No language would be complete without its unique quirks and imperfections—like all of those small, seemingly meaningless words and sounds you hear in conversations! Yes, we’re talking about filler words. They may be unnecessary, but they’re definitely present in everyday conversations and other forms of speech.
Portuguese filler words vary immensely between countries, so that even native speakers from Europe have difficulty understanding the Brazilian counterparts of their everyday fillers (and vice-versa). But after reading this handy guide, you’ll be able to understand and use filler words in Portuguese yourself!
As you can probably imagine, filler words get a lot of hate. Some think they’re grammatical crutches used specially by younger generations. Others think they just sound ugly. But who has never been thankful for fillers when they needed to buy some time to find what to say next?
Learning about Portuguese filler words is important, regardless of whether you like them or loathe them. After all, you’re going to encounter them often in your conversations with native Portuguese speakers. But before you get too excited, remember that you shouldn’t rely too much on them either. So be open to learning them, but also understand how to substitute them when needed.
In this article, you’ll learn the top 10 most commonly used filler words in Portuguese, their meaning, and when to use them. We’ll also provide you with examples and alternatives so you can learn to sound like a Brazilian—without becoming a filler word machine.
Out with Portuguese speakers? Prepare to hear many filler words!
Table of Contents- Why do we use filler words?
- The Top 10 Portuguese Filler Words
- Pros and Cons of Filler Words
- Continue Learning More Portuguese with PortuguesePod101
1. Why do we use filler words?
Filler words are used in spoken conversation to indicate a pause—maybe to think, maybe to look for the right words—while also letting the other party know that the speaker hasn’t finished talking yet. Keep in mind that fillers can be words or sounds. In either case, fillers don’t add meaning to the sentence.
One thing you might notice, however, is that some people use filler words excessively. In these cases, the fillers are not used to indicate a pause but rather as a crutch or an automatic tic that interrupts the flow of speech. When that happens, it’s almost impossible not to notice them and the speaker risks annoying those who are listening.
Putting it all together, why do we use filler words, then?
- To indicate hesitation. In other words, to buy ourselves time to think when speaking.
- To help manage the flow of discourse. They act almost like punctuation marks for speech.
- To emphasize ideas. They bring more attention to what has just been said or what is about to be said.
- To approach a certain topic more gently. In this case, they’re used at the beginning of a sentence to make it sound less harsh.
You might also notice that there are differences between the filler words used by younger generations versus older generations. Some say it’s a problem with the younger ones, that they’re “destroying” the language by employing so many filler words… But the truth is that each generation has its own fillers.
In Portuguese, for example, older people might often use veja bem (“see”) or ou seja (“in other words,” but meaning “I mean”). Young adults and teenagers, on the other hand, prefer sabe (“you know”) or tipo (“like”).
As we go through the top 10 filler words used today in Brazilian Portuguese, we’ll give you some tips on the context in which they’re used, when to avoid them, and possible alternatives. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to understand and use them with confidence!
- → Another way to sound like a native is to learn about idioms! Check out this relevant vocabulary list on PortuguesePod101.com!
2. The Top 10 Portuguese Filler Words
#1
Portuguese | Literally | English Equivalent |
Tipo | “Type” | “Like” |
As the holy grail of Portuguese filler words, tipo is as common in Portuguese as “like” is in English. It can be placed at the beginning or in the middle of pretty much any sentence. It’s more commonly (though not exclusively) used by younger generations. Tipo is used to buy time when speaking, but it can easily become a habit or tic. Language purists would argue that the word should never be used as a filler, that it indicates a lower level of education, and that it makes you sound like a Brazilian version of a “valley girl.” However, it’s good to remember that languages evolve and that speakers are the makers of language. Using tipo will definitely make you sound more like a native. Just keep in mind the context: If you’re in a job interview or writing a formal message, don’t use it. In informal situations, just be mindful to not overuse it and you’ll be good to go! You might also see tipo paired with the word assim (“as such”). The resulting expression (tipo assim) is used in the same way as tipo. | ||
Hoje eu andei de bicicleta e, tipo, tô super cansada. (“Today I biked and, like, I’m super tired.”) Não sei, tipo, eu gosto dele, mas às vezes ele me irrita. (“I don’t know, like, I like him but sometimes he annoys me.”) Tipo assim, se você não tentar, nunca vai saber. (“Like, if you don’t try, you will never know.”) |
#2
Portuguese | Literally | English Equivalent |
Ééé | – | “Uh” |
Maybe you remember that é is the verb “is” in Portuguese. However, as a filler word, it loses this meaning and acts more like a sound that fills a moment of pause. It’s probably the most common filler sound in Brazilian Portuguese. This filler is the result of a tendency to prolong the last sound of a word when trying to indicate a pause in speech or when thinking about what to say next. For example:
| ||
Éééé… difícil responder essa pergunta. (“Uh… it’s difficult to answer this question.”) Eu quero, ééé… um café e um pão com manteiga. (“I want, uh… a coffee and one bread with butter.”) |
Éééé… como era mesmo? (“Uh… how was it, again?”)
#3
Portuguese | Literally | English Equivalent |
Bom / Bem | “Good” / “Well” | “Well” |
This filler in Portuguese is commonly used at the beginning of a sentence to indicate hesitation or to buy more time. It’s also used when beginning a somewhat sensitive phrase, as a way of approaching the topic more gently. You’re more likely to hear bom being used as a filler word in Brazilian Portuguese, while bem is more often used in European Portuguese. | ||
Bom… Eu não sei o que eu faria na sua situação, mas tenta falar com ele. (“Well… I don’t know what I’d do in your situation, but try to talk to him.”) Bom… O prato do dia parece uma boa opção. (“Well… The daily dish looks like a good option.”) |
- → Some filler words, like bom, are used by people of all generations. The same thing happens with certain timeless slang phrases! Find out which ones with PortuguesePod101.
#4
Portuguese | Literally | English Equivalent |
Então | “Then” | “So” |
Então can be used at the beginning of a sentence as an indicator that a previous topic is being approached again. But more often, it doesn’t carry any meaning and is rather used as a filler word out of habit. Compared to other Portuguese fillers, it’s not as frowned upon in formal settings. But as a rule of thumb, it’s good to avoid filler words in general when it comes to formal situations, as they can be seen as language crutches. A possible substitute for então when it’s used to resume a conversation about a previous topic is como eu disse (“as I said”) or como eu estava dizendo (“as I was saying”). | ||
Então, tenho que te contar o que aconteceu ontem. (“So, I have to tell you what happened yesterday.”) Então, menina, foi uma briga enorme! (“So, girl, it was a huge fight!”) |
Então, deixa eu te contar sobre esse filme. (“So, let me tell you about this movie.”)
#5
Portuguese | Literally | English Equivalent |
Assim | “As such” / “This way” | “Like” / “So” |
In informal conversations, people use assim in two ways:
As mentioned before, assim can also be paired with the ubiquitous filler word tipo, creating a common filler expression: tipo assim. | ||
Assim, eu não acho que ele tem toda a culpa. (“So, I don’t think he is entirely to blame.”) Assiiiiim… você acha mesmo que essa viagem é uma boa ideia? (“Sooo… do you really think this trip is a good idea?”) Ele chegou tão atrasado que, tipo assim, a festa já tinha terminado. (“He arrived so late that, like, the party was already over.”) Eu penso que, assim, não faz sentido essa briga. (“I think that, like, this fight makes no sense.”) |
#6
Portuguese | Literally | English Equivalent |
E aí | “Then” | “What’s up” |
Aí (“then”) is a common word you’ll hear countless times when a Brazilian is telling a story: A festa estava indo bem, mas aí ele correu para o palco, e aí tirou o microfone das mãos dela. Aí, todo mundo ficou em silêncio. (“The party was going well, but then he ran to the stage, and then he took the mic off her hands. Then everybody went silent.”) In the sentence above, you can see that aí does have a meaning, but it can also be easily overused. As a filler word, aí is often paired with e (“and”). When that happens, it can be used in different ways:
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E aí, prontos para o filme? (“So, ready for the movie?”) E aí, Luciana! (“What’s up, Luciana?”) |
#7
Portuguese | Literally and English Equivalent |
Cara / Mano / Meu | “Dude” / “Bro” / “Mate” |
Imagine you have to tell a juicy piece of gossip to your best friend. A Portuguese speaker might begin the story in one of the following ways, depending on their region:
Their placement is not restricted to the beginning of the sentence, though. In informal Portuguese, they can be used in any part of the phrase. As filler words, they don’t add any meaning, but instead help with the flow of the sentence. One way you can substitute these words is by using the name of the person you’re talking to. But, again, don’t overdo it: people might be weirded out if you say their name too many times. | |
Cara, o dia tá lindo! (“Man, the day is beautiful!”) Doeu muito, mano. (“It hurt a lot, dude.”) Ela foi lá, meu, e partiu pra briga! (“She went there, mate, and started a fight!”) |
- → Discover many more ways to informally refer to people in Portuguese with this lesson by PortuguesePod101.
Mano, ele colocou a culpa em você, meu. (“Man, he blamed you for it, bro.”)
#8
Portuguese | Literally | English Equivalent |
Né | “Isn’t it?” | “Right?” / “You know” |
Né is the contraction of não é (“isn’t it”). This filler is commonly used at the end of a sentence, like “right?” would be used in English. But it can also be used almost like a comma in informal spoken Portuguese:
A: Você saiu na chuva, mesmo doente? (“You went out in the rain, even though you’re sick?”) B: Não, né. Eu remarquei o encontro. (“Of course not. I rescheduled the date.”) | ||
Amanhã vamos no shopping, né? (“We’ll go to the mall tomorrow, right?”) Você assistiu o vídeo que eu te mandei, né? (“You watched the video I sent you, right?”) Ela sempre quis conhecer a Argentina, né, então foi ótimo. (“She always wanted to go to Argentina, you know, so it was great.”) |
- → Want to hear these filler words in a real-life scenario? Check out this audio lesson on PortuguesePod101.com to hear plenty of filler word examples!
