Top 50 phrases to get by Portugal: Essential communication
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Key Phrases
Olá
Hello
Fala inglês?
Do you speak English?
Adeus
Goodbye
Skills You'll Learn
Basic conversational skills
Habilidades conversacionais básicas
Inquiring about languages
Perguntar sobre idiomas
Polite farewells
Despedidas educadas
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Olá
oh-LAH
Hello
💬 An informal greeting used throughout the day.
🇵🇹 In Portugal, a friendly 'Olá' can go a long way to break the ice!
See breakdown →Obrigado/Obrigada
oh-bree-GAH-doo oh-bree-GAH-dah
Thank you (m/f)
💬 Use 'Obrigado' if you're male and 'Obrigada' if you're female.
🇵🇹 Expressing gratitude is highly appreciated in Portuguese culture.
See breakdown →De nada
de na-da
You're welcome
💬 Literally means 'of nothing'.
🇵🇹 A common polite response to 'Obrigado/a'.
See breakdown →Desculpe
desh-KOOL-peh
Sorry/Excuse me
💬 Use this to apologize or gain someone's attention.
🇵🇹 Politeness is key in Portugal, so don’t hesitate to use this word!
See breakdown →Adeus
ah-DAY-oosh
Goodbye
💬 The formal way to say goodbye, though less common than 'Tchau'.
🇵🇹 Portugal has a warm culture, often favoring a friendly 'Tchau' for farewells.
See breakdown →Sim
seem
Yes
💬 Short and straightforward!
🇵🇹 This simple affirmation is universally understood.
See breakdown →Não
nowng
No
💬 Pronounce it like 'now'.
🇵🇹 Directness is appreciated in Portuguese conversations.
See breakdown →Por favor
por fa-vor
Please
💬 Can be placed at the beginning or end of a request.
🇵🇹 Politeness is essential; this phrase is used frequently.
See breakdown →Não compreendo
nau kom-pren-do
I don't understand
💬 Helpful when you're puzzled!
🇵🇹 It's okay not to understand—locals appreciate your effort to communicate.
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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