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Brazil · Portuguese (Brazil) Travel Phrases

The most useful local expressions, ordered by importance. Pronunciations are approximate.

Greetings

  1. 1
    Oi
    Hi (the most common casual greeting) “oy”
  2. 2
    Bom dia
    Good morning “bohn JEE-ah”
  3. 3
    Obrigado / Obrigada
    Thank you (said by a man / by a woman) “oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah”
  4. 4
    Por favor
    Please “poor fah-VOR”
  5. 5
    Boa tarde
    Good afternoon “BOH-ah TAR-jee”
  6. 6
    Tudo bem?
    How's it going? (greeting and 'how are you') “TOO-doo behn?”
  7. 7
    Com licença
    Excuse me (passing by or getting attention) “kohn lee-SEN-sah”
Local etiquette
  • Brazilians are very warm. Women, and men greeting women, exchange a light cheek-kiss (beijinho — one or two depending on the region); men shake hands or give a back-patting hug (abraço).
  • People almost always open with "Tudo bem?" — it's part of the greeting more than a real question.
  • Personal space is close and touch is common. Backing away can come across as cold.

Basics

  1. 1
    Sim / Não
    Yes / No “seen / nown”
  2. 2
    Não entendo
    I don't understand “nown en-TEN-doo”
  3. 3
    Não falo português
    I don't speak Portuguese “nown FAH-loo poor-too-GES”
  4. 4
    Você fala inglês?
    Do you speak English? “voh-SEH FAH-lah een-GLES?”
  5. 5
    Mais devagar, por favor
    More slowly, please “mice deh-vah-GAR, poor fah-VOR”
  6. 6
    O que é isto?
    What is this? “oo kee eh EES-too?”
  7. 7
    Pode me ajudar?
    Can you help me? “PAW-jee mee ah-zhoo-DAR?”
  8. 8
    Posso tirar uma foto?
    May I take a photo? “PAW-soo chee-RAR OO-mah FAW-too?”
Local etiquette
  • Don't drink tap water; buy bottled mineral water (água mineral).
  • Meeting and meal times can run quite late. Dinner after 8–9 p.m. is normal.

Shopping

  1. 1
    Quanto custa?
    How much is it? “KWAN-too KOOS-tah?”
  2. 2
    Tem desconto?
    Is there a discount? “tehn jees-KOHN-too?”
  3. 3
    Aceita cartão?
    Do you accept cards? “ah-SAY-tah kar-TOWN?”
  4. 4
    Pode parcelar?
    Can I pay in installments? (common local option) “PAW-jee par-seh-LAR?”
  5. 5
    Vou levar isto
    I'll take this “voh leh-VAR EES-too”
  6. 6
    Uma sacola, por favor
    A bag, please “OO-mah sah-KAW-lah, poor fah-VOR”
Local etiquette
  • Big stores have fixed prices with little room to haggle, but small markets and street stalls (feira) allow modest bargaining.
  • Cards are widely accepted; you'll be asked "à vista" (one payment) or "parcelado" (installments). As a tourist, just say "à vista."
  • Don't flash valuables or expensive phones in crowded places — pickpocketing and snatch theft happen.

Restaurant

  1. 1
    O cardápio, por favor
    The menu, please “oo kar-DAH-pee-oo, poor fah-VOR”
  2. 2
    O que você recomenda?
    What do you recommend? “oo kee voh-SEH heh-koh-MEN-dah?”
  3. 3
    Um chopp, por favor
    A draft beer, please “oon SHAW-pee, poor fah-VOR”
  4. 4
    Água, por favor
    Water, please “AH-gwah, poor fah-VOR”
  5. 5
    Tenho alergia
    I have an allergy “TEN-yoo ah-ler-ZHEE-ah”
  6. 6
    A conta, por favor
    The check, please “ah KOHN-tah, poor fah-VOR”
  7. 7
    Está incluído o serviço?
    Is the service charge included? “es-TAH een-kloo-EE-doo oo ser-VEE-soo?”
  8. 8
    Para viagem
    To go / takeaway “PAH-rah vee-AH-zhen”
Local etiquette
  • A 10% tip is standard and often already added as "serviço" on the bill; if so, you don't need to add more.
  • At "por quilo" (per kilo) restaurants you serve yourself and pay by the weight of your plate — take only what you'll eat.
  • At a churrascaria the servers keep bringing meat; flip your card to green (more) or red (stop).
  • Draft beer is "chopp," bottled is "cerveja," and both are served very cold.

Getting around

  1. 1
    Onde fica o banheiro?
    Where is the restroom? “OHN-jee FEE-kah oo bah-NYAY-roo?”
  2. 2
    Onde fica o metrô?
    Where is the metro? “OHN-jee FEE-kah oo meh-TROH?”
  3. 3
    Para este endereço, por favor
    To this address, please (taxi) “PAH-rah ES-chee en-deh-REH-soo, poor fah-VOR”
  4. 4
    Quanto custa até…?
    How much to…? “KWAN-too KOOS-tah ah-TEH…?”
  5. 5
    Pode parar aqui?
    Can you stop here? “PAW-jee pah-RAR ah-KEE?”
  6. 6
    Estou perdido
    I'm lost “es-TOH per-JEE-doo”
Local etiquette
  • Use Uber or the 99 app rather than street taxis — safer and transparent on price, especially at night.
  • On buses and the metro, wear your bag in front and keep your phone out of sight.
  • For long distances, intercity buses (ônibus) are excellent; check the seat class (convencional/executivo/leito).

Hotel

  1. 1
    Tenho uma reserva
    I have a reservation “TEN-yoo OO-mah heh-ZER-vah”
  2. 2
    Quero fazer o check-in
    I'd like to check in “KEH-roo fah-ZER oo check-in”
  3. 3
    Que horas é o check-out?
    What time is check-out? “kee AW-rahs eh oo check-out?”
  4. 4
    Posso deixar minha mala?
    Can I leave my luggage? “PAW-soo day-SHAR MEE-nyah MAH-lah?”
  5. 5
    Qual é a senha do wifi?
    What's the Wi-Fi password? “kwahl eh ah SEH-nyah doo WEE-fee?”
Local etiquette
  • Your passport is required at check-in. Local guesthouses may not speak English, so have a translation app ready.
  • It's customary to give housekeeping and bellhops a small tip (around 5–10 reais).

Emergency

  1. 1
    Socorro!
    Help! (emergency) “soh-KOH-hoo!”
  2. 2
    Chame a polícia
    Call the police “SHAH-mee ah poh-LEE-see-ah”
  3. 3
    Chame uma ambulância
    Call an ambulance “SHAH-mee OO-mah am-boo-LAN-see-ah”
  4. 4
    Onde tem um hospital?
    Where is there a hospital? “OHN-jee tehn oon os-pee-TAHL?”
  5. 5
    Perdi meu passaporte
    I lost my passport “per-JEE meh-oo pah-sah-POR-chee”
Local etiquette
  • Police 190, ambulance 192, fire 193. Some tourist areas have Tourist Police (Polícia Turística).
  • Carry only a passport copy and leave the original in the room safe. If robbed, don't resist — hand over your things; that's the safe choice.