#9
Portuguese | Literally and English Equivalent | |
Sabe | “You know” | |
Used just like the English equivalent, sabe appears at the end of sentences in Portuguese. However, when it’s used as a filler word, the question implied—Você sabe? (“Do you know?”)—is rhetoric. The speaker is not really asking if you know anything specific, it just marks the end of the sentence. | ||
Eles sempre tiveram um bom relacionamento, sabe. (“They always had a good relationship, you know.”) A situação é complicada, sabe. (“The situation is complicated, you know.”) |
#10
Portuguese | Literally and English Equivalent | |
Ah / Ai | “Oh” | |
These interjections can be used as filler words when placed at the beginning of sentences. They normally indicate exasperation, excitement, or surprise. Although ai also means “ouch,” when used as a filler, it acts like “oh” does in English. Ah is used in the same way, although it’s less common. | ||
Ah, aí, não sei. (“Oh, then I don’t know.”) Ai, sério? (“Oh, really?”) Ai, chega de grito! (“Argh, no more screaming!”) Ah, será que eles já chegaram? (“Oh, I wonder if they already arrived!”) |
/! Bonus: You can put a bunch of filler words together and actually create a sentence with meaning!
|
Ai, não acredito! (“Oh, I can’t believe it!”)
3. Pros and Cons of Filler Words
As you begin listening to native Portuguese speakers, you’ll quickly notice that filler words are everywhere.
If you’re serious about speaking the language well, you should know if and when to use filler words. As we already hinted at before, there are pros and cons to adding those words to your speech. Let’s take a closer look at them.
1 – Pro: Filler words help you sound like a local.
No native speaker can avoid filler words all the time. So as you learn these words and start incorporating them into your speech, you’ll begin to sound more natural.
Most of us don’t learn new languages to become a perfect writer or a master of grammar—instead, we learn them to engage in conversations, to interact, and to communicate. Striving for a perfect sentence is not as important as being able to understand when certain words are used without meaning (so you don’t get stuck trying to figure out what tipo means).
2 – Pro: They buy you time to search for words.
Especially when learning a new language, it’s good to have tools that give you time to search for words when speaking. After all, the vocabulary might not come automatically for you, and using filler words can help you keep the conversation going.
Plus, if learning and incorporating filler words into your speech makes you feel more comfortable, that’s very important for boosting your fluency!
3 – Con: It’s easy to overuse filler words.
Because you’ll hear these filler words often and they impart a sense of confidence, it’s easy to get addicted to them and not even realize you’re overusing words like tipo and né. But trust me, other people will notice if you exaggerate and it can become annoying.
4 – Con: They shouldn’t be used in formal situations or contexts.
Remember to avoid filler words in formal situations, such as business meetings, job interviews, or presentations. Likewise, don’t use them when writing a formal email or message. Using filler words in these contexts convey unprofessionalism and a lack of knowledge on what you’re talking about. It can also indicate a lack of confidence, especially when you’re speaking in public.
So what can you do to mitigate these cons? You have two options.
The first is to substitute the filler words. If you’re in a situation where you’ve been asked a question and need some time to think, you can use a few tricks like:
- Repeating the question back: O que eu espero aprender com essa experiência? Eu espero… (“What do I expect to learn from this experience? I expect…”)
- Adding phrases like boa pergunta (“good question”) and vamos ver (“let’s see”).
- Being honest and saying you need to think. This works better in an informal situation, in which you can simply say deixa eu pensar (“let me think”).
The second option is to become comfortable with silent pauses. This is an important skill to master in any language, not only in Portuguese. Short silent breaks can actually convey a sense of security and confidence in what you’re saying. It can also give your audience time to absorb what you’ve just said.
Avoid filler words in presentations and formal settings.
4. Continue Learning More Portuguese with PortuguesePod101
Are you ready to identify and use Portuguese filler words after reading this guide? We hope we gave you a good overview of what filler words are, how to use them in Portuguese, and how to substitute them when necessary. Now, you won’t be flabbergasted by the way native speakers say seemingly meaningless words like tipo all the time!
Do you think we missed any popular Portuguese filler words? Or did any of them surprise you at all? Let us know in the comments below!
Going forward, we suggest you try to pay attention to the way native speakers use the different filler words and why they do it. As we mentioned before, sometimes it’s to buy time while other times it helps with the flow of the sentence. Doing this will help you understand when to use filler words yourself.
There are more free Portuguese resources and a variety of vocabulary lists available on PortuguesePod101.com to help you continue your language learning journey. Go ahead and choose your favorite tools to expand your learning opportunities.
If you want to take your learning experience further, members of PortuguesePod101.com get access to the largest language lesson library in the world, with thousands of real lessons by real teachers. Perfect for anyone who wants to learn from anywhere, feel motivated, and be ready to speak Portuguese with confidence.
How to Say “I Love You,” in Portuguese
Everyone knows that love is the universal language… But still, learning the mother tongue of your beloved or potential love interest can do no harm when it comes to flirting or enhancing your communication.
Trust us: Saying “I love you,” in Portuguese to a native speaker is the surest way to capture that person’s heart! After all, wouldn’t you like to see an attractive foreigner sweat a little bit to get your attention in your mother tongue?
But while there’s beauty in this simplicity, there are many steps and eventualities one must get through before reaching the “I love you” stage.
This collection of Portuguese love phrases will serve as a reference for all the basics you need to know for every step of a relationship. You’ll pick up several expressions you can use to make small talk, confess your love in Portuguese, and even propose marriage!
Table of Contents- Confess Your Affection: Pick-up Lines
- Fall in Deeper: “No, I Love You More…”
- Take it One Step Further: “Will You Marry Me?” and More
- Endearment Terms
- Must-know Love Quotes
- Don’t say adeus, say até logo!
1. Confess Your Affection: Pick-up Lines
Better to get your words straight when the fire of love is burning!
The first step regarding how to express love in Portuguese is to begin a conversation with that special someone who has caught your eye. This means saying hello, introducing yourself, and getting your flirt on.
Perhaps it’s a good idea to practice these romantic Portuguese phrases in front of the mirror before going out “hunting.” Take a deep breath, don’t stutter, and prepare to get in touch with a new face wherever you are: in a club, at the movies, at the beach, in the park…
A- Meeting and flirting
One initial insight you should keep in mind about Portuguese love phrases—and communication in general—is that the pronoun vós (formal “you”) is hardly ever used for talking to strangers. Instead, people use tu or você.
- Quer dançar? / Dança comigo! – “Do you want to dance?” / “Dance with me!”
When using você (“you”), the imperative form of dançar (“to dance”) is dance. But in informal contexts, it’s very common to use dança as an imperative.
- Você é solteiro/solteira? – “Are you single?”
Solteiro is the masculine form of “single,” whereas solteira is the feminine form.
- Seu sorriso é lindo. – “Your smile is beautiful.”
- Quer ir para outro lugar? – “Shall we go somewhere else?”
- A gente pode se encontrar de novo? – “Can we meet again?”
- Eu te levo para casa. – “I will drive you home.”
- Gosto de você. – “I like you.”
B- Going out
Quiet nights of quiet stars, quiet chords from my guitar floating on the silence that surrounds us… Frank Sinatra, anyone?
So, you’ve met someone interesting and would definitely like to see them again!
There are some key phrases you’ll need to know in order to ask him or her out on a date—and to have a great time as you talk and get to know each other better. It’s time to gather your courage, plan your interesting night out, and let them know you’re interested in another meeting.
- Você gostaria de sair para jantar comigo? – “Would you like to go out for dinner with me?”
- Você gostaria de sair comigo? – “Would you like to hang out with me?”
- A que horas a gente se encontra amanhã? – “What time shall we meet tomorrow?”
If you’re inviting the person, you might prefer to establish the time of the meeting as part of the suggestion. In this case, you could give a more subtle suggestion by saying:
- Você está livre às ___ horas? – “Are you free at ___ o’clock?”
And of course, you’ll want to offer your date a genuine compliment and let them know you enjoyed your time together:
- Você está bonito/bonita. – “You look handsome/beautiful.”
- Adorei te conhecer! – “I loved meeting you!”
2. Fall in Deeper: “No, I Love You More…”
The start of a romantic relationship feels like blending two people into one.
Now’s the time to dim the lights, make some chamomile tea, burn some incense, and sit beside your loved one to pamper him or her. The flowers of romance have bloomed and now it’s time to smell their perfume.
As you walk along the magical yellow brick road of love, you’re going to experience some of the best moments of your life. With each step, you’ll get to know your partner in greater depth and continuously look for new ways to make them happy.
To give you a headstart, here are some sweet words of love in Portuguese that are sure to melt their heart. Your friends might not be able to keep a straight face as you exchange these expressions with your lover, but we think it’s worth it.
Ready?
- Eu te amo. – “I love you.”
- Não, eu te amo mais. – “No, I love you more.”
- Eu te amo tanto… – “I love you so much…”
- Acho que estou apaixonado (a) por você. – “I think I am in love with you.”
- Sonhei com você esta noite. – “I dreamed of you last night.”
- Quero estar com você para sempre. – “I want to be with you forever.”
- Você me faz querer ser uma pessoa melhor. – “You make me want to be a better person.”
- Você é tudo para mim. – “You are everything to me.”
3. Take it One Step Further: “Will You Marry Me?” and More
Old friends, sat on their park bench like bookends…
Wow, you really made it! It has been quite a ride from your first “I love you” in Portuguese to where you are now. Marriage is the turning of a new page in life, and with this fresh chapter comes the forming of comprehensive and ambitious plans for the future.
Soon enough, memorizing Portuguese love phrases will be your smallest concern—hopefully!
- Você quer casar comigo? – “Will you marry me?”
- Você me daria a honra de ser minha esposa/meu marido? – “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife/husband?”
- Quero que você conheça os meus pais. – “I want you to meet my parents.”
- Eu nunca morei junto com ninguém. – “I have never moved in with somebody.”
- Estou grávida. – “I am pregnant.”
- Ele vai ter o nome do pai. – “He is going to have his father’s name.”
- Ela vai ter o nome da mãe. – “She is going to have her mother’s name.”
4. Endearment Terms
If you call someone chuchu, there is no coming back: you are already madly in love.
Another way to express your love in the Portuguese language? Calling your dearest one by a cute pet name! The following endearment terms are even more poignant when spoken in a childlike voice. Ah! It is good to be in love…
- Meu amor – “My love”
- Amorzinho – Literally: “My little love”
This is an example of a diminutive form, which typically denotes affection and/or cuteness. But keep in mind that context is important; if used in an ironic manner, it shows disdain.
- Docinho – “Sweetie” [ Literally: “Little candy” ]
- (Minha) vida – Literally: “(My) life”
This one is a social media favorite, especially among couples who insist on sharing the same profile and publishing photos subtitled with inspiring love confessions.
- Meu bem / Querida(o) – “(My) dear”
You can try some alternative versions for querido (male) or querida (female), such as queridinha (“little darling”) or queridíssima (“dearest”).
