Travel: Is there any other activity that demands so much planning, money, and time…or that generates so many interesting and fulfilling discoveries?

Yes, traveling can be both a pleasure and a challenge. Leisure in newfound places walks hand in hand with language and cultural barriers. Learning Portuguese basics for travel can be helpful, but it might not be enough to help you generate a truly rich and comfortable experience.

There are many sources online with common Portuguese travel phrases, but many of them fail to illustrate the nuances of the daily vernacular you’ll actually be hearing on your trip. It’s not uncommon to learn some Portuguese travel phrases but neglect to brush up on local manners and signs of politeness. After all, there are many unspoken rules and other subtleties to be mindful of…

In this article, we’ll present to you a list of Portuguese travel phrases that go beyond the basics. This includes some less common phrases as well as cultural information that will allow you to speak in a more flexible and comprehensive manner during your travels in Brazil!

Table of Contents

1. Basic Portuguese for Travel
2. Portuguese Travel Phrases for Transportation
3. Portuguese Travel Phrases for Shopping
4. Portuguese Travel Phrases for Restaurants
5. Asking for and Giving Directions
6. Emergencies
7. Flattery Phrases
8. Useful Phrases to Go Through Language Problems
9. Conclusion

1. Basic Portuguese for Travel

To travel in Portuguese-speaking countries, one must be well-equipped with some fundamental words and expressions.

A- Greetings

Because first impressions are very important, let’s start with some concise greetings. 

• Oi! – “Hi!”
• Olá! – “Hello!”
• Bom dia. – “Good morning.”
• Boa tarde. – “Good afternoon.”
• Boa noite. – “Good evening.”

B- Informal greetings

Friends often greet each other in a very casual manner. 

These phrases sound caring, but they’re not always met with answers or reciprocity. In fact, their informal meaning is closer to “hi,” or even just to signal that you see the other person. Generally, you’ll use these phrases to greet people with whom you’ve had plenty of interactions already.

• Tudo bem? – “How are you doing?”
• Beleza? – “Howdy?”
• E aí? – “What’s up?”
• Salve! – “Ay!”

C- Short answers

Essential communication is at the core of basic Portuguese phrases for travel. Therefore, these short answers will come in handy in a variety of situations.

• Sim – “Yes”
• Não – “No”
• Talvez – “Maybe”
• Pode ser? – “Why not?”
• Eu gostei. / Eu não gostei. – “I liked it.” / “I didn’t like it.” 
• Bom – “Good”
• Ruim – “Bad”
• Bem – “Well” 
• Mal – “Badly”

D- Being polite

Learning some basic etiquette rules can make a big difference in how you’re received when approaching people during your travels. Being polite to a friend, a host, or a stranger shows them that you care to interact properly according to local customs—and this might make them more open to helping you.

• Obrigado. (male) / Obrigada. (female) – “Thank you.”
• Me desculpe. – “I’m sorry.” 
  • Often, people simply say desculpa, which is informal.  
• Peço perdão. – “I beg your pardon.”
  • This is a less common and more formal expression.
• Com licença. – “Excuse me.”
• Por favor. – “Please.”
• Prazer em conhecê-lo. (male) / Prazer em conhecê-la. (female) – “Pleased to meet you.”

Finally, here’s a bonus phrase you’ll definitely need when traveling in a Portuguese-speaking country:

• Você pode tirar uma foto minha, por favor? – “Would you please take a picture of me?”

2. Portuguese Travel Phrases for Transportation

Whether you depend on taxis, subways, trains, or buses for transportation, you can count on the following phrases:

A- Taxi, please!

• Vamos para a [Avenida Presidente Vargas], por favor. – “We are heading to [Presidente Vargas Avenue] please.”
• Você aceita cartão de crédito? – “Do you accept credit card?”
• Você pode esperar um minuto, por favor? – “Could you hold on for a minute, please?”
• Vamos fazer uma parada em outro lugar antes. – “We’re making a stop-by in another place first.”
• Aqui está bom. – “Here is fine.”

Taxis are often an expensive form of transportation in Brazil, though the recent diffusion of ride apps has pushed fare prices down in the last couple of years.  

B- Traveling by bus

A mere bus can take you to so many places…

• Pode me avisar quando estiver perto do [Parque do Ibirapuera]? – “Would you let me know when we get close to [Ibirapuera Park]?”
• Em que ponto eu desço para chegar no [Elevador Lacerda]? – “Where should I get off to get to [Lacerda Elevator]?”
• Quero visitar o [MASP]. Quanto tempo demora até lá? – “I’d like to visit [MASP]. How long does it take until we reach it?”
• Você tem troco para vinte reais? – “May I have change for twenty reais?”
• Este ônibus vai até a estação de metrô/estação de trem? – “Does this bus get to the subway/train station?”
• Até que horas este ônibus funciona? – “When does this bus stop?”

The bus is the most common form of public transportation in Brazilian cities and between municipalities. Commercial flights are not an affordable option for long-distance travel for most of the country’s population.

Some cities offer air-conditioned buses, and some places also have vans and microbuses for public transportation, which are called micro-ônibus or peruas.

C- Riding the train

• Onde eu posso comprar o bilhete? – “Where can I buy a ticket?”
• Eu vou querer dois bilhetes, por favor. – “Two tickets, please.”
• A que horas passa o ultimo trem? – “When does the last train arrive?”
• De que lado fica a saída para a rua [Domingos de Moraes]? – “How can I get from here to [Domingos de Moraes] street?”
• Onde fica o mapa das linhas do metrô? – “Where is the map of the subway lines?”
• Esta é a linha verde do metrô? – “Is this the green subway line?”
• Esta é a plataforma correta para ir até [o Flamengo]? – “Is this the right platform to [Flamengo]?”

Trains in Brazil are reserved for urban and freight transportation only. The railways were a popular long-distance transport decades ago, before cars became popular in the country.

3. Portuguese Travel Phrases for Shopping

So many options to choose from, so many phrases to learn… Don’t panic, let’s be practical.

Our social interactions while shopping tend to be brief and no-nonsense, so an elaborate vocabulary isn’t necessary to get what you need. For example: If you spot a nice fruit, you can point at it, ask for the price using gestures, and finish the purchase. Or, if shopping online, you could use a digital translator.

On the other hand, it might not always turn out this way. Buying a gift for a friend in a foreign country, for instance, could be confusing. It’s not always easy to explain your interests or to formulate questions to a native speaker.  

Here are just a few survival phrases in Portuguese for making the most of your trip to the store or mall: 

• Quanto custa isto? – “How much does it cost?”
• Qual peça você recomenda? – “What piece/item do you recommend?”
• Qual é a lembrança mais popular da loja? – “What is this store’s most popular souvenir?”
• Vocês aceitam pagamento por PayPal? – “Can I use PayPal for payment?”
• O preço está em reais ou em dólares? – “Is the pricing in reais or in dollars?”
• Você tem esta camiseta em tamanho médio? – “Does this T-shirt come in medium size?”
• Será que este item chega até terça-feira? – “Might this item be in stock by Tuesday?”

4. Portuguese Travel Phrases for Restaurants

The most common activity we can all relate to? Eating. Whether you’re ordering food or asking your waiter/waitress a question, this basic Portuguese travel phrases list for restaurants has got you covered. 

• Uma mesa para quatro, por favor. – “Table for four, please.”
• Posso ver o menu, por favor? – “May I see the menu, please?”
• Água, por favor. – “Water, please.”
• Uma cerveja, por favor. – “Beer, please.”
• Um copo de suco de laranja, por favor. – “A glass of orange juice, please.”
• Vocês têm opções vegetarianas/veganas? – “Do you have vegetarian/vegan options?”
• A sobremesa está inclusa? – “Does it include the dessert?”
• Sou alérgico a glúten. (male) / Sou alérgica a glúten. (female) – “I am allergic to gluten.”
• Garçom! – “Waiter!”
• Garçonete! – “Waitress!”
• Pode dividir a conta em dois? – “Would you split the bill?”
• Está delicioso! – “It’s delicious!”
• Como se chama este prato? – “What do you call this dish?”
• Não acredito que isso é peixe… – “I can’t believe it’s fish…”

5. Asking for and Giving Directions

How can I get to Christ, the Redeemer?

Some of the most important Portuguese phrases for travelers are those used to ask for and give directions. Finding yourself lost with no means of communication never makes for a nice vacation or business trip! 

• Onde fica o banheiro? – “Where is the toilet?”
• A estação [Santa Cruz] fica aqui perto? – “Is [Santa Cruz] station nearby?”
• Onde fica a estação de metrô mais próxima? – “Where is the nearest metro station?”
• Pode me dizer para que lado é o Jardim Botânico? – “Could you tell me which way to Jardim Botânico?”
• Como eu faço para chegar ao [Cristo Redentor]? – “How can I get to [Christ, the Redeemer]?”
• Vire à direita. – “Turn right.”
• Vire à esquerda. – “Turn left.”
• Siga em frente. – “Go ahead.”
• Siga reto. – “Go straight.”
• Atravesse a rua. – “Cross the street.”
• Para o outro lado – “To the other side”

6. Emergencies

To get help, one must learn to ask for it.

