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Portugal · Portuguese Travel Phrases

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

Greetings

  1. 1
    Olá
    Hello / Hi (any time of day) “oh-LAH”
  2. 2
    Bom dia
    Good morning (until midday) “bong DEE-ah”
  3. 3
    Boa tarde
    Good afternoon (after lunch) “BOH-ah TAR-de”
  4. 4
    Obrigado / Obrigada
    Thank you (Obrigado if you're male, Obrigada if female) “oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah”
  5. 5
    De nada
    You're welcome “de NAH-dah”
  6. 6
    Se faz favor
    Please / Excuse me (typical Portuguese, more common than 'por favor') “se fash fah-VOR”
  7. 7
    Desculpe
    Excuse me / Sorry (to get attention or apologize) “desh-KOOL-pe”
  8. 8
    Adeus
    Goodbye “ah-DEH-oosh”
Local etiquette
  • Say 'Bom dia' (or 'Boa tarde' in the afternoon) as you enter a shop or café, and 'Obrigado/Obrigada' as you leave.
  • 'Thank you' changes with your gender: a male speaker says Obrigado, a female speaker Obrigada.
  • Friends greet with two cheek kisses (starting on the right); a handshake is fine for formal settings.

Basics

  1. 1
    Sim / Não
    Yes / No “seeng / nowng”
  2. 2
    Não compreendo
    I don't understand “nowng kom-pree-EN-doo”
  3. 3
    Não falo português
    I don't speak Portuguese “nowng FAH-loo por-too-GESH”
  4. 4
    Fala inglês?
    Do you speak English? “FAH-lah een-GLESH?”
  5. 5
    Pode falar mais devagar?
    Could you speak more slowly? “POH-de fah-LAR maish de-vah-GAR?”
  6. 6
    O que é isto?
    What is this? “oo ke eh EESH-too?”
  7. 7
    Posso tirar uma foto?
    May I take a photo? “POH-soo tee-RAR OO-mah FOH-too?”
  8. 8
    Pode ajudar-me?
    Can you help me? “POH-de ah-zhoo-DAR-me?”
Local etiquette
  • Don't assume Spanish works here — English tends to go over better, and a word of Portuguese is warmly welcomed.
  • Churches and monasteries may require covered shoulders and knees, and some areas ban photography.

Shopping

  1. 1
    Quanto custa?
    How much is it? “KWAN-too KOOSH-tah?”
  2. 2
    Posso pagar com cartão?
    Can I pay by card? (cards widely accepted) “POH-soo pah-GAR kong kar-TOWNG?”
  3. 3
    Queria isto
    I'd like this one “kree-AH EESH-too”
  4. 4
    Posso experimentar?
    Can I try it on? “POH-soo esh-pree-men-TAR?”
  5. 5
    Estou só a ver
    I'm just looking “esh-TOH soh ah VER”
  6. 6
    Fazem tax-free?
    Do you offer tax-free (VAT refund)? “FAH-zeng tax-free?”
Local etiquette
  • Portugal is very card-friendly, especially contactless; even small purchases can usually be paid by card.
  • Many small-town shops close for lunch (roughly 1–3pm), and lots close on Sundays.
  • Non-EU visitors can claim a VAT refund above a minimum spend in one store — carry your passport.