- Meu chuchu – Approximately: “honey boo”
This one is awkward. A chuchu is a chayote, which is an edible green plant. It has a soft texture, is very watery, and has an unremarkable taste, yet it’s very popular and generally cheap. The French call their darlings their chouchous. This unintentionally comical adaptation of the idiom to Portuguese resulted in meu chuchu, which is one of the corniest ways to say “I love you,” in Portuguese to someone. To make it extra corny, use the diminutive form meu chuchuzinho.
- Bebê – “Baby”
- Coração – “Sweetheart”
5. Must-know Love Quotes
Hilda Hilst and her crew are here to tell you some things about love.
Love is one of those ubiquitous themes that inspire both the most tinny and the most brilliant statements and artistic expressions. As such, there are quotes about love in Portuguese that fall on both ends of the spectrum—but for your reading pleasure, we’ve included only the most poetic remarks on the universal feeling we call “love.”
No phony stuff in here, just some good material about love in Portuguese from modern authors. Vinicius de Moraes (1913 – 1980), Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902 – 1987), Hilda Hilst (1930 – 2004), and Ferreira Gullar (1930 – 2016) are among the most expressive and respected Brazilian poets of the 20th century.
Eu possa lhe dizer do amor: Que não seja imortal, posto que é chama Mas que seja infinito enquanto dure | Shall I tell you of love: Let it not be immortal, since it is flame But let it be infinite while it lasts |
Quote from Soneto de fidelidade (“Fidelity Sonnet”) by Vinicius de Moraes |
Há vários motivos para odiar uma pessoa, e um só para amá-la; este prevalece. | “There are many reasons to hate a person, and just one to love them; this one prevails.” |
Aphorism from O Avesso das Coisas by Carlos Drummond de Andrade |
Amar É coisa de morrer e de matar Mas tem som de sorriso | To loveI Is about dying and killing But it sounds like a smile |
Quote from a nameless, tragic chronicle/poem by Hilda Hilst |
Mais dia menos dia toda a lembrança se apaga e te surpreendes gargalhando, a vida vibrando outra vez, nova, na garganta, sem culpa nem desculpa. E chegas a pensar: quantas manhãs como esta perdi burramente! O amor é uma doença como outra qualquer. | “Day after day, every memory fades away and you get surprised laughing, life vibrating once again, new, in the throat, without guilt or excuses. And you even wonder: how many mornings like these have I stupidly lost! Love is a disease like any other.” |
Quote from the chronicle Sobre o amor (“On Love”) by Ferreira Gullar |
We’re curious: Which of these love quotes in Portuguese did you find most moving?
6. Don’t say adeus, say até logo!
It has been a pleasure to present you with this quick guide to expressing love in Portuguese. You’ve learned a good variety of Portuguese love phrases as well as some important details regarding idioms and cultural information.
If you feel we’ve missed some good Portuguese love phrases, please share with us your contribution!
Also, don’t miss out on the opportunity to continue developing your knowledge of all things Portuguese. The best way to do so is by exploring PortuguesePod101.com, the number-one place online to study this romantic language.
PortuguesePod101 provides a variety of free learning resources and engaging lessons, combining the best of solo study materials and more conventional classroom teaching methods. You can expand your vocabulary using our themed vocab lists, go through one of our learning pathways, or even upgrade to a Premium PLUS membership to take advantage of our MyTeacher service.
Video, audio, text, and real human contact blend in a most interesting learning experience on PortuguesePod101.com. Take your first step toward fluency today—your Portuguese-speaking partner will thank you for it.
Happy learning!
Saying No: An Overview of Portuguese Negation
Are you the type of person who has trouble saying no? Or, on the opposite side of the spectrum, is saying no your way of life? Regardless of your answer, learning how to deny something, answer negatively, or simply say no in Portuguese is a super-important step in your language-learning journey.
After all, without the power of “no,” mix-ups and miscommunication could happen. Thankfully, you won’t find negation in Portuguese particularly difficult, as it has many similarities to negation in English. After learning just a few negative words and sentences, you’ll be prepared to deny anything.
Don’t worry about sounding too negative after this article, though. We’ll look into ways to make a negative sentence sound polite, teach you the power of double negation in Portuguese for getting our point across, and even show you how to ask negative questions. To make sure everything is clear and understandable, we’ll give plenty of examples throughout.
Não gostei. (“I didn’t like it.”)
Table of Contents- Negating a Statement
- Negation and Questions
- Other Negating Words
- Double and Triple Negatives
- Continue Learning More Portuguese with PortuguesePod101
1. Negating a Statement
The first thing we’ll talk about is how to make a positive sentence negative in Portuguese.
1 – The holy grail of negation: Não (“No”)
The first and most important part of negation in Portuguese is this little word: não (“no”).
It’s a nasal word, which may sound a bit different to your ears. To make sure you get it, we suggest practicing its pronunciation with one of our vocabulary lists.
Não is used in Portuguese exactly as “no” is used in English. It can be used to answer a question by itself, to construct negative sentences, or to ask negative questions. Throughout this article, you’ll see não pop up again and again, so keep an eye out for it.
2 – Making a positive sentence negative
This is one of the greatest things about negation in Portuguese: Just like in English, you can simply add the word não to a positive sentence.
- Nós temos uma televisão. (“We have a TV.”)
- Nós não temos televisão. (“We don’t have a TV.”)
- Ela é brasileira. (“She is Brazilian.”)
- Ela não é brasileira. (“She is not Brazilian.”)
As you can see, não goes after the subject of the sentence but before the verb. Some sentences have implicit subjects, in which case we just put não before the verb.
- Vou limpar a casa. (“I’ll clean the house.”)
- Não vou limpar a casa. (“I will not clean the house.”)
Não sei, tenho que pensar. (“I don’t know, I have to think.”)
- → Need a refresher lesson on subjects, verbs, and word order? Check out this complete guide by PortuguesePod101!
2. Negation and Questions
Now let’s examine how Portuguese negatives apply to asking and answering questions!
1 – Giving a negative response to a question
You can always answer with a simple não or, instead, make it more elaborate. Take a look at the different ways we can negatively answer the question, Você gosta de sopa? (“Do you like soup?”)
- Não. (“No.”)
- Eu não gosto de sopa. (“I don’t like soup.”)
- Não, eu não gosto de sopa. (“No, I don’t like soup.”)
Sometimes, especially when being offered something, simply saying “no” might sound a bit rude, like in the example below.
- Você quer um pedaço de bolo? (“Do you want a piece of cake?”)
- Não. (“No.”)
To make it sound more polite, it’s a good idea to add “thank you” to your reply.
- Você quer um pedaço de bolo? (“Do you want a piece of cake?”)
- Não, obrigado. (“No, thank you.”) [masculine]
Another common way to soften the harshness of the word não is to downplay it a bit by saying instead não muito (“not much”).
- Você gosta dessa banda? (“Do you like this band?”)
- Não muito. (“Not much.”)
This 3-minute video by PortuguesePod101 has many more examples of negative answers and sentences.
2 – Asking Negative Questions
You can also use negative words to ask the question itself. It’s very easy to transform a positive question into a negative question—or even to transform a positive statement into a negative question.
Let’s take a look:
Positive statement | Positive question | Negative question |
Você gosta de pão. (“You like bread.”) | Você gosta de pão? (“Do you like bread?”) | Você não gosta de pão? (“Don’t you like bread?”) |
Ela mora no Brasil. (“She lives in Brazil.”) | Ela mora no Brasil? (“Does she live in Brazil?”) | Ela não mora no Brasil? (“Doesn’t she live in Brazil?”) |
Nós gastávamos muito dinheiro. (“We used to spend a lot of money.”) | Nós gastávamos muito dinheiro? (“Did we used to spend a lot of money?”) | Nós não gastávamos muito dinheiro? (“Didn’t we used to spend a lot of money?”) |
You can also use other negating words to ask negative questions. We’ll look at those words soon, but let’s go ahead and take a look at some examples.
- Você nunca visitou a Inglaterra? (“You’ve never been to England?”)
- Você nem se despediu? (“You didn’t even say goodbye?”)
Notice that the words are placed in the same spot não would be in.
Você não gosta de ervilha? (“You don’t like peas?”)
3. Other Negating Words
Time to spice up your negation skills. There are many words you can use besides não, which also add more context to your sentences.
1 – Nem (“Neither” / “Nor”)
Nem is a very popular negating word.
- Não como peixe nem carne. (“I don’t eat fish nor meat.”)
- Ele ainda não sabe ler nem escrever. (“He still doesn’t know how to read nor write.”)
- Nem meu pai e nem minha mãe falam inglês. (“Neither my father nor my mother speaks English.”)
Colloquially, nem is also used as “not,” replacing não. It is not uncommon to hear Brazilians saying:
- Nem começa. (“Don’t even start.”)
- Nem adianta. (“It’s no use.”)
2 – Nunca and Jamais (“Never”)
Want to talk in absolutes? These are your go-to words! Note that nunca is much more commonly used than jamais, which has a stronger connotation.
- Ela nunca come depois das 20 horas. (“She never eats after 8 p.m.”)
- Eu jamais viajarei de avião. (“I will never travel by plane.”)
Both words can also be used by themselves, when answering a question.
- Você já voou de asa delta? (“Have you ever flown by hang gliding?”)
- Nunca. (“Never.”)
You can even use jamais to make it clear you have never done something, and will also never do it in the future.
- Você já voou de asa delta? (“Have you ever flown by hang gliding?”)
- Jamais. (“Never.”) [meaning that you never have, never will]
Another common expression is nunca mais (“never again”).
- Eu nunca mais quero te ver. (“I don’t want to see you ever again.”)
- Viajei sozinha uma vez e foi horrível. Nunca mais! (“I traveled by myself once and it was horrible. Never again!”)
- Ele nunca mais vai poder jogar futebol. (“He will never be able to play soccer again.”)
3 – Não mais (“Not anymore”)
Want to talk about something you don’t do anymore? Then use não mais, which can also include a verb in between both words. Take a look:
- Eu não nado mais. (“I don’t swim anymore.”)
- Ela não come mais carne. (“She doesn’t eat meat anymore.”)
- Não encontro mais minha caneta. (“I can’t find my pen anymore.”)
- Você gosta de viajar de ônibus? (“Do you like traveling by bus?”)
- Não mais. Antes, eu adorava, mas hoje acho desconfortável. (“Not anymore. I used to love it, but today I find it uncomfortable.”)
4 – More Negating Words
There are some more negative words you can use. Here are some examples of how to use them.