Travels are full of discoveries and opportunities for adventure. Of course, there’s always room for unexpected events…some of which might not be pleasant. Here are some crucial Portuguese basics for travel to help you out in an emergency: 

• Ajuda, por favor! – “Help, please!”
• Você pode me ajudar? – “Can you help me?”
• Chame uma ambulância. – “Call an ambulance.”
• Chame a polícia. – “Call the police.”
• Chame os bombeiros. – “Call the firemen.”
• Tem algum médico aqui? – “Is there a doctor around here?”
• Perdi meu passaporte. – “I lost my passport.”
• Roubaram minha carteira. – “Someone stole my wallet.”

The most useful emergency numbers for travelers in Brazil are:

Police: Call 190 to report emergencies, and 197 to make inquiries and give information to the police.

Medical ambulance: Medical emergencies can be reported through calls to 192.

Fire service: Call 193.

Don’t forget to read our vocabulary list for useful phone call phrases, so you can act correctly on the spot if needed. Also, check the emergency phone numbers in Portugal and Angola.

7. Flattery Phrases

Embrace the confetti and throw some of it too: it makes people happier.

Flattery often pays off for tourists and foreigners. Pick people from any culture you want: they’ll most likely react in a positive way to flattery, especially if it’s genuine. To use a Brazilian expression for this universal vanity: Everyone likes to get some confetti thrown at them.

So, basic Portuguese travel phrases for flattery might open doors and build bridges between people! You can use them at the gym, during a meeting with friends, on a date, or in other contexts. Just use them at your discretion.

• As pessoas no Brasil são muito gentis. – “People in Brazil are very kind.”
• Eu adoro os brasileiros. – “I love Brazilians.”
• Eu gosto muito da comida portuguesa. – “I like Portuguese food very much.”
• Eu amo Angola. – “I love Angola.”
• Eu amo o seu país. – “I love your country.”
• Quero ser seu amigo. (male) / amiga. (female) Você tem Instagram? – “I want to be your friend. Do you use Instagram?”
• Eu quero morar aqui. – “I want to live here.”
• Você é lindo! (male) / Você é linda! (female) – “You are pretty!”

8. Useful Phrases to Go Through Language Problems

One common error that learners of a foreign language make is “overthinking” instead of talking intuitively, because they want to speak everything perfectly. This pretension might be an obstacle to developing oral fluency.

Sometimes, just learning the phrases isn’t enough and we need to ask native speakers for help. But why not at least do it correctly and in the foreign language? This self-improving and humble attitude is very constructive toward a speedier learning process.

• Você fala inglês? – “Can you speak English?”
• Não estou te entendendo. – “I don’t understand you.”
• Pode repetir? – “Can you repeat?”
• Fale mais devagar, por favor. – “Please speak slowly.”
• Você pode escrever, por favor? – “Would you write it down, please?”
• Como se lê isto? – “How do you read this?”
• Você pode soletrar para mim? – “Could you spell it out for me?”
• Eu não falo português muito bem. – “I don’t speak Portuguese very well.”
• Eu não falo nada de português. – “I don’t speak Portuguese at all.”

9. Conclusion

In this article, you learned a lot of basic Portuguese travel phrases that will keep you busy for some time and hopefully provide you with good cultural insight. The best part is that you have access to these expressions for free—all it takes is a few clicks or taps on your computer or cellphone. 

It’s a good idea to write down these expressions and practice them often. Indeed, reading and understanding content is nice, but active learning is the best way to build complex knowledge.

Are there any travel phrases you would still like to know or a situation we didn’t cover? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll get back to you! 

PortuguesePod101 provides many resources that are guaranteed to put you on a thrilling and productive learning path. Apart from vocabulary lists that are easy to consult and focused on practical situations, PortuguesePod101 provides a variety of multimedia lessons and content for Portuguese learners at every level. By subscribing to a Premium PLUS account, you also gain access to private lessons to boost your conversation skills and help you absorb important cultural information.

Check out PortuguesePod101’s resources for free and take your Portuguese studies to the next level!

Learning the numbers in Portuguese solves many problems. You can ask for caipirinhas (a Brazilian cocktail) for you and your buddies. Or count the goals in a soccer match. Or know how much a ticket from Sao Paulo to Rio will cost… You can also negotiate your salary, answer how many months (or years) you plan to stay in the country, and tell people your age.
Like in any other language, it’s important that you learn at least the numbers to ten in Portuguese right at the start. That will solve some communication problems when you’re speaking to a Brazilian or Portuguese person who doesn’t speak English.

Exciting, isn’t it? When do we begin? Well, sit down, take it easy, breathe—count to ten.

→ Want to review numbers vocabulary in Portuguese before reading this article? PortuguesePod101 has you covered!

Table of Contents

1. Portuguese Numbers 1-10
2. Portuguese Numbers 10-20
3. Portuguese Numbers 10-100
4. Numbers Up to 1000
5. How to Give Your Phone Number
6. How to Use Numbers When Shopping
7. Saying Prices
8. Learn Numbers in Portuguese and Much More with PortuguesePod101

1. Portuguese Numbers 1-10

First of all, we’ll go over the basic numbers that even kids know how to count. Baby steps before bigger plans. You’ll have to lay these bricks in order to reach bigger numerical structures.

Numbers in Portuguese are called números. If you’re familiar with any of the other Romance languages, this word may sound familiar to you. And so should this list of numbers in Portuguese from one to ten:

• 1     Um
• 2     Dois
• 3     Três
• 4     Quatro
• 5     Cinco
• 6     Seis
• 7     Sete
• 8     Oito
• 9     Nove
• 10     Dez

An interesting thing to note is that the number one in Portuguese transcends its function as a number for English speakers. Um is also used as an indefinite article in Portuguese, playing the role of “a(n)” in English.

So, when um acts as an indefinite article, it can be declined to its feminine form, based on the noun it’s referring to. Uma is the preferred form for counting feminine nouns. For instance:

• Ele colheu uma banana da bananeira.
  “He picked a banana from the banana tree.”
• Olho para a cesta e vejo: uma, duas, três maçãs…
  “I look at the basket and see: one, two, three apples…”
• Rolamos sobre um monte de folhas.
  “We roll over a pile of leaves.”

The other number that can decline to its feminine form is dois (which is duas in its feminine form). However, it isn’t used as an indefinite article.

Oh! And since we’ve started from the basics, let’s not forget the smallest of all integers—zero. Well…you can call it zero. The only significant detail with this one is the pronunciation: the “e” sounds like it does in the word “bell.”

Baby steps – We’ll get to the big ones soon.

2. Portuguese Numbers 10-20

Now that we’ve covered the very basics, giving you a strong foundation, we’re going to go through a rocky path of numbers that may sound pretty irregular to foreign speakers—but at least there aren’t many of them.

The thing is, they kind of make logical sense to foreigners, but not all of them.

From ten to twenty, half of the numbers in Portuguese sound irregular and the other half remind learners of the “-teen” numbers:

• 10      Dez
• 11      Onze
• 12      Doze
• 13      Treze
• 14      Catorze or Quatorze
• 15      Quinze
• 16      Dezesseis
• 17      Dezessete
• 18      Dezoito
• 19      Dezenove
• 20      Vinte

Actually, you may see that 11 (onze), 12 (doze), 13 (treze), and 14 (quatorze) are a combination of the first four integers with dez (10). It may seem a little off the first time you hear them, but don’t let the “e” at the end of these numbers (or the different spelling) confuse you!

3. Portuguese Numbers 10-100

Now, what about the large numbers in Portuguese? How do they work?

Portuguese is really logical sometimes (only sometimes), and luckily for you, that includes numbers. Once you’ve memorized 0-19, it gets simpler from 20 on.

Starting with 20 (vinte), all you have to do is “add” the numbers by placing “and” between the parts of the sum.

So, 21 is vinte e um (“twenty and one”), 22 is vinte e dois (“twenty and two”), and so on.

The logic behind the units is easier to get. To put this knowledge into practice, you can start by counting in Portuguese using the sets of tens:

• 30      Trinta
• 40      Quarenta
• 50      Cinquenta
• 60      Sessenta
• 70      Setenta
• 80      Oitenta
• 90      Noventa
• 100      Cem

These work just like vinte (20). For instance, 34 is trinta e quatro and 79 is setenta e nove.

When you get over 100, you just have to add more numbers the same way. For example: cento e cinquenta e seis is 156.

It’s just a matter of adding numbers up with figures above twenty.

4. Numbers Up to 1000

By now, counting numbers in Portuguese is probably as easy as eating breakfast for you. But we’re headed to the top! It’s time to cover numbers above 100 in Portuguese.

The following numbers in Brazilian Portuguese will help you keep track of your monthly expenses and read the cost of travel tickets. Once again, you can detect a pattern from hundred to hundred:

• 100      Cem
• 200      Duzentos
• 300      Trezentos
• 400      Quatrocentos
• 500      Quinhentos
• 600      Seiscentos
• 700      Setecentos
• 800      Oitocentos
• 900      Novecentos
• 1000      Mil

Banking in Portuguese: The joy of counting sets of hundreds in a foreign language.

5. How to Give Your Phone Number

Learning numbers in Portuguese is very useful. But the key to understanding a new language in its subtleties is to interact with speakers of that language and to start networking. That means getting to know people. Going out is a great way to start taking new, adventurous steps into a foreign culture and meeting interesting people.

