Brazilian Portuguese phrases for travel, with pronunciation

What are essential Portuguese phrases for travelers?

The essential Portuguese phrases for travelers in Brazil are a greeting, please and thank you, excuse me, how much is it, where is, and a way to say you didn't understand. In the respellings, capitals mark the stressed syllable and (n) means the vowel goes through your nose, with no full n sound; the audio is the real thing.

Obrigado or obrigada depends on who is speaking, not on who you thank: a man always says obrigado, a woman obrigada.

What do you say when you don't understand Portuguese?

When you don't understand, say Não entendi (I didn't catch that), then Pode repetir, por favor? (can you say that again, please?) or Mais devagar, por favor (slower, please). Most people will gladly slow down for someone trying their Portuguese.

How do you ask for directions in Portuguese?

To ask for directions, start with Com licença (excuse me) and ask Onde fica…? (where is…?) or Tem uma farmácia aqui perto? (is there a pharmacy near here?). The answer will usually use à direita (right), à esquerda (left) and reto (straight ahead).

Which phrases do you need for the metrô, buses and ride apps?

On public transportation, the phrases you'll use most are Qual linha vai para o centro? (which line goes downtown?) on the metrô, Esse ônibus passa no centro? (does this bus go downtown?) at a bus stop, and Pode me deixar aqui? (can you drop me off here?) in a taxi or ride-app car.

How do you buy a bus ticket in Brazil?

Long-distance buses leave from the rodoviária (bus station): at the ticket window, say Uma passagem para…, por favor (one ticket to…, please), then answer só ida (one way) or ida e volta (round trip) and pick a seat, janela (window) or corredor (aisle). This is the whole exchange from CiaoSpeak's bus-station scene in Curitiba:

What do you say when you check in at a pousada or hotel?

At check-in, say Tenho uma reserva (I have a reservation); the questions that follow are usually how many nights, breakfast and the Wi-Fi. A pousada is a small inn or guesthouse, common in Brazil's beach and country towns.

How do you pay in Portuguese?

To pay, ask Quanto é? (how much is it?) and Aceita cartão? (do you take cards?); at the machine you'll be asked Débito ou crédito? and, in shops, CPF na nota?, which is about a Brazilian taxpayer number, so a visitor answers Não, obrigado or Não, obrigada. You'll also hear Pix, Brazil's instant bank payment made with a phone.

Which phrases do you need at a restaurant?

At a restaurant, you need Uma mesa para dois, por favor (a table for two, please), Vou querer… (I'll have…) and A conta, por favor (the check, please). The full guide to ordering food in Portuguese covers bakeries, pay-by-weight restaurants and street markets too.

What Portuguese phrases do you need in an emergency?

In an emergency, shout Socorro! (help!) and say Preciso de ajuda (I need help). In Brazil, call 192 for an ambulance (SAMU), 190 for the police and 193 for the fire department. For a minor problem, a farmácia (pharmacy) is the first stop.

What small talk will you hear on a trip to Brazil?

The small talk you'll hear most is about where you're from, the heat, football and Carnaval. Drivers often like to chat; these are three of the questions Rodrigo asks in CiaoSpeak's Rio scene:

Which sounds matter most when you say these phrases?

Four sounds change how Brazilian Portuguese phrases sound more than anything else, and they're all in the respellings above:

• t and d before an “ee” sound become “ch” and “j”: boa noite is BOH-ah NOY-chee, bom dia is boh(n) JEE-ah.
• A final o sounds like “oo”, a final e like “ee”: obrigado ends in “doo”.
• Nasal vowels go through the nose with no full n: não, sim, bom.
• An r at the start of a word, or rr, sounds like an English h: Rio is HEE-oo.

The Brazilian Portuguese course starts with exactly these sounds in Unit 1.