Ninguém (“Nobody”) | Ninguém chegou ainda. (“Nobody arrived yet.”) |
Nenhum (“None,” masculine) Nenhuma (“None,” feminine) | Nenhum motorista está disponível. (“None of the drivers are available.”) Nenhuma casa nesse bairro tem jardim. (“None of the houses in this neighborhood have a garden.”) |
Nada (“Nothing”) | Nada funciona nessa casa. (“Nothing works in this house.”) |
The expression below is always paired with the word não. But don’t worry, we’ll go over double negatives soon.
Lugar nenhum (“Anywhere” / “Nowhere”) Nenhum lugar (“Anywhere” / “Nowhere”) | Não encontro a chave em lugar nenhum. (“I can’t find the key anywhere.”) Não encontro a chave em nenhum lugar. (“I can’t find the key anywhere.”) |
All of the negative words above can be used by themselves when it comes to answering questions, although it can sound a bit blunt.
A: Alguém já chegou? (“Has anyone arrived?”)
B: Ninguém. (“Nobody.”)
A: Tem alguma camisa para me emprestar? (“Do you have a shirt to lend me?”)
B: Nenhuma. (“None.”)
A: Temos algo para comer? (“Do we have something to eat?”)
B: Nada. (“Nothing.”)
A: Aonde você vai? (“Where are you going?”)
B: Lugar nenhum. (“Nowhere.”)
Não encontro minha carteira em lugar nenhum. (“I can’t find my wallet anywhere.”)
4. Double and Triple Negatives
Double negatives are very common in Portuguese. Luckily, they’re also very easy to use and understand! Simply put, double negatives are used to emphasize a negative statement. In other words, the negatives don’t cancel each other out.
You’ll see double negatives containing many of the negation words we covered previously.
- Eu não quero nada. (“I don’t want anything.”)
- Ela não conhece ninguém. (“She doesn’t know anyone.”)
- Você não trouxe nenhum livro? (“You didn’t bring any book?”)
- Vocês nunca disseram nada. (“You never said anything.”) [plural]
There’s also such a thing as triple negatives. I know, I know, it’s getting a bit excessive. But it doesn’t really change things. Triple negatives continue to have a negative meaning, and they’re very common in spoken Portuguese.
If anything, triple negatives can convey a stronger negation.
- Eu não quero nada, não. (“I don’t want anything.”)
- Ela não conhece ninguém, não. (“She doesn’t know anyone.”)
- Você não trouxe nenhum livro, não? (“You didn’t bring any book?”)
- Você nunca disseram nada, não. (“You never said anything.”) [plural]
And to finish up, a curious little Portuguese phenomenon you might encounter are the expressions pois sim and pois não. In these cases, the word pois (“since” / “because”) works as a negation of the following word. Take a look:
- Oi, você pode me ajudar rapidinho? (“Hi, can you help me really quick?”)
- Pois não. (“Yes.” / “Certainly.”)
If you’re calling an office or going shopping in Brazil, you might hear pois não from the store or office employee. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean no! In this case, it’s exactly the opposite: they are politely telling you yes.
The same thing might happen in some regions of Brazil when dealing with pois sim. It carries an ironic connotation, as if you were saying “Oh, sure,” while meaning exactly the opposite.
- Pode me emprestar mais dinheiro hoje? (“Can you lend me more money today?”)
- Pois sim! Até hoje você não me pagou o que me deve! (“No! You still haven’t paid me what you owe me!”)
Check out this lesson with double negative examples by PortuguesePod101!
Eu não entendo nada não. (“I don’t understand anything.”)
5. Continue Learning More Portuguese with PortuguesePod101
This article explained how to build negative sentences and questions in Portuguese, introduced you to the most useful negative words, and showed you how to make it sound polite. Remember to come back to this guide anytime you need to refresh your negation knowledge.
Did you like this article? Did we miss any important or interesting negation words you’d like to see? Let us know in the comments below!
Now, don’t stop learning! There are more free Portuguese resources and a variety of vocabulary lists available on PortuguesePod101.com. Go ahead and choose your favorite tools to expand your learning opportunities.
If you want to take your learning experience further, members of PortuguesePod101.com get access to the largest language lesson library in the world, with thousands of real lessons by real teachers. Perfect for anyone who wants to learn from anywhere, feel motivated, and be ready to speak Portuguese with confidence.
Past, Present, Future: Learn About Portuguese Verb Tenses
Grammar is generally not a favorite topic amongst Portuguese language learners. The sheer volume of topics, rules, and exceptions is enough to make anybody a bit overwhelmed. Verbs, in particular, make up an aspect of grammar that’s both super-important and quite complex. But don’t worry! We’re here to make it all a bit more digestible for you. In this article, we’ll break down Portuguese verb tenses into simpler terms to make the learning process a little smoother.
We’ll begin with an overview of Portuguese verbs, conjugation, moods, and tenses. Then, we’ll look closer at each of the tenses, using examples to make the concepts more understandable.
By learning the ropes of verb tenses, you’ll be taking a big step toward mastering Portuguese. It will give you the power to talk about the past, present, and future. You’ll be all set to tell stories, make plans, and enjoy each moment!
Ready to conquer this hairy topic and become a master storyteller? Let’s go!
Table of Contents- The Basics of Portuguese Conjugation
- Here and Now: Present Tenses
- What Once Was: Past Tenses
- Planning for Tomorrow: Future Tenses
- Continue Learning Portuguese with PortuguesePod101
1. The Basics of Portuguese Conjugation
At first glance, this whole mess of verbs, tenses, moods, and conjugations can seem confusing. But try thinking of it this way: Grammatical tenses express the time at which a verb takes place. In other words, we’re talking about the past, present, and future.
But that’s not all. Tenses don’t exist in a vacuum—and there’s not much you can do with tenses by themselves. Verb conjugation in Portuguese requires moods (or modes) to actually work.
So, what are grammatical moods? They’re inflections of verbs that allow them to express an attitude. The “attitude” can be an order or command, a statement of fact, a wish, or a plan.
When we combine tenses and moods with verbs, we can do a whole lot with the Portuguese language.
1 – Moods
The moods we’ll look at in this article are:
- Indicativo / “Indicative”
Indicates a fact.
Example: Ela dorme. / “She sleeps.”
- Subjuntivo / “Subjunctive”
Indicates a possibility, a wish, or something that we’re simply not sure about.
Example: Talvez ela durma. / “Maybe she will sleep.”
- Imperativo / “Imperative”
Indicates a command or advice.
Example: Durma agora. / “[You] sleep now.”
- Condicional / “Conditional”
Indicates what one could, would, or should do.
Example: Eu dormiria agora. / “I would sleep now.”
2 – Tenses
Remember: Each of the Portuguese verb tenses depends on the mood and vice-versa. So when we talk about tenses, we need to define the mood in which we’re conjugating the verbs.
Here’s a table with the basic tenses and moods:
Indicativo “Indicative” | Presente / “Simple Present” |
Préterito Perfeito / “Simple Past” | |
Pretérito Imperfeito / “Past Imperfect” | |
Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito / “Past Pluperfect” | |
Futuro do Presente / “Simple Future” | |
Condicional “Conditional” | |
Subjuntivo “Subjunctive” | Presente / “Present Subjunctive” |
Pretérito Imperfeito / “Imperfect Subjunctive” | |
Futuro / “Future Subjunctive” | |
Imperativo “Imperative” |
Besides those tenses, there are other verb forms—called formas nominais (“nominal forms”)—you’ll encounter in Portuguese. These are:
- The Infinitive
The infinitive is the basic form of the verb, before any conjugation. You might see it coupled with auxiliary verbs in compound tenses.
Example: Eu vou dormir muito. / “I will sleep a lot.”
- The Past Participle
A form of the verb that can be used with auxiliary verbs to form compound past tenses.
Example: dormir → dormido / “to sleep” → “slept”
Quando cheguei, ela tinha dormido. (“When I arrived, she had slept.”)
- The Gerund
Widely used in Brazil, it’s the equivalent of the “-ing” ending in English.
Example: dormir → dormindo (“to sleep” → “sleeping”)
Elas estão dormindo. (“They are sleeping.”)
3 – Auxiliary verbs
Did you notice that in the last examples above, there are two verbs?
Elas estão dormindo. / “They are sleeping.”
These are compound tenses, which use an auxiliary verb alongside the main verb. These tenses are very commonly used in spoken Brazilian Portuguese. In the end, that’s good news: It means you can choose to use simple tenses or compound tenses—whichever you find easier!
Some of the most common auxiliary verbs in Portuguese are:
- Ter / “To have”
This auxiliary is used in several Portuguese compound tenses, including the preterite subjunctive compound, the pluperfect indicative compound, and the future indicative compound.
The verb ter is conjugated in the correct tense and the main verb is in the participle form.
Example: Eu tenho bebido chá verde em vez de café. / “I have been drinking green tea instead of coffee.”
- Ir / “To go”
We use this auxiliary to form the compound future, which is more commonly used than the simple future in Brazil.
The verb ir is conjugated in the future indicative tense and the main verb is in the infinitive.
Example: Eu vou beber muito suco de fruta. / “I will drink a lot of fruit juice.”
- Estar / “To be” (temporary)
This one is used to form the continuous tenses, such as the present continuous and past continuous (both of which are very widely used in Brazilian Portuguese).
The verb estar is conjugated in the corresponding tense and the main verb is in the gerund form.
Example: Eu estava bebendo água quando ela contou uma piada. / “I was drinking water when she told a joke.”
There’s much more to learn about verbs and their conjugation according to mood, tense, and person. To study the topic further, check out our guide on Portuguese verb conjugation!
Espero que você siga meu conselho. / “I hope you follow my advice.”
2. Here and Now: Present Tenses
If you need to talk about things happening now, the Portuguese present tense is exactly what you need.
1 – Presente do indicativo / “Present indicative”
The present indicative is used to talk about things that you usually do. The indicative mood indicates a fact or certainty; coupled with the present tense, it’s perfect for talking about things you know or believe.
Let’s see some examples:
Eu durmo cedo. | “I sleep early.” |
Ela sempre dorme muito. | “She always sleeps a lot.” |
Nós bebemos muita água. | “We drink a lot of water.” |
2 – Presente contínuo / “Present continuous”
If you want to talk about actions that are happening right now, you can use the present indicative of the verb estar (“to be,” temporary) with the action verb in the gerund form.
The present continuous is very commonly used in Brazil, so it’s an important one to learn!