While you’re talking with new people, there may come a time when you want to exchange phone numbers with them. To help you be prepared for that situation, here are some phrases you can use to give your number in Portuguese, or to ask someone for theirs.

• O meu número é…
  “My number is…”
• Qual é o seu número de telefone?
  “What is your phone number?”
• Me passa o seu número?
  “Can you give me your number?”

As for how to say numbers in Portuguese, the numbers are usually spoken individually in Brazil. In European countries, they’re grouped into sets of tens or hundreds.

• O meu número é nove, sete, oito, seis, cinco, sete, sete, zero.
  “My number is 9786-5770.”

Eventually, though, digits can also be grouped into two sets. This usually happens when there’s a zero in the combination:

• O meu número é nove, sete, oito, seis, cinco, sete, setenta.
  “My number is 9786-5770.”

Sure, there are some exceptions to this “formula” of Portuguese phone numbers, but there aren’t many. One exception would be the prefix 0800 in Brazil. This prefix is used for free hotlines, and it’s called zero oitocentos (“zero-eight hundred”).

Also, there’s a deep-rooted term in Brazil that’s frequently referred to in telephone numbers. This term is meia, and it can make a Portuguese-learner feel like an alien.

Meia is a word that means both “sock” and “half” in Portuguese. What number do you think it is?

If we’re dealing with telephone numbers, which range from 0 to 9, perhaps five would be a good approximation—but it isn’t. Meia is equivalent to six.

Indeed, it’s the abbreviation of meia dúzia (“half a dozen”), which equals six. The word is linked to how people used to measure things by the dozen, especially groceries. Even today, many egg cartons still hold a dozen eggs.

Most students learn this one the hard way, so consider this a valuable lesson!

“Did you say meia?”

6. How to Use Numbers When Shopping

You may notice that when shopping in Brazil, it can be a struggle to get coins and small change from the cashier. Indeed, Brazilians don’t care much about using coins. The local coins, centavos, are represented after the comma in the price, but they aren’t taken seriously. Since the 1 centavo coin has been abolished, it’s impossible to pay exact prices that aren’t round (that don’t end with 5 or 0) with physical currency.

So, buyers and sellers often round up the price to a number ending in 0 or 5 to make it easier to get a proper real bill.

Here’s an example of a conversation you may have when shopping:

A: Boa tarde! Quanto está custando este celular novo da vitrine?
B: Este celular sai por R$850. A compra também pode ser parcelada em dez vezes de R$85.

A: “Good afternoon! How much does this new cell phone from the store display cost?”
B: “This cell phone costs R$850. We can also set the payment for ten installments of R$85.”

It’s common practice in Brazilian retail to set payment installments for a wide array of products. The payment plan can sometimes reach tens of installments, which may appear odd to many foreigners. However, these installment plans are very common, especially for electronic equipment, furniture, paying tuition, housing, cars, and loans.

A: Está um pouco caro para mim… Por quanto [dinheiro] você consegue me fazer estes dez livros?
B: O preço completo é de R$400, mas consigo fazer R$350.

A: “That’s a bit pricey… Can you lower the price for these ten books?”
B: “The full price would be R$400—I can make it R$350.”

Now let’s talk about discounts. Everybody is happy when they see that interesting items are on sale. But before you can really enjoy a sale, you have to understand its terms. If you see some indication of a 50% discount in the display window, but you’re not sure it applies to the shoes you want to buy, you can confirm the information with the seller by asking:

• Este sapato também custa metade do preço na promoção?
  “Does this shoe also cost half the price on sale?”

In terms of fractions, metade (“half” ) is the only one you’ll see when shopping. Other discount amounts are usually given as a percentage.

7. Saying Prices

There’s a certain way to say numbers in Portuguese when giving prices—and it’s slightly different from how it’s done in English.

In Brazil, the values before and after the comma are joined by the word e (“and”). In Portugal, they’re joined by the word com (“with”).

“Este sapato também custa metade do preço na promoção?”

8. Learn Numbers in Portuguese and Much More with PortuguesePod101

Now you have the basic and intermediate figures, and that’s a good starting point when learning how to say numbers in Portuguese. If you decide to go even further and learn the sets of thousands, you’ll be able to negotiate payment for jobs, speak properly with your bank manager, and engage in some interesting calculations.

But what about the Portuguese numbers’ pronunciation? And other relevant cultural information you’ll need to understand the reality of Portuguese-speakers and their countries of origin?

Private lessons from a private teacher will increase your potential and let you learn more easily about numbers in Portuguese and a whole set of topics for everyday life. That’s the aim of lessons from PortuguesePod101.

The interface is simple to use and the content is planned and designed to retain your attention in a fun and constructive manner. Try and exercise your domain over numbers in Portuguese, and you’ll be on cloud nine!

Before you go, let us know in the comments how you’re doing with Portuguese numbers so far! We’ll be glad to answer any questions.

Happy Portuguese learning!

Making mistakes is a part of life. There’s no way around it, and that’s why knowing how to apologize is a must. Whether we inadvertently make a mistake or say something we didn’t mean, saying “I’m sorry” is always necessary. It doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing to do, but it’s something we have to deal with.

Now that you’re learning a new language, it’s also a good idea to expand your vocabulary and include ways to say sorry in Portuguese. After all, mistakes in pronunciation, word choice, or comprehension is a part of the process. That’s totally okay! By using the right words to apologize, you can make the process smoother.

As you gain more experience with the Portuguese language, there will be more situations in which you might need to apologize and take responsibility. It might be at work, with a friend, or even to offer condolences. Whatever the circumstances, after reading this guide, you’ll know the best ways to apologize in Portuguese!

Table of Contents

1. The Most Important Words for Apologizing
2. Taking the Blame
3. Work and Business Situations
4. Offering Your Condolences
5. How to Forgive
6. Continue Learning Portuguese with PortuguesePod101

Mil desculpas! (“I’m sorry a thousand times!”)

1. The Most Important Words for Apologizing

How do you say sorry in Portuguese? If you want the most straightforward way, you can go with desculpa. However, there are plenty of other useful words and phrases you can use. 

Desculpa (“Sorry”)

This word can be used in a few different ways, as shown in the examples below. 

• Desculpa! (“Sorry!”)

You can simply say desculpa after saying something you regret, bumping into someone, or breaking a glass at your friend’s house.

• Me desculpa. (“Sorry.” / “Forgive me.”)
• Você me desculpa? (“Do you forgive me?”)
• Desculpe a demora. (“I’m sorry for the delay.”)

Desculpe sounds more formal in Brazil. It can also appear in the form me desculpe (“forgive me,” “I’m sorry”). 

• Peço desculpas. (“I apologize.”)

Another alternative for more formal settings.

• Desculpa aí, esqueci completamente de te ligar. (“Sorry, I totally forgot to call you.”)

Using the word aí (“there”) makes the apology sound very informal. You can use the phrase above when talking to your friends, for example.

• Desculpa, você sabe que horas são? (“Excuse me, do you know what time it is?”)

/! Note that, if you opt to use the more formal version of desculpe, you’ll have to pay attention to the number of people you’re apologizing to.  Talking to one person: Me desculpe, esqueci do nosso almoço. (“I’m sorry, I forgot about our lunch.”) Talking to two or more people:  Me desculpem, esqueci do nosso almoço. (“I’m sorry, I forgot about our lunch.”) Listen to and read along with a real-life example of how to apologize to multiple people in this lesson by PortuguesePod101.

And because Brazilians love some exaggeration, you can make your apologies really clear by adding “a thousand” to it.

• Mil desculpas! (“I am sorry a thousand times!”) 

Drag the i in mil (miiiil desculpas), and you have a heartfelt apology! This is an informal way to say “I’m sorry.”

Did you just say you’re sorry?

Other Useful Words

For more variety, you can add these additional Portuguese words for sorry to your vocabulary.

Perdão (“Pardon”)

Perdão is definitely used less often than desculpa, but you might still hear it in Brazil.

• Ai, perdão! (“Oh, sorry!”) 

If you’ve just dropped something on someone’s foot, for example, you might say this.

• Me perdoa, por favor! (“Forgive me, please!”)

Now, if you hurt someone’s feelings or have offended them in some way, me perdoa is a good choice.

Com licença (“Excuse me”)

Do you need to ask someone for directions? Or maybe pass on a narrow corridor? Then use com licença (“excuse me”). 

• Com licença, você pode me ajudar? (“Excuse me, can you help me?”)
• Com licença, posso passar rapidinho? (“Excuse me, could I just squeeze past?”)
• Com licença. (“Excuse me.”)

You don’t need to add anything else if you’re just asking to pass or if you need some space in a crowded place. 

Foi mal (“My bad”)

This is by far the most informal way to say “I’m sorry.” Use it with your close friends to sound like a native Portuguese speaker! 

• Foi mal, não trouxe sua camiseta. (“Sorry, I didn’t bring your T-shirt.”)

This way of apologizing works best for small mishaps. Foi mal isn’t a good option when you’ve just crashed your best friend’s brand-new car, for example!

Emphasize it

Here are some ways to show that you’re very sorry in Portuguese:

• Me desculpa mesmo. (“I’m really sorry.”) 
• Sério, foi mal. (“For real, I’m sorry.”)
• Mil desculpas, de verdade. (“I’m sorry a thousand times, really.”)