Restaurant

  1. 1
    Uma mesa para dois, se faz favor
    A table for two, please “OO-mah MEH-zah PAH-rah doysh, se fash fah-VOR”
  2. 2
    A ementa, se faz favor
    The menu, please “ah ee-MEN-tah, se fash fah-VOR”
  3. 3
    O que recomenda?
    What do you recommend? “oo ke he-koo-MEN-dah?”
  4. 4
    Um pastel de nata, se faz favor
    One custard tart (pastel de nata), please “oong pash-TEL de NAH-tah, se fash fah-VOR”
  5. 5
    Uma bica, se faz favor
    An espresso, please (Lisbon slang for espresso) “OO-mah BEE-kah, se fash fah-VOR”
  6. 6
    Tenho alergia
    I have an allergy “TEH-nyoo ah-ler-ZHEE-ah”
  7. 7
    A conta, se faz favor
    The check, please “ah KON-tah, se fash fah-VOR”
  8. 8
    Estava delicioso!
    It was delicious! “esh-TAH-vah de-lee-see-OH-zoo!”
Local etiquette
  • When you sit down, bread, olives and cheese ('couvert') may appear — it's charged if you eat it; politely wave it away if you don't want it.
  • Tipping isn't required and stays small — around 5–10% or rounding up is plenty if you were happy.
  • Espresso is 'uma bica' in Lisbon and 'um cimbalino' in Porto; plain 'café' works everywhere.
  • Meals are unhurried, and staff won't bring the bill automatically — ask with 'A conta, se faz favor'.

Getting around

  1. 1
    Onde é a casa de banho?
    Where is the restroom? “ON-de eh ah KAH-zah de BAH-nyoo?”
  2. 2
    Onde é a estação?
    Where is the station? “ON-de eh ah esh-tah-SOWNG?”
  3. 3
    Um bilhete, se faz favor
    One ticket, please “oong bee-LYEH-te, se fash fah-VOR”
  4. 4
    A que horas parte?
    What time does it leave? “ah ke OH-rash PAR-te?”
  5. 5
    Para esta morada, se faz favor
    To this address, please (taxi) “PAH-rah ESH-tah moo-RAH-dah, se fash fah-VOR”
  6. 6
    Para em...?
    Does it stop at...? (bus/tram) “PAH-rah eng...?”
  7. 7
    Estou perdido
    I'm lost “esh-TOH per-DEE-doo”
Local etiquette
  • Lisbon's trams (like line 28) are pickpocket hotspots — wear your bag on your front, especially when crowded.
  • In Lisbon and Porto a rechargeable transit card (Viva Viagem / Andante) is far cheaper than single tickets.
  • Check that the taxi meter (taxímetro) is running; airports have fixed-fare zones.

Hotel

  1. 1
    Tenho uma reserva
    I have a reservation “TEH-nyoo OO-mah he-ZER-vah”
  2. 2
    Queria fazer o check-in
    I'd like to check in “kree-AH fah-ZER oo check-in”
  3. 3
    A que horas é o check-out?
    What time is check-out? “ah ke OH-rash eh oo check-out?”
  4. 4
    Podem guardar as malas?
    Can you store my luggage? “POH-deng gwar-DAR ash MAH-lash?”
  5. 5
    Qual é a senha do Wi-Fi?
    What's the Wi-Fi password? “kwal eh ah SEH-nyah doo wee-fee?”
Local etiquette
  • Some cities (Lisbon, Porto and others) charge a separate nightly tourist tax (taxa turística), often not in your booking price.
  • You'll be asked for your passport at check-in for guest registration, so keep it handy.

Emergency

  1. 1
    Socorro!
    Help! “soo-KOH-hoo!”
  2. 2
    Chame a polícia
    Call the police “SHAH-me ah poo-LEE-see-ah”
  3. 3
    Chame uma ambulância
    Call an ambulance “SHAH-me OO-mah am-boo-LAN-see-ah”
  4. 4
    Onde é o hospital?
    Where is the hospital? “ON-de eh oo osh-pee-TAL?”
  5. 5
    Roubaram-me a carteira
    My wallet was stolen (pickpocketed) “hoh-BAH-rowng-me ah kar-TAY-rah”
  6. 6
    Perdi o passaporte
    I lost my passport “per-DEE oo pah-sah-POR-te”
Local etiquette
  • The single emergency number is 112 (police, ambulance and fire).
  • For theft, get a written statement at a police station (PSP) for your insurance; tourist areas often have a dedicated desk.