Ela está dormindo. | “She is sleeping.” |
Você está bebendo suco? | “Are you drinking juice?” |
3 – Presente do subjuntivo / “Present subjunctive”
This tense is used to indicate a degree of uncertainty, express a possibility, or talk about a hypothetical situation. If you’re considering whether or not to do something now, or are talking about a request that’s not guaranteed to happen, use this tense.
Talvez eu durma agora. | “Maybe I’ll sleep now.” |
Sua mãe quer que vocês durmam cedo. | “Your mom wants you to sleep early.” |
4 – Imperativo / “Imperative”
The imperative is used to give commands, instructions, orders, or advice. In Portuguese, the imperative is undetermined in time, but it’s commonly associated with the present tense as it deals with the present or very near future.
Durma agora. | “Sleep now.” |
Bebam água. | “Drink water.” |
- → Refresh your memory on the most important Portuguese verbs with PortuguesePod101!
Elas dormem cedo. / “They sleep early.”
3. What Once Was: Past Tenses
The Portuguese past tenses can be a bit more complex, as there are different “types” of past one can talk about. Let’s dive into them.
1 – Pretérito do indicativo / “Preterite indicative”
This tense is used to talk about past events that have already happened and are completed. The equivalent in English is the simple past.
Eu dormi muito bem. | “I slept very well.” |
Eles já beberam café hoje. | “They already drank coffee today.” |
2 – Imperfeito do indicativo / “Imperfect indicative”
This tense is used to talk about things that used to happen or to set a scene in some unidentified point in the past. You can use the imperfect to indicate what was happening when something else took place.
Ela dormia tranquilamente quando alguém bateu na porta. | “She was sleeping tranquilly when someone banged on the door.” |
The imperfect can be translated to English in the form “was” + “verb” with the -ing ending. |
Eu bebia muito quando era nova. | “I used to drink a lot when I was young.” |
Another way in which the imperfect can be translated to English is: “used to” + verb. |
We can also talk about past events that were happening or set a scene by using the progressive imperfect.
To use this form, conjugate the verb estar (“to be,” temporary) in the imperfect form and couple it with the gerund form of the main verb. This form might be a bit easier for English speakers to grasp, due to the similarities!
Ela estava dormindo tranquilamente quando alguém bateu na porta. | “She was sleeping tranquilly when someone banged on the door.” |
Eu estava dormindo no sofá. | “I was sleeping on the couch.” |
Você estava bebendo rápido demais. | “You were drinking too fast.” |
3 – Pretérito mais-que-perfeito do subjuntivo / “Pluperfect subjunctive”
You can use this tense to talk about possibilities in the past that didn’t happen or how one could have avoided something that did happen.
This tense needs the verb ter (“to have”) and the main verb in the past participle.
Se eu tivesse dormido mais, teria acordado mais cedo. | “If I had slept more, I’d have woken up earlier.” |
Se você tivesse bebido menos, não teria dor de cabeça hoje. | “If you had drunk less, you wouldn’t have a headache today.” |
4 – Imperfeito subjuntivo / “Imperfect subjunctive”
If you want to talk about hypothetical or uncertain situations that could have happened in the past (but that, in reality, didn’t take place), you can use this tense.
Se eu dormisse cedo, conseguiria trabalhar de manhã. | “If I were to sleep early, I would be able to work in the morning.” |
Notice that the verb dormir (“to sleep”) is conjugated in the imperfect subjunctive, but the second verb conseguir (“to be able”) is conjugated in the conditional. Also, the sentence normally begins with se (“if”). |
- → See real-life examples of how to use this tense with a lesson by PortuguesePod101.
Eu comi, bebi e dormi. / “I ate, drank, and slept.”
4. Planning for Tomorrow: Future Tenses
Making plans or dreaming about what tomorrow could be like? Then the Portuguese future tense is indispensable!
1 – Futuro do indicativo / “Future indicative”
This is equivalent to the simple future form in English, used to talk about something that will happen.
Dormirei tarde hoje. | “I will sleep late today.” |
Beberei um chá antes de deitar. | “I will drink tea before going to bed.” |
However, in Brazilian Portuguese, it’s more common to talk about the future using the conjugated verb ir (“to go”) in the future indicative tense + the infinitive of the main verb.
Vou dormir tarde hoje. | “I will sleep late today.” |
Vou beber um chá antes de deitar. | “I will drink tea before going to bed.” |
- → Want to learn more about making plans in Portuguese? Then visit this lesson by PortuguesePod101!
2 – Futuro do subjuntivo / “Future subjunctive”
Use this tense to set possible scenes in the future or to talk about future events with some level of uncertainty.
Se eu dormir cedo, vou tomar café da manhã com você. | “If I sleep early, I’ll have breakfast with you.” |
Notice that the first verb—dormir (“to sleep”)—is conjugated in the future subjunctive, but the second verb is in the future indicative tense—vou tomar (“[I] will have”). |
Enquanto você beber café, eu prepararei para você. | “As long as you drink coffee, I’ll prepare it for you.” |
3 – Futuro do Pretérito or Condicional / “Conditional”
The conditional tense is used to express surprise or uncertainty regarding the future, but in cases in which “would” or “could” are used in English.
Eu dormiria cedo, mas tenho que trabalhar. | “I would sleep early, but I have to work.” |
Eu beberia tudo! | “I could drink it all!” |
Amanhã vou dormir na casa da vovó. / “Tomorrow, I’ll sleep at grandma’s house.”
5. Continue Learning Portuguese with PortuguesePod101
Hopefully this guide has provided you with useful information about the Portuguese tenses and when to use them, helping you progress even more in your Portuguese-learning journey. Don’t forget to come back to this article anytime you need a refresher lesson!
What did you think of this article? Did the examples help you grasp the different tenses in Portuguese? If we missed any aspect of Portuguese verb tenses, let us know in the comments.
Now, don’t stop learning! There are more free Portuguese resources and a variety of vocabulary lists available on PortuguesePod101.com. Go ahead and choose your favorite tools to expand your learning opportunities.
If you want to take your learning experience further, members of PortuguesePod101.com get access to the largest language lesson library in the world, with thousands of real lessons by real teachers. Perfect for anyone who wants to learn from anywhere, feel motivated, and be ready to speak Portuguese with confidence!
How Long Does it Take to Learn Portuguese?
Most aspiring language learners ask themselves this fundamental question at some point: How long does it take to learn Portuguese?
Building knowledge is very fulfilling and leads to expectations of improvement, so it’s only natural to wonder what kind of time commitment you’re looking at. However, the answer to this question is quite subjective!
For example, what’s your definition of “learning” in the first place?
No, we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel.
Everyone needs to master the same basic grammar concepts and learn the same essential vocabulary. There’s definitely a learning curve. But one of the biggest factors in how long it takes to learn Portuguese is the level of proficiency one wants to achieve.
For example, some people are only seeking enough Portuguese fluency to interact with locals while traveling. Others want to achieve full fluency so they can work or go to universities in a Portuguese-speaking country, which demands a whole different level of knowledge.
In this article, we’ll take a look at additional factors to consider, discuss what language skills and abilities are expected at each proficiency level, and give you advice on how to learn Portuguese faster using the best tools.
Table of ContentsJust One Thing Before We Start
If you’re excited to start this learning journey, raise your hand!
This article will provide you with time estimates regarding how long it takes to reach each level of Portuguese, but these times can vary depending on numerous factors. Perhaps the number-one factor to consider is how similar one’s native language is to Portuguese.
The timeframes given in this article are for English speakers looking to learn Portuguese. Because Portuguese is a Romance language and English is a Germanic one, there are considerable differences between the two (despite their having some shared influence from other languages, such as French). That said, the United States’ Foreign Service Institute (FSI) ranks Portuguese as a Category I language—this means that it’s relatively easy for native English speakers to pick up, compared to other more “distant” languages.
As far as ease of learning goes, speakers of other Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, French, Romanian) will have the easiest time picking up the Portuguese language. Those who speak languages far outside the Romance language family (Thai, Japanese, Hungarian, Arabic, etc.) will have a more difficult time. English speakers tend to fall somewhere in the middle.
The skills we’ve mentioned for each level of learning are based upon the required knowledge for levels A, B, and C of the EPE certificate of Portugal’s Instituto Camões.
Beginner Level
Good resources can lead you to an A grade in the A-level test.
We all have to begin somewhere. For Portuguese learners, mastering levels A1 and A2 is the starting point.
In a nutshell, these are the skills needed for this level:
- Understand everyday expressions and simple statements.
- Formulate simple sentences and introduce yourself.
- Know how to use the present tense.
- Communicate in most basic everyday contexts.
The estimated time it takes to reach this point is between 80 and 100 hours of active study.
Study Tips
Not sure where to start? Here are a few tips on how to learn Portuguese for beginners.
- Reading & Writing.
At this point, your reading skills should consist of being able to identify the key information of short texts on different topics. You should also be able to write down very basic sentences. You’ll need to build up a solid core vocabulary and become familiar with Portuguese syntax.
Here are some useful resources from PortuguesePod101.com you can use to improve your beginner-level reading and writing skills:
Portuguese Alphabet
100 Core Portuguese Words
Cracking the Portuguese Writing System!
Make sure to peruse our wide array of themed vocabulary lists and make use of our spaced repetition flashcards (or make your own) to maximize your study efforts. If you opt to go the traditional route, you can place your flashcards on the objects they identify to help you better associate each word with its meaning in context. Either way, we recommend you study them for at least 15 minutes a day!
- Speaking & Listening.
As for speaking and listening, you should be able to interact with native speakers using simple phrasal structures. You should also be able to understand simple daily communication and identify the key information in dialogues.
You can gain these basic skills by going through short listening exercises, practicing your pronunciation, and engaging in short conversations with native speakers (if possible).
Here are a few resources on PortuguesePod101.com we recommend:
Listening Comprehension for Beginners
Ultimate Portuguese Pronunciation Guide
Learn Portuguese in Three Minutes
Of course, there are plenty of other ways to learn Portuguese online. For example, there are some interesting flashcard apps such as AnkiDroid (for Android) and Anki (for PC).
As a beginner, you should also focus your efforts on reading. PortuguesePod101 has several lessons with transcripts you can go over, and you can also check out some Portuguese-language children’s books or magazines. The digital GoRead platform is an interesting source for Brazilian magazines, for instance.
Intermediate Level
Meet your new assistant for remote cultural research.
At the intermediate level (B1 and B2), students are able to identify primary and secondary information through both reading and listening.
In a nutshell, these are the skills needed for this level:
- Participate in daily interactions.