Foi minha culpa, me desculpa, amor! (“It was my fault, forgive me, love!”)

➜ Check out this vocabulary list to see more common ways to say sorry and practice your pronunciation with PortuguesePod101!

2. Taking the Blame

Sometimes we have to own up to our mistakes. That means taking the responsibility—or even the blame—for things that go wrong. 

Take the Responsibility

Acknowledging that you’re guilty of hurting someone or are responsible for a mistake will help you grow!

• Minha culpa (“My fault”)
  • Foi minha culpa, não tranquei a porta. (“It was my fault, I didn’t lock the door.”)
  • É minha culpa, não dela. (“It’s my fault, not hers.”)

• Assumir a responsabilidade (“Take the responsibility”)
  • Eu assumo toda a responsabilidade por este erro. (“I take all the responsibility for this mistake.”)

• Eu não devia ter dito isso. (“I shouldn’t have said that.”)

Sometimes you also need to explain what happened. In this case, you can say:

• Foi minha culpa, eu não sabia que… (“It was my fault, I didn’t know that…”)
• Foi minha culpa, eu pensei que… (“It was my fault, I thought that…”)

State Your Case

What about when it’s not really your fault or you didn’t mean it?

• Não foi minha culpa. (“It wasn’t my fault.”)
• Foi sem querer! (“I didn’t mean it!”)
• Não foi por mal. (“I meant no harm.”)

Own Up to Your Mistake, Brazilian Style

Here are a few more phrases you can use to apologize in Brazilian Portuguese like a native. These are informal and colloquial ways of admitting that you made a mistake.

• Eu estraguei tudo. (“I messed it all up.”)
• Pisei na bola. (“I made a mistake.”)
• Errei feio. (“I made a big mistake.”)

Me desculpa, de verdade. (“I’m sorry, really.”)

➜ Check out this lesson about apologizing to your significant other on PortuguesePod101.com.

3. Work and Business Situations

In business settings or at work, you can use most of the words we’ve already seen to say sorry in Portuguese. The best options are me desculpe (“I’m sorry”), peço desculpas (“I apologize”), and eu assumo a responsabilidade (“I take the responsibility”).

Not Happening Again

Besides apologizing, you should also learn how to say that you won’t make the same mistake again in the future.

• Isto não vai se repetir. (“This is not going to happen again.”)
• Não vai acontecer novamente. (“It won’t happen again.”)
• Prometo que nunca mais faço isso. (“I promise I won’t do it again.”)

Spell it Out

At work, you might also need to email an apology to your colleagues. If that happens, you can use these sentences:

• Peço desculpas a todos. (“I apologize to you all.”)
• Eu gostaria de me desculpar com a equipe. (“I would like to apologize to the team.”)

Apologies in Customer Service

There’s another word that means “sorry” in Portuguese, but it’s used mainly in customer service: lamento (“I’m sorry”). You might hear it when dealing with a bank, trying to reach customer support on the phone, or when shopping in Brazil. 

• Lamentamos informar que… (“We regret to inform you that…”)
• Lamento senhor, não estamos abertos aos domingos. (“I’m sorry sir, we are not open on Sundays.”)

Lastly, you might also hear businesses apologizing to customers in the following ways:

• Por favor, aceite nossas desculpas. (“Please, accept our apologies.”)
• Pedimos desculpas por qualquer inconveniência causada. (“We apologize for any inconvenience caused.”)

Lamento, não temos mais ingressos para este filme. (“I’m sorry, we don’t have tickets available for this movie anymore.”)

➜ Do you want to hear more tips on apologizing in Portuguese? This video by PortuguesePod101 is a perfect tool to learn more on the topic and practice your listening!

4. Offering Your Condolences

” ‘Sinto muito’ e ‘me desculpe’ são intercambiáveis, exceto em um funeral.” (” ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘I apologize’ usually mean the same thing, except at a funeral.”) – Demetri Martin 

The quote above is a light-hearted way to remember one thing: Sometimes, it’s better to stick to the norm! That’s very true for whenever you find yourself in a sad situation in which you need to express your condolences to an acquaintance or close friend.

Here are some of the formal sentences you can use:

• Meus pêsames pela sua perda. (“My condolences for your loss.”)
• Minhas sinceras condolências. (“My sincere condolences.”)
• Lamento sua perda. (“I’m sorry for your loss.”)

With close friends, you can say:

• Sinto muito pela sua perda. (“I’m really sorry for your loss.”)
• Fiquei muito triste de saber sobre… (“I was very sorry to hear about…”)

And, of course, don’t forget to offer support in this difficult moment. 

• Conta comigo para o que precisar. (“Count on me for whatever you need.”)
• Se precisar de qualquer coisa, estou aqui. (“If you need anything, I’m here.”)
• Se eu puder te ajudar de qualquer jeito, me avisa. (“If I can help you in any way, let me know.”)

5. How to Forgive

Now that you know all of the ways to apologize and say sorry in Portuguese, here are some ways to answer apology requests. After all, forgiving is good for your health and for your social well-being!

The options at the bottom of this list are the most informal ones, while the ones at the top can be used in pretty much any situation.

• Estas coisas acontecem. (“These things happen.”)
• Não se preocupe. (“Don’t worry.”)
• Não foi nada. (“It was nothing.”)
• Está desculpado. (“You’re forgiven.”)
• Tudo bem. (“It’s alright.”) 
• Sem problemas. (“No problems.”)
• Esquece. (“Forget it.”)

Intonation matters in that last one, so be sure to sound friendly to convey that there’s nothing to worry about.

• Ah, que isso. (“Oh, of course.”)

In this case, the meaning conveyed is “don’t worry about it” or “it was my pleasure,” when said with a playful and friendly intonation.

Forgiveness is an important part of happy relationships.

6. Continue Learning Portuguese with PortuguesePod101

We hope that after reading this article, you feel ready to apologize with ease and smooth things over at any time! Learning how to say sorry in Portuguese will be a handy skill as you navigate the journey of learning a new language. This is also a helpful guide you can come back to whenever you find yourself in a situation where apologies—or forgiveness—are needed. 

We would love to hear your thoughts on this article! Did we miss any important words for apologizing in Portuguese? Let us know in the comments. 

And now, it’s time to put it into practice. To start, you can check out these tips to remember words better. Or go ahead and choose a vocabulary list to study or discover another free resource 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.

Happy Portuguese learning!

Did you know that Brazil is the country with the fourth-largest number of Internet users in the world? Take that huge number of people online, add to it the natural creativity and humor of Brazilians, and you get a whole new world of Portuguese slang and expressions!

Some Brazilian internet slang is more common with the younger crowds, while other slang phrases are used by people of all ages. Besides that, many expressions born online and in memes end up in the daily vocabulary of Brazilians, even if just for a few months. In this article, we’ll focus more on long-lasting expressions, abbreviations, and slang words. But if you’re curious enough, you can always continue keeping up-to-date with new memes and engage with Portuguese speakers online.

To make sure you’re up-to-speed with all the abbreviations, codes, and expressions in the Brazilian internet scene, be sure to check this guide and come back whenever you need to. After going through this guide, you’ll be able to handle your internet-based conversations and understand all the Brazilian online gírias, or “slang,” like a local!

Table of Contents

1. Abbreviations Used in Portuguese Texting
2. Laughing the Brazilian Way
3. Portuguese Internet Slang Derived from English
4. Internet Slangs Popular on Social Media
5. Popular Emojis in Brazil
6. Learn More Portuguese with PortuguesePod101

1. Abbreviations Used in Portuguese Texting

Vc tá no trabalho hj? ( “Are you at work today?” )

Texting is all about speed in Brazil. Abbreviations are everywhere, since they make it much quicker to write sentences. In Portuguese, it works the same way it does in English: we make the words smaller by substituting whole syllables for just one or two letters.

1 – Basic Words

The most commonly used abbreviations in Portuguese text slang are used by people of all ages in Brazil, and can be seen everywhere online from social media comments to Whatsapp messages. Considering the huge number of Brazilians connected to the internet, chances are you’ll encounter these abbreviations in your next text conversation!

