Basic Brazilian Portuguese phrases for your first conversation
Everything you need to survive (and enjoy) your first conversation with a Brazilian.
Greetings
Oi! Tudo bem?Hi! How are you?
Tudo bom, e você?I'm good, and you?
Bom dia! / Boa tarde! / Boa noite!Good morning! / Good afternoon! / Good evening!
E aí?What's up? (casual)
Introducing yourself
Meu nome é Emma.My name is Emma.
Prazer!Nice to meet you!
Eu sou dos Estados Unidos.I'm from the United States.
Estou aprendendo português.I'm learning Portuguese.
When you don't understand
These are the most useful phrases of all. Brazilians are patient and happy to help when you ask.
Pode repetir, por favor?Can you repeat that, please?
Mais devagar, por favor.Slower, please.
O que significa "saudade"?What does "saudade" mean?
Como se diz "bill" em português?How do you say "bill" in Portuguese?
At a café or restaurant
Um café, por favor.A coffee, please.
Me vê um pão de queijo?Can I get a cheese bread? (very Brazilian)
A conta, por favor.The bill, please.
Posso pagar com cartão?Can I pay by card?
Getting around
Com licença, onde fica o metrô?Excuse me, where is the subway?
É longe daqui?Is it far from here?
Vira à direita / à esquerda.Turn right / left.
Common mistakes
Obrigado (said by a woman) → Obrigada"Thank you" agrees with the speaker: men say obrigado, women say obrigada.
Eu sou cansado. → Eu estou cansado.Temporary states use estar, not ser. See our ser vs estar guide.
Pronunciation tip: in most of Brazil, t and d before an i sound become "ch" and "j": tia sounds like "CHEE-ah", dia like "JEE-ah".
Quick quiz
1. Someone asks "Tudo bem?". A natural answer is…
2. How do you ask someone to speak slower?
3. A woman wants to say thank you. She says…
FAQ
How do you say hello in Brazilian Portuguese?
Oi is the everyday hello. Olá is a bit more formal. People usually follow it with Tudo bem? (How are you?).
Is Brazilian Portuguese different from European Portuguese?
Yes. Pronunciation, some vocabulary and some grammar are different, but speakers understand each other. This page uses Brazilian Portuguese.
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Brazilian Portuguese slang: 20 words you'll actually hearLegal, beleza, valeu, cara, de boa: the Brazilian slang you'll hear in every conversation, with meanings, examples, audio and regional favorites.Ser vs estar: when to use each oneBoth mean "to be" in Portuguese. Learn the simple rule, the conjugations, the exceptions that confuse learners and practice with a quick quiz.