- Explain ideas, present opinions, and participate in arguments.
- Know how to use different verb tenses.
- Be familiar with different phrase patterns.
- Recognize and use both the formal and informal register.
- Express yourself creatively.
In essence, it’s time for some hard work—that pays off. So how long does it take to learn Portuguese up to the intermediate level? Around 350 to 400 hours of study.
Study Tips
As you approach and make your way through the intermediate level, there’s a lot of new ground to cover and the learning dynamics get more interesting. You’ll find yourself becoming more able to understand complex communication in various contexts. While there are no shortcuts in language learning, we do have some tips on how to learn Portuguese more easily at this stage.
- Reading & Writing.
Of course, your reading and writing skills will benefit from additional vocabulary at this point. Continue studying your flashcards and make new ones, broaden your reading to more complex mediums (such as newspapers or short non-children’s books), and learn more about the Portuguese syntax and writing system.
Here are a few resources from PortuguesePod101 you may benefit from:
Reading Comprehension for Intermediate Learners
Master Portuguese Word Order & Sentence Structure for Good
The Easiest Way to Start Writing and Improve on Your Own
- Speaking & Listening.
There are two things that will immensely help your speaking and listening comprehension at this stage: dialogue-based lessons and Portuguese-language media.
A good way to start is by watching Portuguese Netflix series, films, and YouTube channels with subtitles. Also, news podcasts are ideal for getting in touch with objective content and plain language, which is easier to understand. At the beginning of the intermediate level, you can focus on shorter podcasts with headlines and then move on to more complex ones.
Watching and listening to this type of media is also really important because it will help you start grasping cultural context and information. A good Portuguese course will already introduce you to some of this cultural information, but seeing it applied in character and in realistic situations outside the classroom is something completely different.
Here are some PortuguesePod101 resources for you:
Intermediate Season 1
Listening Comprehension for Intermediate Learners
Must-Know Portuguese Holiday Words
Advanced Level
Studying abroad can be very helpful for the advanced learner.
You’re almost there. You’re almost fluent in Portuguese.
Advanced Portuguese fluency corresponds to levels C1 and C2, and this level of fluency is often required for those interested in working or studying abroad. Some people simply want to achieve total fluency for personal reasons or self-satisfaction!
In a nutshell, these are the skills needed for this level:
- Interpret and write complex texts using advanced grammar knowledge.
- Speak fluently in nearly all contexts.
- Be capable of flexible communication.
- Have a comprehensive vocabulary.
To achieve the advanced level, the student needs 850 to 900 hours of studying.
Study Tips
This is quite a time commitment, but we have some advice on how to learn Portuguese faster and more effectively.
- Reading & Writing.
As an advanced listener, you’re expected to comprehend both explicit and implicit information in messages. You must be able to distinguish between factual information and expressions of opinions, feelings, or arguments.
In terms of writing, you should have enough knowledge of Portuguese grammar and syntax to develop coherent, complex texts on abstract, scientific, technical, and cultural themes.
At this stage, you may find our Level 5 Portuguese lesson pathway quite useful as you continue to develop and hone your reading and writing skills. You can also continue to expand your reading to include larger books, more detailed magazines or blogs, or anything else you find interesting.
- Speaking & Listening.
Because your speaking and listening skills should be fairly solid by now, you should start conversing with native speakers as often as possible (if you aren’t already!).
One good way to do this is to visit online chats, forums, and language exchange programs that allow you to converse with native Portuguese speakers. You should also consider doing a student exchange program, which will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture firsthand.
Culture and language deeply influence each other, so becoming familiar with Portuguese and Brazilian culture will work wonders for your speaking and listening abilities.
Here are some resources for you:
Listening Comprehension for Advanced Learners
Video Culture Class: Brazil Holidays
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question: How long does it take an English speaker to learn Portuguese?
We also went into some detail about what’s expected of a learner at each proficiency level and gave you some useful tips on how to learn the Portuguese language effectively.
Remember: If your goal is to learn Portuguese fast online, you can’t lower the bar. As presented, learning Portuguese isn’t too difficult for English speakers—but constant learning efforts and motivation are still important, as they can fuel the process to promote lasting results.
These factors, when combined with your learning tools of choice, will determine how well and how quickly you can learn Portuguese.
PortuguesePod101 is an intuitive and well-structured website that delivers a range of Portuguese learning materials on many topics. Our grammar lessons, listening and reading comprehension exercises, and speaking/pronunciation practice tools are all organized and presented in bite-size chunks that help students learn Portuguese one step at a time.
We combine video, text, and audio in the right doses to stimulate every learner to achieve their goals. Get access now to digital flashcards, a word bank, personal one-on-one teaching, and much more.
How fast can you learn Portuguese? As fast as you try PortuguesePod101.
Before you go, we’re curious: How likely are you to start learning Portuguese after reading this article? And if you’ve been learning a while, how long did it take you to reach your current level?
The Brazilian Wisdom of Portuguese Proverbs
There’s something very satisfying about using a proverb that perfectly fits the situation. These gems of popular wisdom are passed from generation to generation, sometimes suffering alterations and adaptations, but always remaining witty or wise. Portuguese proverbs are no exception, carrying much meaning in a few words.
Proverbs are also a repository of local culture. Many times, a proverb only makes sense in one place or culture until explained, because it’s very closely tied to local traditions and mindsets. It’s also interesting to see how globalization, miscegenation, and cultural exchanges are reflected in proverbs.
Studying Brazilian proverbs will help you understand a bit more about the country and its people, and also increase your vocabulary. And who knows? It may even impart you with some age-old wisdom!
In this article, we’ll dive into the curious world of Portuguese proverbs. With each proverb listed, we’ve included a literal translation, an equivalent in English (where one exists), and information about when you can use it. Hope you’re ready for a fun ride!
Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga.
“God helps those who wake up early.”
- Proverbs About Relationships
- Proverbs About Work and Success
- Proverbs About Life and Wisdom
- Proverbs About Overcoming Adversities
- Continue Learning Portuguese with PortuguesePod101
1. Proverbs About Relationships
Relationships make life all the more precious, but they can also be quite trying. Below are a few Portuguese proverbs about family, friendship, and romance to give you some cultural perspective on the topic!
Portuguese | Diga-me com quem andas e eu te direi quem és. |
Literal translation | “Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are.” |
English equivalent | A man is known by the company he keeps. |
Language note | The conjugation in this proverb is in second-person singular, which is considered more formal in most of Brazil. |
This saying means that the people we surround ourselves with is a good indication of our character. Another English proverb that comes to mind is, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Since people with similar values and dispositions tend to spend time together, we can know a lot about a person based on his/her friends. |
Portuguese | Cada macaco no seu galho |
Literal translation | “Each monkey on its own branch” |
English equivalent | “Every jack to his trade” |
This is a witty way to say, “Mind your own business.” It indicates that each person has their place, and shouldn’t try to meddle in other people’s affairs. Imagine that someone is feeding you some juicy gossip about one of your friends, and asks for your opinion. You could say: Cada macaco no seu galho, eu não sei. / “Each monkey on its own branch, I don’t know.” |
Portuguese | Amigos, amigos, negócios à parte. |
Literal translation | “Friends, friends, business aside.” |
English equivalent | “Business is business.” |
This is a warning about the dangers of mixing friendship and money matters. When it comes to business, having a friend as a coworker or business partner can cause the demise of the friendship. This Portuguese proverb can be used for any similar situation, whenever professional and personal lives risk getting caught up in each other. For example, if you’re considering whether or not you should lend money to a friend, someone might tell you this proverb as a word of advice. |
Portuguese | Roupa suja se lava em casa. |
Literal translation | “Dirty laundry is washed at home.” |
English equivalent | “Don’t wash your dirty linen in public.” |
Exactly like its English equivalent, this proverb means that one should not discuss private or family problems in public. Imagine a couple is in a shopping mall, and they begin a heated argument. One of their friends approaches and says: Agora não, roupa suja se lava em casa. / “Not now, dirty laundry is washed at home.” |
Portuguese | Por ele eu ponho minha mão no fogo. |
Literal translation | “For him, I put my hand on fire.” |
Language note | You can substitute the pronoun ele (“he”) for any other personal pronoun, or even the person’s name. |
To ‘put a hand on fire’ for someone means you trust them completely—so much so that you would be willing to go through the terrible pain of having your hands burned for that person. Figuratively speaking, of course. For example, if someone you trust very much is accused of doing something bad, you could say to everyone: Eu não acredito nisso, por ele eu ponho minha mão no fogo! / “I don’t believe it, for him, I put my hand on fire!” |
Portuguese | O que os olhos não veem, o coração não sente. |
Literal translation | “What the eyes don’t see, the heart doesn’t feel.” |
English equivalent | “Out of sight, out of mind.” |
This proverb is common in several cultures, and can be applied to many scenarios. As long as the person doesn’t know about something, it can’t hurt them. The most traditional use, however, is to reference romantic relationships and affairs. |
- → Expand your Portuguese vocabulary about relationships with this lesson from PortuguesePod101!
Portuguese | A união faz a força. |
Literal translation | “Unity is strength.” |
English equivalent | “United we stand, divided we fall.” |
We all know it: When people come together, nothing can stop them! Or at least, that’s what this proverb means. It can be used when trying to finish a group project or when you need to convince your siblings to help you clean up quicker. |
Portuguese | Pimenta nos olhos dos outros é refresco. |
Literal translation | “Pepper on others’ eyes is a refreshing drink.” |
English equivalent | “Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else.” |
Just like its English equivalent, this Portuguese proverb means that misfortunes can seem less serious—or even funny—when they’re happening to someone else. Let’s imagine you’re telling your friend about an embarrassing experience you just had, and your friend starts laughing. You could say: Pimenta nos olhos dos outros é refresco, quero ver se fosse com você. / “Pepper on others’ eyes is a refreshing drink, I’d like to see if it were you.” |
Portuguese | Antes só que mal acompanhado. |
English equivalent | “Better alone than in bad company.” |
Here’s another proverb that has a direct equivalent in English. Sometimes it’s preferable to be alone than to be with someone who causes us pain or wants to bring us down. If you have a friend who’s keeping bad company, don’t hesitate to tell them: Você tem que cuidar de si mesmo, lembra que antes só que mal acompanhado. / “You have to take care of yourself, remember that ‘better alone than in bad company.’ “ |
Portuguese | Filho de peixe, peixinho é. |
Literal translation | “Son of fish is little fish.” |
English equivalent | “Like father, like son.” |
This Brazilian proverb is used to highlight the similarities between parents and their children. Another English equivalent is, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Someone might say this when a child shows interest in the same career as their parent. |
- → Want to learn more sentences about friendship and relationships? Check out our vocabulary list on the Top 10 Quotes About Friendship and practice your pronunciation!
