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How to Say ‘Take the red line’ in Portuguese

Apanhe a linha vermelha

a-PAH-nyeh uh LEE-nyuh ver-MEH-lyah

[a-PAH-nyeh uh LEE-nyuh ver-MEH-lyah]

💬 Usage Tip: In Portugal, apanhar is the everyday verb for catching a bus, train or metro. You'll hear it far more than tomar, which is common in Brazil.

Phrase Breakdown

Apanhe

[a-PAH-nyeh]

take

Formal command of 'apanhar'; in Portugal used for taking a street, bus or train.

Example

Apanhe o autocarro aqui.

Take the bus here.

a linha vermelha

uh LEE-nyuh ver-MEH-lyah

the red line

Metro lines in Lisbon are named by colour. 'lh' sounds like 'lli' in 'million': 'LI-nya ver-MÊ-lya'.

Example

A linha vermelha vai para o aeroporto.

The red line goes to the airport.

Words in this phrase

a

[uh]

the

Feminine singular definite article, meaning 'the'.

Example

A empresa parece aberta a novas ideias.

The company seems open to new ideas.

linha

[LEE-nyuh]

line

A metro route identified by a colour.

Example

Esta linha vai ao aeroporto.

This line goes to the airport.

vermelha

[ver-MEH-lyah]

red

Feminine singular form of 'vermelho', used with feminine nouns.

Example

Comprei uma mala vermelha.

I bought a red bag.

Related guides

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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