Abbreviation	Stands for	Translation	Example
vc / cê / c	você	“You” [singular]	Vc vai? “Are you going?”
vcs	vocês	“You” [plural]	Vcs já sabem “You already know.”
ñ / n	não	“No”	Ñ sei “I don’t know.”
bj / bjo	beijo	“Kiss”	Manda um bj pra ele “Send him a kiss.”
bjs / bjos	beijos	“Kisses”	Tchau, bjos “Bye, kisses.”
bjks	beijocas	“Small kisses”	Até mais, bjks “See you, kisses.”
td	tudo	“All” / “Everything”	Td bem? “How are you?”
mt	muito	“A lot” / “Very” / “Much” / “Many”	Mt lindo “Very beautiful”
oq	o quê	“What”	Vai fazer oq amanhã? “What will you do tomorrow?”
q	que	“That”	Ele disse q não viria “He said that he wouldn’t come.”
pq	por que / por quê / porque / porquê	“Why” / “Because”	E pq ele não veio? “Why didn’t he come?”
sdd / sdds	saudade / saudades	There isn’t a translation for this word! But it means something similar to “miss you.”	Oi amiga, sdds! “Hi friend, miss you.”
kd	cadê	“Where”	Kd vc, não te vejo! “Where are you, I can’t see you!”
tbm / tb	também	“Too” / “As well”	Eu vou tbm “I’ll go too.”
vdd	verdade	“True”	É vdd? “Is it true?”
ctz	certeza	“Certain” / “For sure”	É vdd, ctz “It’s true, for sure.”
cmg	comigo	“With me”	Ela tá cmg “She is with me.”
ctg	contigo	“With you”	Ele tá ctg? “Is he with you?”
ngn	ninguém	“No one”	Não tem ngn na aula “There is no one in class.”
qto	quanto	“How much”	Qto custa? “How much does it cost?”
qdo / qnd / qd	quando	“When”	Qdo vamos? “When are we going?”
gnt	gente	“People” / “Guys”	Tem mt gnt aqui “There are a lot of people here.” Gnt, vamos! “Guys, let’s go!”
msm	mesmo	“Same”	Digo o msm “I say the same.”
add	adicionar	“To add” (on social media)	Me add no Face “Add me on Facebook.”
qq	qualquer	“Any”	Eu posso ir qq hora “I can go any time.”
hj	hoje	“Today”	Hj é feriado “Today is a holiday.”
eh	é	“Is”	A festa eh hj? “Is the party today?”
neh	né	“Isn’t it”	Legal, neh? “Cool, isn’t it?”
soh	só	“Only” / “Just” / “Alone”	Soh curiosidade “Just curiosity”
d+	demais	“Cool” / “Awesome” / “Too much”	Que d+ “That’s awesome.” Sdds d+ “Miss you too much.”
t+	até mais	“See you soon”	Beijos, t+ “Kisses, see you.”
uau	onomatopoeia	“Wow”	Uau, sério? “Wow, really?”

Man checking wristwatch

2 – Abbreviations of Expressions

The following abbreviations are a bit more popular among younger people. These are common Brazilian Portuguese text slang expressions that are used online, on social media, and when texting!

Abbreviation	Stands for	Translation	Example/Explanation
mds	Meu Deus	“My God” / “OMG”	Mds, é vdd? “OMG, is it true?”
sqn	só que não	Similar to “Said no one ever”	Amo segundas, sqn “I love Mondays, said no one ever.”
ac	acompanhando	“Following”	This is used in comments on Facebook, when you want to continue reading the comments in a post.
tmj	(es)tamo(s) junto(s)	“We’re together” / “I’m with you” / “I’m here for you”	Difícil mesmo, mas tmj! “It’s really complicated, but I’m here for you.”
blz	beleza	“Cool” / “Deal”	Vamos outro dia, blz? “Let’s go on another day, cool?”
flw	falou	“Bye” / “Ok”	Até mais, flw! “See you, bye!” Vou dormir agora, flw? “I’m going to sleep now, ok?”
vlw	valeu	“Thanks” / “Owe you one”	Vlw, miga! “Thanks, friend!”
sla	sei lá	“I don’t know”	Ah, sla! “Ah, I don’t know.”
brinks	brincadeira	“Kidding” / “Just kidding”	É brinks “Just kidding.”
tranks	tranquilo	“All good” / “No problem”	– Obrigada! “Thanks!” – Tranks “No problem.”
miga / migo	amiga / amigo	“Friend”	Miga, sdds! “Friend, miss you!”
kra	cara	“Dude”	Cara, vc ñ sabe o q aconteceu! “Dude, you don’t know what happened.”
bb	bebê	“Baby”	Td bem, bb? “How are you, baby?”
kbça	cabeça	“Head”	This is an ironic name for someone, implying they aren’t very smart or that they did something silly.
mec	–	“Cool” / “All good”	Tô mec, e você? “I’m good, and you?”
fds / findi	fim de semana	“Weekend”	Vai fazer o q esse findi? “What are you doing this weekend?”
fds	f*da-se	“F*ck it”	This is a swear word that expresses annoyance or exasperation. Watch the context to differentiate it from the previous use of fds.
pqp	p*** que pariu	“Holy s***”	This is a swear word that expresses surprise or frustration.
fdp	filho/filha da p***	“Son of a b****”	This is a swear word used against other people.
kct	c*cete	Works like a “WTF”	Kct, sério? “WTF, really?”
aff	–	–	This can express both shock or boredom (like a sigh).
putz	–	–	This is another interjection that can express shock or surprise.

/! Note /!

You might have noticed that the different conjugations of the verb estar can appear in two ways: the original version and a shortened version.

está → tá
estou → tô
estamos → tamos

These aren’t slang words per se, and they’re very common in both spoken Portuguese and in text messages or social media.

2. Laughing the Brazilian Way

A guide to Brazilian Portuguese internet slang could never be complete without an in-depth look at how Brazilians laugh online. With the vast numbers of Brazilians on the internet, the particular way in which they laugh has caused plenty of confusion online. Let’s unpack the top ways in which Brazilians laugh online and get you laughing along!

• kkk

The award for most confusing laughter has to go to kkk—and all of its variations with an increasing number of k’s, depending on how much fun you’re having! And no, don’t worry, this is not a racist salute in any way.

For some reason, in Brazil, the idea of laughing with a “qua-qua-qua” sound is an old one, as you can hear in this song of the iconic Brazilian singer Elis Regina.

• rsrs

This is an abbreviation of the word risos (“laughter”).

• huahuahuahua

This is another common way of laughing, derived from the traditional “hahaha.”

• hdashdjkasdjshdsdjasd

Randomly pressing letters on the keyboard is also common!

• Other honorable mentions

huehuehue, hauhauhauhau, spoaskoaksak, kjkjkjkjkjkjkj, haushhaushshsuah

Can you tell Brazilians are happy people? A simple “LOL” is not enough to express all the dimensions of fun!

3. Portuguese Internet Slang Derived from English

Many commonly used internet slang words in Portuguese actually originate from English words! And we’re not talking about the abbreviations that come straight from the English language and are used in the same context, like BFF, OMG, or plz. After all, in Brazil, things go a step further!

Most of the cases below are used as verbs, adding a Portuguese ending to an English word. This kind of expression is quite common, and there’s always a new one being added to the Brazilian internet vocabulary! Let’s take a look at the most popular ones.

Expression	Translation	Example/Explanation
stalkear	“To stalk”	Eu stalkeei ela no Instagram “I stalked her on Instagram.”
crushear	“To have a crush”	Tá crusheando, né? “You have a crush, don’t you?”
trollar	“To troll”	O pessoal não cansa de trollar na internet People don’t get tired of trolling online.”
shippar	“To ship”	Eu shippo muito esse casal “I ship this couple very much.”
flopar	“To fail” / “To be unsuccessful”	O novo album dessa banda flopou “This band’s new album was a fail.”
hypado	“Hyped”	Esse restaurante tá muito hypado “This restaurant is too hyped.”
zapzap	“Whatsapp”	Originally, this is what older people called Whatsapp.
Face	“Facebook”	Me add no Face! “Add me on Facebook.”
Insta	“Instagram”	Posta no Insta “Post it on Instagram.”

Sometimes the Expressions Make No Literal Sense!

4. Internet Slangs Popular on Social Media

You may not know, but Brazil is a fertile land for memes! As a result, many Portuguese expressions are born online and can even reach the streets being used in real life. Here are some popular internet-born slang words and expressions that you might hear from locals in an informal conversation.

Expression	Literal translation	Explanation	Example
dar biscoito / querer biscoito	“To give a cookie” / “To want a cookie”	This is used when someone is seeking attention or compliments.	Olha quantas fotos ele postou, ele quer biscoito. “Look how many pictures he posted, he wants attention.”
tá na Disney	“He/she is in Disney”	This phrase expresses that someone is saying something out of reality, as if they were in a cartoon or movie.	Você quer comprar esse carro? Tá na Disney? “You want to buy this car? Are you crazy?”
Deus me livre mas quem me dera	“God forbid, but I wish”	This is a paradoxical expression that refers to those situations where you want something but rationally you know you shouldn’t. There is a song with this name!	Todo mundo está namorando. Deus me livre, mas quem me dera. “Everyone is dating now. I don’t want it but also, I do.”
fada sensata	“Wise fairy”	This is used as a compliment, mostly for women, based on their wise actions or comments.	Ela pediu demissão. Fada sensata. “She quit her job, smart woman.”
dar PT	“To have a total loss”	PT is short for Perda Total (“total loss”). This expression is used when someone gets very drunk.	Dei PT na festa de ontem “I was blackout drunk at the party yesterday.”
10/10	“10 out of 10”	This one is a compliment on someone’s appearance.	Scarlett Johansson é muito 10/10 “Scarlett Johansson is gorgeous.”
mitar	“To be a myth”	This is used when someone does something amazing.	Ele mitou muito na apresentação “He was amazing at the presentation.”
Meldels	“My God”	This is another way of expressing surprise, just like OMG, but in a funnier way.	Meldels, é verdade isso? “OMG, is it true?”
menine	“Boy or girl”	This is a unissex way of referring to somebody.	Menine, você não vai acreditar! “Hey you, you won’t believe this!”
berro	“Scream”	This expresses a strong reaction to something surprising or very funny.	– Você viu o vídeo da festa? – Berro! – “Have you seen the video of the party?” – “OMG!”
socorro / scrro / scrr	“Help”	This is used when reacting to something very funny.	– Olha esse meme! – Scrr! Hahahaha – “Look at this meme.” – “LOL!”