Cada macaco no seu galho.
“Each monkey on its own branch.”
2. Proverbs About Work and Success
Hard work is an inescapable part of life, and we all hope that our efforts will bring us success. Here are some Portuguese proverbs to inspire and motivate you to be your best.
Portuguese | Deus ajuda a quem cedo madruga. |
Literal translation | “God helps those who wake up early.” |
English equivalent | “The early bird catches the worm.” |
A similar idea is conveyed in proverbs around the world: wake up early to improve your odds in life. Note that religiosity is present in the Portuguese saying, unlike in its English equivalent. You could imagine a mother saying this to her children after dinner: Hora de ir para cama. Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga. / “Time to go to bed. God helps those who wake up early.” |
Portuguese | Não deixe para amanhã o que você pode fazer hoje. |
English equivalent | “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” |
Procrastinators are sure to have heard this saying many times. Although one could argue whether this proverb holds a universal truth or not, it’s a good idea to become familiar with it. After all, we have the tendency to think that our schedules and to-do lists in the future will be emptier than they are now…but experience shows that’s not always the case. Imagine you’re trying to convince a friend to finish his part of the group assignment. You might say: Você consegue fazer a sua parte bem rápido. Não deixe para amanhã o que você pode fazer hoje! / “You can do your part really quickly. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today!” |
Portuguese | De grão em grão, a galinha enche o papo. |
Literal translation | “Grain by grain, the hen fills her belly.” |
English equivalent | “Little strokes fell great oaks.” |
Slowly but surely, we can achieve our goals. With a bit of patience and persistence, we can finish big projects and get far in life. This Portuguese proverb paints a picture in our minds of a hen pecking away, one grain at a time, until she’s no longer hungry. |
Portuguese | A pressa é inimiga da perfeição. |
Literal translation | “Haste is the enemy of perfection.” |
English equivalent | “Haste makes waste.” |
Doing things in a hurry can lead to many mistakes and sacrifice the quality of our efforts. Who can’t remember a time when they overlooked an important detail in order to deliver more quickly? Imagine a mother has just asked her children to help wash the dishes. If they start doing it quickly and poorly, she would surely say: Lave os pratos com mais calma. A pressa é inimiga da perfeição. / “Wash the dishes more slowly. Haste makes waste.” |
Portuguese | Quem tem boca vai a Roma. |
Literal translation | “Who has a mouth goes to Rome.” |
English equivalent | “Better to ask the way than to go astray.” |
There are actually two versions of this proverb, and there’s some debate as to which one is the correct and original version:
Regardless, the first form is more widely used. It means that asking questions takes us a long way, so we should feel free to ask away! |
Portuguese | O barato sai caro. |
Literal translation | “The cheap ends up expensive.” |
English equivalent | “You get what you pay for.” |
Saving some money upfront when purchasing a product or service might come back to haunt us, especially if it means opting for a lower-quality version. For example, buying a cheap used car might be a good deal at first—but if the car comes with a lot of problems, the repair fees might be much more expensive than the car itself. In that case: O barato sai caro. / “The cheap ends up expensive.” |
- → Sometimes things are just so expensive they scare us, like in this dialogue lesson from PortuguesePod101.
Portuguese | Nem tudo o que reluz é ouro. |
Literal translation | “Not everything that shines is gold.” |
English equivalent | “All that glitters is not gold.” |
This Portuguese proverb has the same meaning as: As aparências enganam. / “Appearances deceive.” Just because something shines, it doesn’t mean it’s valuable. It could very well be a cheap imitation or even a wolf in sheep’s clothing. So be attentive and careful when making judgements about something’s value. |
Portuguese | Cavalo dado não se olha os dentes. |
Literal translation | “In a given horse, we don’t look at the teeth.” |
English equivalent | “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” |
This proverb (or a very close version of it) is present in English, French, Italian, and other languages. By looking at the teeth of a horse, it’s possible to determine its approximate age and thus avoid being swindled in a negotiation. An ill-intentioned seller could very well try to sell you an older horse by making it appear younger, but looking at the horse’s teeth would alert you of such a scam. However, when it comes to gifts, it isn’t polite to do that. This proverb means that you should never refuse a gift nor show dissatisfaction with it. |
Nem tudo o que reluz é ouro.
“Not everything that shines is gold.”
3. Proverbs About Life and Wisdom
We all try to live our lives to the fullest and in the best way possible, and we require a good dose of wisdom to do so. Here are some Portuguese proverbs about life to give you that additional wisdom and insight!
Portuguese | Cão que ladra não morde. |
Literal translation | “Dog that barks doesn’t bite.” |
English equivalent | “Barking dogs seldom bite.” |
Dogs that are always barking are also the least likely to bite. Likewise, this proverb says that those who easily make threats rarely take action. But again, we could argue over the truth of this proverb since it might be better not to tempt a dog. You could hear this proverb in the context of a romantic relationship, in which one person is always saying they will leave. In this case, people might say: Duvido que ele vá terminar o namoro. Cão que ladra não morde. / “I doubt he is going to end the relationship. Barking dogs seldom bite.” |
Portuguese | Quem com ferro fere, com ferro será ferido. |
Literal translation | “Who hurts with iron, with iron will be hurt.” |
English equivalent | “Live by the sword, die by the sword.” |
This is a way of saying, “What goes around, comes around,” in Portuguese. It means that a person’s bad deeds will come back to them in a similar fashion. This proverb might come up in a conversation about a person who is always harming others. You could then say: Uma hora ele vai aprender que quem com ferro fere, com ferro será ferido. / “One day he will learn that who hurts with iron, with iron will be hurt.” |
Portuguese | Casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau. |
Literal translation | “Blacksmith’s house, wooden skewer.” |
English equivalent | “The shoemaker’s son always goes barefoot.” |
Just because someone has a specific skill or profession doesn’t mean they can put it into practice when it comes to themselves or their families. For example, imagine a teacher who never helps their own children with their homework or a doctor who smokes. |
Portuguese | Saco vazio não para em pé. |
Literal translation | “Empty sack doesn’t stand still.” |
English equivalent | “An empty sack cannot stand upright.” |
We all know, intuitively, what this saying means: without food, we have no energy to do anything—just like how an empty sack will collapse onto itself when empty, but stand upright when full of potatoes! You can use this proverb when your boss is holding you up, and all you want to do is have lunch: Daqui a pouco continuamos. Saco vazio não para em pé! / “We’ll continue soon. Empty sack doesn’t stand still.” |
Portuguese | O seguro morreu de velho. |
Literal translation | “The safe person died of old age.” |
English equivalent | “Better safe than sorry.” |
A person who plays it safe and takes care of possible issues before they even occur will die of old age, and not of a preventable disease or accident. Just be careful and protect yourself. Another proverb with the same meaning in Portuguese is: Um homem prevenido vale por dois. / “A prepared man is worth two.” Its English equivalent would be: “A stitch in time saves nine.” |
Portuguese | Mente vazia, oficina do diabo. |
Literal translation | “Empty mind, devil’s workshop” |
English equivalent | “An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.” |
This Portuguese proverb means that if you have nothing to do or to occupy your mind with, you’re more likely to do something bad or mischievous. Imagine a grandmother and her teenage grandson living together. The grandmother might think the grandson is spending too much time at home doing nothing productive, and say: Por que você não procura um trabalho? Mente vazia, oficina do diabo. / “Why don’t you look for a job? Empty mind, devil’s workshop.” |
- → Want to avoid an empty mind? Learn how to talk about your hobbies in Portuguese with PortuguesePod101!
Portuguese | De médico e louco todo mundo tem um pouco. |
Literal translation | “Of doctor and crazy, everybody has a little.” |
No one is completely sane, according to this proverb. Everybody has a bit of insanity within them, as well as a responsible side. Just like in the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, both sides of our personality exist. |
Portuguese | Em terra de cego, quem tem um olho é rei. |
English equivalent | “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” |
This proverb means that you don’t need to be a genius to make the most of an opportunity. For example, having a little bit of knowledge or experience on a topic that those around you do not have can give you a leg up. Imagine your company has many technical employees. They’re good at coding, but no one is interested or experienced in business strategy. But if you, as a technical employee, did have this interest or experience, you could quickly climb the ranks. |
Portuguese | Quem canta seus males espanta. |
Literal translation | “Who sings scares away his woes.” |
Dom Quixote de la Mancha is known for using this famous saying. The proverb means that singing is good for the soul and will lift your spirits. Next time you’re feeling down, try and put it to the test! |
Portuguese | Não julgue um livro pela capa. |
English equivalent | “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” |
Appearances don’t tell the full story of a person, so don’t judge somebody only by their looks or superficial interactions. Take time to read the book—or get to know the person—before making any judgements. You might hear this proverb, for example, after meeting a very stern-looking person. A friend might tell you: Não julgue um livro pela capa. Ele é muito gentil e bem intencionado. / “Don’t judge a book by its cover. He is very kind and well-meaning.” |
Portuguese | Mentira tem perna curta. |
Literal translation | “A lie has short legs.” |
English equivalent | “A lie has no legs.” |
According to this proverb, lies are short-lived and can’t go too far before being discovered. This saying exists in several languages, including Italian and Spanish. |
Portuguese | Não adianta chorar pelo leite derramado. |
English equivalent | “It’s no use crying over spilled milk.” |
This is a reminder that there’s no use stressing out or being sad about things that have already happened. If it can’t be changed or undone, it’s better not to worry about it. This proverb is originally English, and it was recorded for the first known time in 1659 in the form: “No weeping for shed milk.” In Brazil, the proverb continues to be popular—you can still find children’s books including a story about a farmer girl who spills all the milk she intended to sell and, as you can imagine, cries over it. |
Portuguese | Não ponha a carroça na frente dos bois. |
Literal translation | “Don’t put the cart before the oxen.” |
English equivalent | “Don’t put the cart before the horse.” |
This proverb is especially useful when dealing with a hurried person. The saying suggests that people shouldn’t try to hurry things too much, skipping important steps along the way just to complete tasks quicker. It also reminds us to let things run their natural course. It’s interesting how the English equivalent mentions horses, while the Portuguese one uses oxen. Although horses are used much more in Brazil as well, using oxen was common during colonial times and is still the norm in some parts of the country. You could use this proverb when a friend starts telling you about his plans to buy a car and travel the world, before he’s even started working: E com que dinheiro você vai fazer isso tudo? Não ponha a carroça na frente dos bois. / “And with what money are you going to do all of that? Don’t put the cart before the oxen.” |
Quem canta seus males espanta.
