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How to Say ‘Let's go, it already smells wonderful!’ in Portuguese

Vamos lá, que já cheira maravilhosamente!

VAH-moos lah keh zhah SHAY-rah mah-rah-vee-lyoh-zah-MAIN-teh

[VAH-moos lah keh zhah SHAY-rah mah-rah-vee-lyoh-zah-MAIN-teh]

💬 Usage Tip: The que after the comma means "because", a casual way to give a reason. Compare despacha-te, que está frio "hurry up, it's cold".

Phrase Breakdown

Vamos lá,

VAH-moos lah

Come on / Let's go,

A very common expression of encouragement. In European Portuguese, the final 's' in 'vamos' sounds like 'sh': 'VA-mush LA'. Say it as one smooth unit.

Example

Vamos lá, estamos atrasados!

Come on, we're late!

Words in this phrase

Vamos

[VAH-moos]

Let's

Contraction for 'let us', a suggestion or proposal to do something together.

Example

Vamos ao parque amanhã.

Let's go to the park tomorrow.

lá

[lah]

(emphasis) there

Literally 'there'; after a command it adds emphasis, like 'go on'.

Example

Anda lá, despacha-te!

Come on, hurry up!

que já cheira

keh zhah SHAY-rah

because it already smells

'Que' here means 'because' and is barely voiced, almost just 'k'. 'Já' sounds like 'zhah' (already). 'Cheira' is from the verb 'cheirar' (to smell) and is said 'SHAY-ruh'. In Lisbon it often sounds more like 'SHAI-ruh'.

Example

Abre a janela, que já cheira a fumo.

Open the window, because it already smells of smoke.

Words in this phrase

que

[keh]

because / since

Here a conjunction giving a reason, like 'as' or 'because'.

Example

Despacha-te, que está a chover.

Hurry up, because it's raining.

já

[zhah]

already

Prior to a specified or implied time.

Example

Já comi meu almoço.

I have already eaten my lunch.

cheira

[SHAY-rah]

smells

Third person present of 'cheirar' (to smell).

Example

A sopa cheira bem.

The soup smells good.

maravilhosamente!

mah-rah-vee-lyoh-zah-MAIN-teh

wonderfully!

This adverb comes from 'maravilhoso' (wonderful) plus '-mente' (-ly). Stress falls on 'MEN': 'ma-ra-vi-lyo-za-MEN-t(e)'. The 'lh' is like the 'lli' in 'million', and the final 'e' is almost silent.

Example

Ela canta maravilhosamente.

She sings wonderfully.

Words in this phrase

maravilhosamente

[mah-rah-vee-lyoh-zah-MAIN-teh]

wonderfully

Adverb from 'maravilhoso' (wonderful).

Example

Ela canta maravilhosamente.

She sings wonderfully.

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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