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How to Say ‘Then turn left at the traffic lights.’ in Portuguese

Depois, vire à esquerda no semáforo.

duh-POYS VEE-ruh ah izh-KEHR-dah NOO seh-MAH-foo-roo

[duh-POYS VEE-ruh ah izh-KEHR-dah NOO seh-MAH-foo-roo]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Locals often give directions using landmarks like traffic lights, cafés or a church rather than street names, so listen for those.

Phrase Breakdown

Depois,

duh-POYS

Then / After that,

Sequencing word used when giving directions. Say 'de-POISH'. The first 'e' is almost silent and the final 's' sounds like 'sh'.

Example

Depois, siga em frente.

Then, go straight ahead.

Words in this phrase

Depois

[duh-POYS]

then; afterwards

Sequencing word used to say what happens next in a trip (e.g., after the tram, then the train).

Example

Depois de saíres do elétrico, segues para a estação.

After you get off the tram, you head to the station.

vire à esquerda

VEE-ruh ah izh-KEHR-dah

turn left

Formal command of 'virar' (to turn) plus 'à esquerda' (to the left). Say 'VEE-r(e) ah shKEHR-dah'. The 'es-' at the start of 'esquerda' sounds like 'sh'.

Example

Vire à esquerda na rua principal.

Turn left on the main street.

Words in this phrase

vire

[VEE-ruh]

turn

Formal command form (você) of the verb 'virar', to turn; used when giving directions.

Example

Vire à direita na rotunda.

Turn right at the roundabout.

[ah]

Indicates direction or destination.

Example

Vou "à" loja mais tarde.

I'm going to the store later.

esquerda

[izh-KEHR-dah]

left

Direction word meaning the left side.

Example

A esquerda costuma ter menos trânsito aqui.

The left side usually has less traffic here.

no semáforo.

NOO seh-MAH-foo-roo

at the traffic lights.

'No' = 'em' + 'o' (at the). Stress falls on 'MA': 'noo s(e)-MAH-foo-roo'. In Portugal, the final 'o' sounds like 'oo'.

Example

Pare no semáforo.

Stop at the traffic lights.

Words in this phrase

[NOO]

in the / at the

Contraction of 'em' + 'o', often used in time expressions.

Example

No fim do jogo, todos aplaudiram.

At the end of the match, everyone applauded.

semáforo

[seh-MAH-foo-roo]

traffic light

Masculine noun for the traffic lights at a crossing; a common landmark in directions.

Example

Pare no semáforo vermelho.

Stop at the red traffic light.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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