→ Continue learning what’s popular in Brazil with the Top 5 Culture Icons You Need to Know About, on PortuguesePod101!

5. Popular Emojis in Brazil

Wondering what the most popular emojis are in Brazil? Since they’re such an important part of texting, it’s good to know what’s commonly used when talking to locals!

1. Red heart ❤️
2. Heart eyes 😍
3. Clapping hands 👏
4. Cat with heart eyes 😻
5. Please / Thank you 🙏
6. Music 🎶
7. Smiling moon, which can imply flirting 🌚
8. Peace sign ✌️
9. Eyes 👀

Now You’re Ready to Text Like a Brazilian!

6. Learn More Portuguese with PortuguesePod101

Feeling ready to confidently text in Brazilian Portuguese? Feel free to come back to this article whenever you need to brush up on your Portuguese internet slang. New expressions and abbreviations might pop up from time to time, so the best way to keep up-to-date is engaging with Portuguese speakers online!

Do you think we forgot any important slang words or phrases? Did the examples help you understand when to use each expression? Let us know in the comments below!

Now it’s time to continue on your language-learning journey! There are more free Portuguese resources and a variety of vocabulary lists available on PortuguesePod101. 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.

Not everything can be translated. The Biblical story of the Tower of Babel tells of a time when all humans stopped speaking the same language to drown in the confusion of different idioms. The conflicts have spread throughout humankind, which has been dissolved into different tribes.

Indeed, communication is full of perils. Speech is the root of every possible human bond and results in building or destroying bridges. Normally, when a message fails to be transmitted, the consequences aren’t good.

This effort to translate is hard enough in daily matters. But what about the untranslatable Portuguese words and those of other languages?

The benefits of learning untranslatable Portuguese words may not be obvious at first sight, but they exist. For one, it’s a good way to learn more about the culture of the target country and to understand more about the native speakers’ mindset.

That’s why you’re about to grow as a student with the help of a brand-new list of untranslatable Portuguese words from PortuguesePod101!

Disclaimer

The following words will be presented with a literal translation, which could also be properly called an approximate meaning. Because these are Portuguese words with no English equivalent, right? But we’ll do our best to communicate the actual meaning after the literal translation to make it as precise as possible.

Table of Contents

1. Saudade
2. Fado
3. Gostosa
4. Tapioca
5. Oca
6. Xodó
7. Desbundar
8. Cafuné
9. Ouvido e orelha
10. Anteontem
11. Cadê
12. Caprichar
13. How PortuguesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Untranslatable Words in Portuguese

1. Saudade

Literal Translation:

There isn’t one.

Meaning:

Feelings of nostalgia and longing for something, someone, or some situation. Normally, these are melancholy feelings, but can also carry joyful undertones.

Example Situations:

To long for a dead relative; missing a childhood object; to miss an ex-partner (or the feelings you felt toward them); to yearn to go back in time to a situation.

Usage in a Sentence:

• Sinto saudade dela.
  “I miss her.”
• Que saudades da casa da minha infância…
  “Oh, how I long for the house of my childhood…”

When it comes to words often used together with this term, people usually “have” saudade or “feel” saudade.

The feeling can also be expressed as a lament with the help of que: Que saudade da casa da minha infância…

Additional Notes:

Some people see this as one of the most beautiful untranslatable Portuguese words. The word is largely employed in lyrical context, which is probably the best context to learn the many ways it can be used.

Saudade ranges from modern Brazilian music from the end of the 1950s (João Gilberto’s Chega de Saudade album) back to the poems of Luís Vaz de Camões (Nascerão Saudades Do Meu Bem, for instance) in the 17th century. These were some of the most important contributions in shaping the pillars of the popular Portuguese idiom that we know today.

Actually, saudade has been present in Portuguese poetry since it began. The medieval cantigas de amigo (“friend songs,” or romantic chivalry lyrics) already used the word to describe the feeling of maidens left behind by their knights to die in battles.

So, if you search well enough, you may draw the conclusion that this is not only a very old and beautiful word, but also one of the most popular untranslatable words in Portuguese.

2. Fado

José Malhoa’s painting “Fado” (1910) depicts a working class Portuguese couple in a moment of artistic contemplation.

Literal Translation:

“Fate”

Meaning:

Besides being a less popular translation for “fate,” fado is the name of a popular melancholic Portuguese music genre.

Example Situation:

The most common use of fado is in fado lyrics, such as Tudo isto é fado by poet Aníbal Nazaré, and it was made famous by the voice of Portuguese singer Amália Rodrigues:

Almas vencidas/Noites perdidas/Sombras bizarras(…)/Amor ciúme/Cinzas e lume/Dor e pecado/Tudo isto existe/Tudo isto é triste/Tudo isto é fado(… )

“Beaten souls/Lost nights/Bizarre shadows(…)/Love jealousy/Cinders and lights/Pain and sin/All this exists/All this is sad/All this is fado(…)”

Usage in a Sentence:

Fado can be used with and without musical context, though the latter is much less common.
When the word is used in lyrics, it can depict both the song genre and fate, depending on the situation.

Additional Notes:

Exposure to fado singers’ and instrumentalists’ works will not only lead you to find popular poetry and more interesting untranslatable Portuguese idioms. It will also present to you the unique universe of Moorish and European musical expression and instruments, blended into Portugal’s modern musical pride.

Also, you’ll certainly find some of the most beautiful Portuguese words and phrases we need in English.

3. Gostosa

Literal Translation:

“Tasty”

Meaning:

To use gostosa is similar to using “hot” to describe an attractive woman. It can also be used for men, adapted to gostoso.

Example Situation:

Gostosa is an adjective and one of the funny untranslatable Portuguese words on this list. But as you may have imagined, to call someone “tasty” can be perceived as very vulgar by the person receiving the compliment.

An example situation for the appropriate use of this word would be in a context of informality and intimacy. It’s sexy talk. For instance, if used during flirting, gostosa normally would not be employed to establish first impressions—don’t be a jerk.

Usage in a Sentence:

• Já te disseram que você é bem gostosa?
  “Did someone ever tell you that you’re very hot?”

4. Tapioca

Literal Translation:

There isn’t one.

Meaning:

It’s a type of edible flour made of manioc, but the word is normally used to describe a fine pancake recipe prepared with this flour and various types of fillings.

Example Situation:

Tapioca is a noun, which means it can be qualified by adjectives. The most common ones for an interested gourmand would be doce or salgado (“sweet” or “salted”), since these are the flavors offered when ordering one.

Despite the choice of fillings, there aren’t many ways to prepare tapioca: mostly, it’s fried (frita) in a pan without oil. But you might find other ways to serve it, since it’s growingly incorporated into other plates and candies. For instance: dadinho de tapioca (“little tapioca dice” ) or sorvete de tapioca (“tapioca ice cream”).

Usage in a Sentence:

• Esta tapioca com manteiga está deliciosa, mas prefiro com recheio doce.
  “This buttered tapioca is delicious, but I’d rather eat one with a sweet filling.”

Additional Notes:

This isn’t one of the hard Portuguese words to learn or use. Indeed, rather than learning this example of untranslatable Brazilian Portuguese words, you’re probably better off tasting a sample of tapioca! To savor it is also untranslatable…

This Brazilian delicacy is a native dish and very popular in the Northern and Northeastern regions of the country. In the time of colonization, it was fed to the slaves and also served as food for settlers. Presently, it’s a “trendy” option for snacks and sandwiches among gym enthusiasts, since it can be prepared as a very thin yet consistent and energetic pancake, and filled with “healthy” ingredients.

5. Oca

Niemeyer’s Oca building is inspired by primordial native constructions

Literal Translation:

There isn’t one.

Meaning:

An indigenous dwelling made out of wood and vegetable fibers—typically found in Brazil.

Don’t confuse this word with the Portuguese translation for “hollow,” which is pronounced “oh-kah.” The word in question here should be pronounced with an “open o” (like in the word “rock”).

Example Situation:

Consisting of three letters, this is probably one of the least hard Portuguese words to learn from this list. It’s normally employed in native contexts.

Usage in a Sentence:

The word is typically used to describe indigenous houses, and not in connotative manners. A group of ocas can be called an aldeia.

Additional Notes:

The format of an oca is rounded and it can vary in size. To imagine one, you just need to picture a coconut sunken halfway into the ground.

The form of the oca has served as inspiration for modern architectural structures in Brazil. The most famous one is Oscar Niemeyer’s Oca in the Ibirapuera Park, in São Paulo. It’s a museum for small- to medium-sized expositions.

6. Xodó

Literal Translation:

There isn’t one.

Meaning:

The dearest one; the loved one

Example Situation:

Xodó can be used to refer to different types of people for whom the speaker feels tenderness. Relatives, especially children, can be xodós. For example, a grandson can be a grandmother’s xodó, and vice-versa. Pets, dear objects, and hobbies can be xodós as well.

Finally, this word can also be applied in a dating context as a synonym for a valentine or a dear one.

Usage in a Sentence:

Xodó is a popular example of untranslatable words in Portuguese vocabulary. It should be used in informal register.

