Portuguese is a Romance language that evolved from the Latin spoken by the Romanized population of the Iberian Peninsula around the 3rd century BC. Over the centuries, it has been influenced by various languages, including Germanic, Arabic, and French. Today, it is the official language of Portugal, Brazil, and several other countries. When traveling to Portugal, knowing a few common words and phrases can greatly enhance your experience.

Basic Greetings

  • Hello / Hi: Olá (oh-LAH)
  • Good morning: Bom dia (bohm DEE-ah)
  • Good afternoon: Boa tarde (boh-ah TAR-deh)
  • Good evening / Good night: Boa noite (boh-ah NOY-teh)
  • Goodbye: Adeus (ah-DEH-oosh)
  • Please: Por favor (pohr fah-VOHR)
  • Thank you: Obrigado (oh-bree-GAH-doo) [male speaker] / Obrigada (oh-bree-GAH-dah) [female speaker]
  • You're welcome: De nada (deh NAH-dah)
  • Yes: Sim (sing)
  • No: Não (nowng)

Food and Restaurants

  • Menu: Cardápio (car-DAH-pyoo)
  • Water: Água (AH-gwah)
  • Bread: Pão (pah-ong)
  • Wine: Vinho (VEEN-yoo)
  • Beer: Cerveja (ser-VAY-zha)
  • Coffee: Café (kah-FEH)
  • I would like...: Eu gostaria de... (ay-oo goh-stah-REE-ah deh...)
  • Check, please: A conta, por favor (ah KON-tah pohr fah-VOHR)
  • Delicious: Delicioso / Deliciosa (deh-lee-SYO-zoo / deh-lee-SYO-zah)

Transportation

  • Taxi: Táxi (TAH-ksee)
  • Bus: Ônibus (OH-nee-boos)
  • Train: Trem (trang)
  • Subway / Metro: Metrô (meh-TROH)
  • Airport: Aeroporto (ah-eh-roh-POR-too)
  • Station: Estação (eh-stah-SOWNG)
  • I need a ticket to...: Eu preciso de um bilhete para... (ay-oo preh-SEE-zoo deh oong bee-LYEH-teh pah-rah...)

Accommodation

  • Hotel: Hotel (oh-TEHL)
  • Room: Quarto (KWAR-too)
  • Reservation: Reserva (heh-ZER-vah)
  • I have a reservation: Eu tenho uma reserva (ay-oo TAY-nyoo OO-mah heh-ZER-vah)
  • Do you have a room available?: Você tem um quarto disponível? (voh-SEH tay oong KWAR-too dees-poh-NEE-veh-o?)
  • I would like to check in / check out:: Eu gostaria de fazer o check-in / check-out (ay-oo goh-stah-REE-ah deh fah-ZEHR oo shek-EEN / shek-OUTE)

Please note that Portuguese pronunciation can vary slightly between Portugal and Brazil, but these phrases and words are commonly understood in both regions. Enjoy your travels in Portugal!