Basic phrases

Here are some basic Portuguese phrases which you can use in everyday conversation, as well as some common words you will see on signs.

SimYes
NãoNo
TalvezMaybe
Por favorPlease
ObrigadoThanks (said by a man)
ObrigadaThanks (said by a woman)
Muito obrigadoThanks very much (said by a man)
Muito obrigadaThanks very much (said by a woman)

The following are some polite ways you can reply to someone who thanks you:

De nadaYou're welcome
Não tem de quêDon't mention it
Ora essaNot at all

Saying hello and goodbye

Here are some different ways to greet people:

OláHi
Bom diaGood morning (used before noon)
Boa tardeGood afternoon (used from noon until dark)
Boa noiteGood evening (used after dark)

The following expressions, on the other hand, are some different things you can say when saying goodbye:

TchauBye (informal)
AdeusGoodbye
Boa noiteGoodnight
Até à vista!See you!
Até breve! or Até à próxima!See you soon!
Até logo!See you later!
Tem um bom dia!Have a nice day!
Bom fim de semana!Have a good weekend!

Getting someone's attention and apologising

DesculpeExcuse me
Com licençaExcuse me (polite expression used to get past someone or when asking permission to do something)
PerdãoSorry

If someone apologises to you, you can reply using one of the following expressions:

Não há problemaNo problem
Tudo bemIt's OK
Não te preocupesDon't worry about it

Making yourself understood

Fala português?Do you speak Portuguese?
Fala inglês?Do you speak English?
Não falo portuguêsI don't speak Portuguese
Não falo muito portuguêsI don't speak much Portuguese
Falo um pouco portuguêsI speak a little Portuguese
Só falo muito pouco portuguêsI only speak very little Portuguese
Por favor fale mais devagarPlease speak more slowly
Por favor escreva issoPlease write it down
Pode repetir?Could you please repeat that?
PerceboI understand
Não perceboI don't understand

Other basic phrases

Eu seiI know
Não seiI don't know
Desculpe, onde é a casa de banho?Excuse me, where's the toilet?

Things you might see

EntradaEntrance
SaídaExit
Saída de emergênciaEmergency exit
EmpurrePush
PuxePull
Casas de banhoToilets
WCWC
HomensGentlemen
SenhorasLadies
LivreVacant
OcupadoOccupied
Fora de serviçoOut of order
Não fumarNo smoking
PrivadoPrivate
Entrada proibidaNo entry
sound

Sound is available for all the Portuguese phrases on this page — simply click on any phrase to hear it.

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