“Who sings scares away his woes.”
4. Proverbs About Overcoming Adversities
Sometimes life hits us hard, people hurt us, and things just don’t go our way. It’s important to remember that you’re never alone in your pain, and that things will always get better in the end. Below are some of the best Portuguese proverbs to help you (or a loved one!) get through tough times.
Portuguese | Um dia é da caça, outro, do caçador. |
Literal translation | “One day is the hunted’s, another is the hunter’s.” |
English equivalent | “Every dog has its day.” |
We all have good days and bad days. Sometimes things work in our favor, and sometimes they don’t. That’s just a part of life. Keep that in mind when things look grim: a good day is never too far away. This proverb can be used to cheer somebody up or to give them the motivation they need to continue working toward their goals. For example, imagine someone in your family didn’t get the job they wanted. You could tell them: Não desista; lembre que um dia é da caça, outro do caçador. / “Don’t give up, remember that one day for the hunted, another for the hunter.” |
Portuguese | Quem não tem cão caça com gato. |
Literal translation | “Who doesn’t have a dog, hunts with a cat.” |
English equivalent | “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” |
It’s said that the original version of this proverb was: Quem não tem gato, caça como gato. / “Those without a cat, hunt like a cat.” In that case, it would mean that, when the situation requires, people might have to be sneaky and cunning like a cat hunting prey. Nowadays, the version we listed is overwhelmingly more popular. It suggests that we need to improvise and use whatever we have available to solve problems, even if the tools we have aren’t ideal. |
Portuguese | Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura. |
Literal translation | “Soft water, hard stone, beats until it punctures.” |
English equivalent | “Water dripping day by day wears the hardest rock away.” |
The Roman poet Ovid wrote that “dripping water hollows out stone,” and this is the origin of similar proverbs in other languages. The idea is that with perseverance and consistency, we can achieve even the hardest tasks. |
- → PortuguesePod101 has a list of even more encouraging phrases you can learn for when times get tough!
Portuguese | Deus escreve certo por linhas tortas. |
Literal translation | “God writes straight over crooked lines.” |
Here’s another proverb with a strong religious connotation. This saying means that, even when facing adversities, you can expect some good to come of it. This might be because there’s a divine plan laid out for you, because of destiny, or simply because you’re an optimist…it’s up to you to decide! |
Portuguese | Há males que vêm para o bem. |
Literal translation | “There are evils that come for good.” |
English equivalent | “A blessing in disguise.” |
Sometimes we don’t see it immediately, but the negative or difficult situations we face could have positive outcomes. Maybe you lost a job opportunity, just to find out later that it was all a scam. Or perhaps you were rejected by a love interest who wasn’t that good of a person. Sometimes, bad experiences turn out to be good things! |
Quem não tem cão, caça com gato.
“Who doesn’t have a dog, hunts with a cat.”
5. Continue Learning Portuguese with PortuguesePod101
Now you’re ready to start using these smart-sounding Portuguese proverbs in a variety of situations! But don’t stop here! There are many more fun and interesting sayings used in Brazil, so you should continue learning Portuguese, expanding your vocabulary, and sounding profoundly wise!
Did you find this article helpful? Did we miss any popular proverbs you know? Drop us a comment with your thoughts!
And now, it’s time to continue your Portuguese learning journey. You can read more in-depth articles about the language and culture on our blog page, or scour through our vocabulary lists or the other free resources on PortuguesePod101.com.
If you want to take your learning experience further, members of PortuguesePod101.com get access to the largest language lesson library in the world, with thousands of real lessons by real teachers. Perfect for anyone who wants to learn from anywhere, feel motivated, and be ready to speak Portuguese with confidence!
Discover Porglish: Common English Words Used in Portuguese
In this interconnected world, it’s no surprise that many English words have made their way into the Portuguese vocabulary. As we consume entertainment from other cultures and travel the globe, the constant exchanges result in new words and an ever-expanding language.
The term Porglish (or Portuglish) refers to the phenomenon of using both English and Portuguese words in a given sentence. Many of the common English words used in Portuguese entered the language via English speakers living in Portuguese-speaking countries (and vice-versa). Now, with the internet and the limitless opportunities to watch movies or listen to songs from anywhere in the world, the Porglish phenomenon has become more widespread.
For Portuguese-speaking millennials, born in the social media era, Porglish words are part of the daily vocabulary. This is, in part, because English words that were introduced in the past are now better consolidated into the Portuguese language. On the other hand, English words are entering the language faster than ever due to the always-developing digital landscape. For many of the same reasons, you’ll also find a few English words of Portuguese origin.
In this article, we will cover all sides of the Porglish phenomenon: common English words in Portuguese, changes in pronunciation, and the most common loanwords between the two languages.
Ready to discover the curious world of Porglish?
You won’t need to translate a lot of words related to technology!
Table of Contents- Some Traps
- Friendly Loanwords
- Pronouncing Brand Names and Titles in Portuguese
- Portuguese Words in English
- Continue Learning Portuguese with PortuguesePod101
1. Some Traps
To start, let’s look at some English words used in Portuguese with a different meaning than the original.
They can be a bit tricky, leading you to think they mean one thing when they’re something else entirely. But as you can see, there are not too many of them—and seeing these different translations might even make you laugh!
- Chip
In English, a “chip” can refer to many things: a computer chip, a snack food, or a fragmentation of something. | In Brazil, it’s the word used for SIM cards. |
Preciso comprar um novo chip pro meu celular. (“I need to buy a new SIM card for my cell phone.”) |
- Outdoor
In English, it means “done, situated, or used out of doors.” | In Brazil, it’s used to refer to billboards. |
Você viu aquele outdoor? (“Did you see that billboard?”) |
- Step
In English, this word has several meanings: a “doorstep,” the act of putting one foot in front of the other, or a stage of a project or process. | In Brazil, it refers to the spare tire kept in cars. |
Não se preocupe, temos um step no porta-malas. (“Don’t worry, we have a spare tire in the trunk.”) |
- Smoking
In English, “smoking” is often associated with cigarettes or cigars. | In Brazil, it refers to a tuxedo. |
Quero usar um smoking para o evento. (“I want to use a tuxedo for the event.”) | |
The origin of the word smoking in Brazilian Portuguese can probably be traced back to when smoking jackets were popular—although they are very different from a tuxedo. A smoking jacket is an informal lounge jacket normally made from velvet or silk, while a tuxedo (smoking, in Brazil) is considered semi-formal attire for evening events. |
- Notebook
In English, the word “notebook” is used to refer to a small, slim type of laptop computer. It can also refer to a paper notebook. | In Brazil, the word refers to all kinds of laptops. |
Você vai comprar um novo notebook? (“Are you going to buy a new laptop?”) |
Você fica muito elegante de smoking. (“You look very elegant in a tuxedo.”)
2. Friendly Loanwords
Now, let’s look at English loanwords used in Brazil with their original English meaning. Learning these loanwords will give you quite an advantage, since they will automatically boost your vocabulary!
Here are some examples for you, but keep in mind that there are many more Portuguese words of English origin for you to discover.
Business
Merchandise | O merchandising continua a ser muito importante para nossa empresa. (“Merchandising continues to be very important for our business.”) |
Royalty | O livro terá os royalties revertidos para caridade. (“The book will have its royalties reverted to charity.”) |
Performance | Sua performance foi impressionante este ano. (“Your performance this year was impressive.”) |
Freelance | Precisamos contratar um freelancer para essa tarefa. (“We need to hire a freelancer for this task.”) |
Ranking | Nosso competidor lidera o ranking de melhor empresas para investir. (“Our competitor leads the ranking of best companies to invest in.”) |
Food
Delivery | Estamos abertos para delivery. (“We are open for delivery.”) |
Light | Compra a opção light pra mim, por favor. (“Buy the light version for me, please.”) |
Diet | Não gosto de produtos diet. (“I don’t like diet products.”) |
Milkshake | Adoro milkshake de chocolate! (“I love chocolate milkshakes!”) |
In Portugal, it’s also called batido. |
Bacon | Quer adicionar mais uma porção de bacon? (“Do you want to add an extra portion of bacon?”) |
The words toucinho and torresmo can also be used, although bacon is already more popular amongst younger generations. |
Cupcake | Que tal um cupcake de sobremesa? (“What about a cupcake for dessert?”) |
Other baked goods that keep their English name in Portuguese are: brownie, waffle, cake pop. |
Self-service | Tem um restaurante self-service aqui perto. (“There is a self-service restaurant closeby.”) |
Pay per kilo self-service restaurants are very common in Brazil. |
Happy hour | Vamos no happy hour hoje? (“Are we going to the happy hour today?”) |
Some words have minor changes in the way they are written, but you can still recognize them.
Picles | O picles acabou, pode comprar mais para mim? (“I’m out of pickles, can you buy some more for me?”) |
Uísque | Esse uísque é um dos melhores que temos. (“This whiskey is one of the best we have.”) |
Sanduíche | Estou com vontade de comer um sanduíche! (“I’m craving a sandwich!”) |
Hambúrguer | Vou te levar para comer o melhor hambúrguer do mundo! (“I’ll take you to eat the best hamburger in the world!”) |
When it comes to cheeseburgers, these are often called X-burguer, because in Portuguese, the letter x sounds similar to the word “cheese.” |
- → Hungry for more food talk? Learn about famous Brazilian food with PortuguesePod101!
Technology
Mouse | Acho que o meu mouse quebrou. (“I think my mouse is broken.”) |
In Portugal, the literal translation of “mouse” is more commonly used: rato. |
Qual é o seu email? (“What is your email?”) |
Site / Website | Preciso criar um site para o nosso restaurante. (“I need to create a website for our restaurant.”) |
Chat | Vou perguntar no chat no site da empresa. (“I’ll ask in the chat on the company’s website.”) |
Internet | A velocidade da nossa internet é muita boa. (“The speed of our internet is very good.”) |
Download | Não consigo fazer download do documento. (“I can’t download the document.”) |
Tablet | Quero comprar um tablet novo. (“I want to buy a new tablet.”) |
There are also several new and easily recognizable verbs used in Portuguese that derive from English technology-related words.
Deletar | Vou deletar esses documentos. (“I’ll delete these documents.”) |