An example of the expression’s usage in a dating context is Dominguinhos’ song Xodó, also interpreted by Luiz Gonzaga. This forró singer is among Brazil’s most famous musicians of all time. The chorus of the tune is as follows:

• Eu só quero um amor/Que acabe o meu sofrer/Um xodó pra mim/Do meu jeito assim/Que alegre o meu viver
  “All I want is a valentine/That will end my suffering/A valentine for me/Just the way I like it/That will lighten up my living”

The term can also refer to the relationship itself, not the valentine.

Other examples outside of the dating context are:

• Ele tem um xodó tremendo pelo carro.
  “He is tremendously in love with his car.”
  (Note that the “relationship” meaning is employed in this case, but in a connotative manner.)
• A garotinha era o xodó do professor de História.
  “The little girl was the dearest of the history teacher.”

7. Desbundar

Literal Translation:

There isn’t one.

Meaning:

This is one of the most complex untranslatable Portuguese words on this list. Essentially, this verb is equivalent to “dazzle”…but not only that. It also carries behavioral tones that are not encompassed by “dazzle.” For example, desbundar can refer to losing control, becoming inebriated, or taking to deviant sexual behavior.

Finally, to free yourself from social constraints in general can be described as desbundar (the verb) or desbunde (the noun, which is the liberating act itself).

Example Situation:

Someone at a party after their fourth glass of caipirinha is ready to desbundar—if they haven’t already.

Usage in a Sentence:

• Beatriz desbundou de vez após consumir tanta droga.
  “Beatriz has lost track completely after consuming so many drugs.”
• O turista desbundou quando viu o Rio Amazonas.
  “The tourist was bedazzled by the sight of the Amazonas River.”

Additional Notes:

Desbundar and desbunde are more examples of why untranslatable Portuguese terms are somewhat hard for foreigners to understand fully, even after they learn the general idea. Foreign speakers lack certain cultural information, which is sometimes hard to get.

We’ve already commented on musical and literary repertoire related to other words. In this case, desbunde (in the sense of liberation or losing track of reality) was popularized in the context of the Brazilian dictatorship of the 1960s. That was when desbunde got this sense among artists who were experimenting with cultural norms, sexual liberation, and aesthetic modernization.

8. Cafuné

Literal Translation:

There isn’t one.

Meaning:

Running your fingers through one’s hair

Example Situation:

Though it may seem like a romantic gesture, a cafuné is a normal form of affection in Brazil among friends and relatives. Though it can certainly be used in a romantic context as well.

Usage in a Sentence:

• Vem cá me fazer um cafuné.
  “Come here and give me a cuddle.”

9. Ouvido e orelha

Literal Translation:

“Ear” and…”ear”

Meaning:

This may come across as something odd.

Ouvido stands for the inner part of the ear (the ducts inside the tiny hole of the ear), whereas orelha is the outer part of the ear—its “structure.”

Example Situation:

Typically, when it comes to hearing something or having pain in the ear, the speaker will refer to the ouvido.

When talking about the physical structure of the ear, the part seen by the eyes, the speaker will talk about orelha.

Usage in a Sentence:

• Vou ao médico, pois estou com dor de ouvido.
  “I’m going to the physician because I feel pain in my ear.”
• Levei uma bolada na orelha e agora ela está vermelha como um pimentão.
  “They’ve kicked the ball against my ear and now it is red as a pepper.”

Additional Notes:

Someone with large ears is often called orelhas de abano (“fan ears”).

Someone with good hearing skills is considered to have ouvidos de tísico or ouvidos de tuberculoso (both synonyms for “tuberculous ears”).

10. Anteontem

Literal Translation:

“Before yesterday”

Meaning:

It is the day before yesterday.

Example Situation:

Actually, an English speaker can find an equivalent for this word in “ereyesterday.” But since this form is extremely archaic, we consider anteontem to be one of the important untranslatable Portuguese words for new learners.

Anteontem is freely and often used in Portuguese conversations not only in Brazil, but also in Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and Guiné-Bissau.

Usage in a Sentence:

• Você deveria ter feito a reserva anteontem…
  “You should have done the reservations the day before yesterday…”
• Ela assistiu um filme terrível anteontem.
  “She watched a terrible movie the day before yesterday.”
• Aonde todos foram anteontem?
  “Where did everybody go the day before yesterday?”

Other commonly used verbs that go with anteontem are: comer (“to eat”), tocar (“to play”), jogar (“to play”), and the list goes on.

Additional Notes:

Fun fact: This word is an example of linguistic bricolage in Portuguese. It’s the exact combination of antes (“before” ) and ontem (“yesterday”).

11. Cadê

Literal Translation:

“Where is”

Meaning:

This is a subtle example of Brazillian Portuguese words you can’t translate into English. You most certainly can ask where something is in English. But can you do it in one word? Cadê, also known as quede or quedê, is the contraction of “where is” (onde está) in one word—even though onde está doesn’t sound anything close to cadê.

Example Situation:

If you’ve lost something or want to know where someone is, cadê is the word of choice.

Fun fact: In the late 1990s, Cadê was the name of a Brazilian web search engine, similar to Google.

Usage in a Sentence:

• Cadê o chinelo?
  “Where is the flip flop [sandal]?”
• Cadê Tereza?
  “Where is Tereza?”

Additional Notes:

Actually, quede is the contraction of que é de…? which is an archaic way of asking for something’s whereabouts. Curiously enough, que é de is the exact equivalent to “what became of…?”

Cadê or quedê are preferable to quede, which can also refer to a sports shoe or a golf caddie. Or you can engage in truly untranslatable Portuguese phrases asking where the caddie is: quede o quede?

12. Caprichar

Literal Translation:

“To make it in a whimsical way”

Meaning:

To put effort into something; to execute something well

Example Situation:

This is yet another interesting case of Portuguese words with no English translation. The literal translation of capricho (the noun) would be “whim.” In Portuguese, capricho can also mean “whim,” actually.

But for some reason, the verb caprichar is different. When someone capricha in something, they’re doing it well or at least putting effort into it.

Usage in a Sentence:

• Este relatório será apresentado ao chefe, então por favor capriche!
  “This report will be presented to the boss, so please make it as good as you can!”
• Tem como fazer este cachorro-quente bem caprichado?
  “Can you make this hot dog a big and fat one?”

Note that the term has been employed in a connotative manner. A caprichado hot dog would be a big and fat one in the eyes of the speaker. This is what’s expected from the snack for it to be the best possible.

Additional Notes:

As you may have noticed, other forms of words can derive from caprichar. The noun capricho is one of them, and the adjective caprichado is another very common example. Either way, all of these words are often employed in colloquial register rather than formal.

13. How PortuguesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Untranslatable Words in Portuguese

A friendly push can lead a beginner or intermediate speaker to a truly clear path of knowledge. In fact, learning a language alone is usually harder than connecting to other people, teachers, and cultures in the process.

PortuguesePod101 is a database that gathers free resources for Portuguese speakers at every level. Our sections and lessons are organized to guarantee a balanced approach to the content. Untranslatable terms in Portuguese will be easier to learn when you combine formal “classroom” teaching and informal, relaxed articles, podcasts, videos, and other learning tools.

Indeed, the MyTeacher feature is one to behold. This fast-track to fluency will give you guidance, one-on-one contact, and personalized feedback to help you improve your Portuguese skills. You’ll get to learn Portuguese terms we wish existed in English, and many other important cultural traits that are hard to get elsewhere without going abroad.

Get access to a whole new world of knowledge with PortuguesePod101. We’ll give you the tools—you finish the job!

Before you go, let us know in the comments if any of these words were new to you. We look forward to hearing from you!

When getting to know a different country and culture, why not start by learning the local language, a guaranteed way to let locals know you’re interested in being part of their world and culture?

Learning some quick tips and basic conversational rules can be a great shortcut to making new friends, ensuring a variety of experiences during your visit, and even arranging business opportunities. With Brazilians, trying to speak Portuguese is a sign of great respect and should earn you quick empathy amongst locals.

First things first, learn how to introduce yourself in Portuguese. A simple “my name is…” in Portuguese can represent the difference between a long-lasting, successful relationship with locals, and just passing by unnoticed. If you ever googled “How to say my name in Brazilian Portuguese,” this guide is tailor-made for you. 😉

Regarding Portuguese, one of the most-spoken languages, you don’t have to worry about advanced studies of language in a college (or anything like that) to achieve those goals we mentioned. Let’s start with the basic “Hello, my name is,” in Portuguese and work our way up from there. You’ll be able to introduce yourself in Brazilian Portuguese in no time!

Table of Contents

1. Identifying Yourself
2. Placing Yourself in Society
3. Sharing Personal Details
4. How PortuguesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Portuguese

1. Identifying Yourself

Don’t be just another passing-by gringo. Brazilians tend to be very open people (way more than the average North-American or European), and a way to show that you’re interested in bonding with them and their culture is learning basic introductions.

Letting your conversation partner know your name is the foundation stone in any dialogue, and in any language, so we should begin there. Keep in mind that you can use many forms to greet someone. It’s up to you to choose!

1- “My Name is,” in Portuguese

• “My name is John Doe/Jane Doe.”
  O meu nome é John Doe/Jane Doe.

Though both languages use the Latin alphabet, Portuguese has different speaking nuances than English. Vowels in Portuguese usually have the same sound in any word, except when marked with accents.

