases with Free Videos & Materials
To continue learning Portuguese, you have free guides for English speakers (video, audio and PDF) about ā¦
Your first contact with the Portuguese language.
How to Speak Portuguese: Guide for English-Speaking Beginners
A series of 1-minute videos to learn the most basic Portuguese with transcriptions, audios, and quizzes.
Learn Useful Portuguese Phrases with Free Videos & Materials
The most common greetings, farewells and politeness phrases in Portuguese.
The 81 TOP questions and answers in Portuguese.
Questions and Answers in Portuguese | Download Free PDF and MP3
The most thorough guide on greetings and goodbyes in Brazilian Portuguese.
Downloadable PDF + MP3 | 89+ Portuguese Conversation Starters
Vocabulary: the most relevant verbs in Portuguese for English speakers.
Free Video Guide: Portuguese Verbs for English Speakers
Vocabulary: the most relevant nouns in Portuguese for English speakers.
Basic Noun Vocabulary in Portuguese with Free Video, PDF & MP3!
In this playlist, you will find videos to learn Portuguese with explanations in Portuguese (with Portuguese & English subtitles):
You have a list of videos (with subtitles) to learn Portuguese basics:
In this list you will find short videos to learn Portuguese in the blink of an eye:
Videos for English speakers who want to learn the essential vocabulary of the Portuguese language:
You have FREE videos to learn Brazilian Portuguese with downloadable material for English-speaking beginners on the blog ā no registration needed.
Useful Portuguese videos on the YouTube channel ā Subscribe!
Learn conversational Brazilian Portuguese on Facebook!
Learn Brazilian Portuguese basics on Pinterest!
https://www.pinterest.es/discenslearning/portuguese-for-english-speakers-a1/
About the author: Hi there! I am Alicia Montero Schiemann, your Portuguese teacher. I was born and raised in SĆ£o Paulo, Brazil, in a trilingual family, as my mother is German and my father is Spaniard. I have always been passionate about languages and have turned that enthusiasm into my profession. I carried out my undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Madrid and in Berlin. I graduated in Humanities, with a Masterās degree in Didactics. I taught languages between 2010 and 2018 at the Popular University of Berlin and since then I have worked exclusively with online teaching.
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