If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, learning a few basic phrases will make your travels so much better.

Locals always appreciate it when you try to speak their language. Even a simple “hello” or “thank you” can bring a big smile to someone’s face.

In this guide, I’ll share the most essential Portuguese phrases for travelers.

Because Portuguese is spoken differently depending on where you go, I’ll also point out a few important differences between Brazilian Portuguese and European (Portugal) Portuguese.

Greetings and basics

The best way to start any interaction is with a friendly greeting. In Portuguese, the way we say hello changes depending on the time of day.

Here are the standard greetings you’ll use constantly during your trip:

After greeting someone, it’s very common to ask how they’re doing. The easiest and most common way to do this in any Portuguese-speaking country is to ask tudo bem? (literally “everything well?”).

The best part about tudo bem is that it’s also the answer! If someone asks you “tudo bem?”, you can just smile, nod, and say “tudo bem” right back.

Polite words and phrases

Good manners are universal. Knowing how to say “please” and “thank you” is the most important part of your travel toolkit.

Here’s where we have a very important grammar rule. In Portuguese, the word for “thank you” changes depending on your gender, not the gender of the person you’re talking to.

• If you’re male, you say obrigado.
• If you’re female, you say obrigada.

Here are the must-know polite phrases:

Here’s a quick summary table you can screenshot and keep on your phone:

Getting around and asking directions

When you travel, you’ll eventually need to ask for directions or buy tickets.

If you get lost, the most important phrase to remember is onde fica…? which means “where is…?“. You can just add the place you’re looking for at the end.

Regional travel vocabulary:

If you’re taking public transportation, be aware that Brazilians and Portuguese people use different words for trains and buses!

• Bus: In Brazil, it’s called an ônibus. In Portugal, it’s called an autocarro.
• Train: In Brazil, it’s a trem. In Portugal, it’s a comboio.

Eating out and ordering food

Going to restaurants is one of the best parts of traveling. Portuguese and Brazilian cuisines are incredible!

When you want to order something, the most polite way to do it is to say eu queria… which means “I would like…“.

Emergency phrases for travelers

Hopefully, you’ll never need to use these phrases. But it’s always smart to be prepared just in case something goes wrong.

If you’re in trouble, knowing how to ask for help quickly is very important.

Preparing for your trip

The best advice I can give you as a language teacher is to practice these phrases often before your trip.

Boa viagem! (Have a good trip!)