In the sentence above, for example, the letter é, with the accent, is pronounced like the “e” in the English word “bet.” This is the “to be” verb, so it’s essential for a new speaker to learn how to say it properly. Without the accent, e means “and,” and is pronounced like the “e” in “ember.” Always mind your pronunciation.

The approximate sound of “My name is…” in Portuguese, then, should be something like Oo mayu noh-me eh John Doe/Jane Doe.

There are several other forms you can use to answer the “how to say my name in Brazilian Portuguese” question. Here are a few other options:

• “I am called John Doe/Jane Doe.”
  Eu me chamo John Doe/Jane Doe.
  Eoo me sha-moo John Doe/Jane Doe.
• “I am John Doe/Jane Doe. ”
  Eu sou o John Doe/a Jane Doe. [Mind the gender article.]
  Eoo sow ô John Doe/ah Jane Doe. [This ô has a closed pronunciation, like the “o” in “row” for instance).

2- Where Are You From?

After introducing your name, the next step in how to introduce yourself in Brazilian Portuguese is to talk a little about where you come from. Brazilians are always fascinated to know people from abroad, and the more details you feel comfortable giving, the more the average Brazilian is likely to bond with you (and in less time).

Keep in mind, though, that not everyone in Brazil is very good with foreign geography, so when trying to introduce yourself in Portuguese and telling them where you come from, be specific and detailed. For example, if you come from Brooklyn, be sure to add that it’s not only a part of New York City, but also a part of the United States.

That said, let’s see some examples of introducing yourself in Portuguese regarding birthplace.

• “I come from Brooklyn, New York City, USA.”
  Eu venho do Brooklyn, Nova Iorque, Estados Unidos.

The pronunciation should be something similar to: Eoo ven-niow do Brooklyn, Novah York, Es-tah-dows Oo-nee-dows.
It’s also possible to use a variation that wouldn’t be correct in English, but works just fine in Brazilian Portuguese:

“I am from Brooklyn, New York City, USA.”
Eu sou do Brooklyn, Nova Iorque, Estados Unidos.

The pronunciation should be something like: Eoo sow do Brooklyn, Novah York, Es-tah-dows Oo-nee-dows. [Remember to keep those Os with a closed sound!]

2. Placing Yourself in Society

Learning how to say “Hello, my name is,” in Portuguese is just the first step in becoming more than just another tourist in Brazil. If you’re really interested in bonding and blending in, don’t be afraid to try and go even further! Okay, you’ve already said where you come from, but how about your line of work?

1- Talking About Your Profession in Portuguese

Like in the Western world, talking about professions is as natural as it gets. Of course, it’s impossible to generalize, but overall this is a very good way to keep a dialogue from going toward that uncomfortable silence we all hate.

A good way to begin is just speaking about your profession. Remember to keep it simple, so perhaps an “I am a/an [profession],” is the best way to go. Let’s see how it looks in Portuguese, then:

• “I am a journalist.”
  Eu sou jornalista.
  Eoo sow johr-nah-lees-tah.

After that, feel safe to talk about where you currently work, or perhaps some of your professional history—that will definitely show your conversation partner you’re interested not only in learning about their country and culture, but also in sharing some of your own personal life story. That said, let’s see how to say it properly in Portuguese:

• “I work at the New York Times.”
  Eu trabalho no New York Times.
  Eoo tra-bah-liow noo New York Times.

If you want to be a little more specific, don’t hesitate to try:

• “I take photos for the New York Times.”
  Eu tiro fotos para o New York Times.
  Eoo tee-ro phoh-tows pah-rah oo New York Times.
• “I write for the New York Times.”
  Eu escrevo para o New York Times.
  Eoo scre-vow pah-rah oo New York Times.

2- Talking About Your Education

As a bonus, you can go as far as telling Brazilians where you studied. If you don’t feel so confident, rest assured that a lot of American culture has made its way to Brazil over the years, and there’s a huge chance that anyone you’re talking with shows great interest in hearing about your college (and even high school) experiences.

Quick tip: “High school” in Brazilian Portuguese is called Ensino Médio, which literally translates to “middle school.” “College” is called Ensino Superior, which translates to “Upper School” or “Superior School,” so don’t get confused! It’s safer, though, to refer to “college” as faculdade or universidade. Ensino Superior is way too formal.

You can also talk about what you studied. This is very common in Brazil, and the structure is similar to talking about where you studied.

• “I studied at Midwood High School.”
  Eu estudei na escola Midwood High School no Ensino Médio.
  Eoo ess-too-day na ess-koh-lah Midwood High School noo En-see-now Meh-dee-ow.
• “I went to Harvard for college/university.”
  Eu estudei em Harvard na faculdade. OR Eu fiz faculdade em Harvard.
  Eoo ess-too-day em Harvard nah fah-cool-dah-de. OR Eoo fiss fah-cool-dah-de em Harvard.
• “I studied Journalism at Columbia.”
  Eu estudei jornalismo em Columbia. OR Eu fiz jornalismo em Columbia.
  Eoo ess-too-day johr-nah-lees-mow em Columbia. OR Eoo fiss johr-nah-lees-mow em Columbia.

3. Sharing Personal Details

Okay, now you’ve said “My name is,” in Portuguese and also learned to talk a little about your profession and education. The next level is sharing personal details. Of course, whether or not to share lots of details is completely up to you. But here are some nice tips for doing so as you introduce yourself in Brazilian Portuguese.

1- Talking About Your Age

They now know your name, your line of work, and even your high school and university names, but when were you born? Mind that Portuguese is a little different from English here. In English, you would say “I am 29 years old,” just the way you say “I am John Doe,” right? In Brazilian Portuguese, it doesn’t work that way. The verb used in that language is the “have” verb. Therefore, when answering “How old are you?” your sentence should be:

• “I have 29 years.”
  Eu tenho 29 anos.
  Eoo ten-nio vin-tchy e noh-vee ah-noss.

It’s also possible to say just the numeral, like in English: “twenty-nine” = vinte e nove = vin-tchy e noh-vee.

Another possibility is sharing the year you were born. That should look like this:

• “I was born in 1990.”
  Eu nasci em 1990.
  Eoo nah-see em mew-noveh-sentows-e-noven-tah.

2- Talking About Where You Live

Now they know your age and your origins. Perhaps it’s time to talk about where you currently live.

• “I live in Boston now.”
  Eu moro em Boston agora. OR Eu vivo em Boston agora.
  Eoo vee-vow em Boston ah-goh-rah. OR Eoo moh-row em Boston ah-goh-rah.

The “final weapon” you can use that will work with virtually any Brazilian is—guess? Soccer.

Even if you encounter someone who’s not exactly a soccer fan (something rare, yes), the fact that you feel comfortable talking about what’s probably the biggest national pride will surely show beyond any question that you are interested in bonding.

The first rule regarding language in this case is the word “soccer” itself, that doesn’t exist in Portuguese. The official name in Brazil is futebol and, as it’s easy to see, sounds almost exactly like “football.” That said, always remember that futebol is “soccer,” and futebol americano is what you probably know as “football” (which is referred to as “American Football” in Brazil). Not easy, right?

• “Which soccer team do you root for?”
  Para qual time de futebol você torce?
  Pah-rah cual tee-me de foo-te-ball vow-se tohr-se?

3- Talking About Your Family

If you feel comfortable enough, tell your conversation partner about your family as well. This will surely help you bond easier. You don’t have to give full names or anything like that; just give their first name, their profession, and maybe where they live (if not with you, of course). Details like this are harmless and should keep any friendly conversation going smoothly.

• “My dad is called Frank, he is a lawyer and lives in Chicago.”
  Meu pai se chama Frank, ele é advogado e mora em Chicago.
  Meoo pah-ee se shah-mah Frank, eh-leh eah ad-vow-gah-dow eh moh-rah em Chicago.

4- Talking About Your Hobbies

Another subject always pleasant to discuss is that of hobbies. Everyone’s got hobbies, and it might surprise you how easy it is to find a special connection with someone who shares the same interests as you, regardless of nationality. Don’t be shy to ask them, and also to share yours! There are no rules, and you can talk about playing a musical instrument, collecting stamps, visiting beaches, building scale models of airplanes, writing poems, and so on. Just give it a shot!

• “I play the bass in a band.”
  Eu toco baixo numa banda.
  Eoo toh-co bye-shoo noo-mah ban-dah.

How PortuguesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Portuguese

If you’re planning to visit Brazil, but don’t feel confident enough about speaking with locals, don’t hesitate to try to learn as much as you can before boarding the plane. Remember that, apart from the biggest urban centres in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and a few others, the average Brazilian speaks little to no English.

PortuguesePod101 is an ideal way of getting to know Portuguese as it matters: in situations that might actually happen. What’s the point of learning from long and senseless textbooks if they can’t help you properly when you get there?

Learning a language so different from English should be fun and culturally relevant. Start by learning how to say “My name is,” in Portuguese and work your way up from there, one step at a time. Asking the right questions, and discovering how to give the proper answers regarding key points in Brazilian culture and lifestyle, can make a real difference.

We hope we adequately answered the question “How do you introduce yourself in Portuguese?” but don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you have. Before you go, why not practice what you learned today? Leave us a comment below introducing yourself in Portuguese! We look forward to hearing from you. 🙂