Portuguese Phrases For Travelers

No matter which country you go visit, it’s always good to practice the language beforehand.  Portuguese speaking countries are no exception. There are some phrases which can come in handy and save you a few minor headaches on your next trip to Brazil or Portugal. We’ve already written an article about Portuguese greetings, words of courtesy, and ways of introducing yourself and starting a conversation. So for this post, we’ll focus on teaching you phrases for travelling, such as shopping, eating, and so on. 

Asking For Directions

If your phone dies on your way to a fancy restaurant, you’re going to need to know how to ask for directions. Here is how you can do that in Portuguese:

Com licença, você pode me ajudar?
(Excuse me, can you help me?)

Eu estou perdido.
(I am lost.)

Eu preciso de ajuda.
(I need help.)

Onde é o hotel X?
(Where is the hotel X?)

Onde é o restaurante Y?
(Where is the restaurant Y?)

Onde é o ponto de ônibus/táxi?
(Where is the bus/taxi stop?)

Onde é a rodoviária?
(Where is the bus station?)

Onde é o aeroporto?
(Where is the airport?)

Siga reto.
(Go straight forward.)

Vire à direita naquela rua.
(Turn right on that street.)

Vire à esquerda no próximo quarteirão.
(Turn left on the next block.)

Going Shopping

Shopping is a big part of travel and a great way to dive into the local culture. Here are few Portuguese travel phrases for your shopping needs.

Eu posso te ajudar?
(Can I help you?)

Eu estou só olhando.
(I’m just taking a look.)

Quanto custa isso?
(How much is this?)

Eu estou procurando por…
(I am looking for…)

uma camiseta.
(a shirt.)

um casaco.
(a jacket.)

uma calça.
(a pair of pants.)

uma saia.
(a skirt.)

um shorts.
(a pair of shorts.)

um par de sapatos.
(a pair of shoes.)

um par de chinelos.
(a pair of slippers.)

um óculos de sol.
(sunglasses.)

um relógio.
(a watch.)

um perfume.
(a perfume.)

uma lembrancinha.
(a souvenir.)

Como você deseja pagar?
(How would you like to pay?)

Eu posso pagar parcelado?
(Can I pay by installments?)

Eu pagarei…
(I’ll pay…)

em dinheiro.
(cash.)

cartão de crédito.
(by credit card.)

com cheque.
(by check.)

In a Restaurant

While traveling, tasting the local cuisine is a must. The smaller restaurants usually have less English so it’s crucial to learn a few phrases to ask for recommendations.

Eu gostaria de fazer uma reserva, por favor.
(I’d like to make a reservation, please.)

Eu gostaria de uma mesa para quatro, por favor.
(I’d like a table for four, please.)

Garçom, eu gostaria de fazer o pedido agora.
(Waiter, I’d like to order now.)

Eu gostaria de…
(I’d like…)

… água.
(… some water.)

… cerveja.
(a beer.)

… uma taça de vinho.
(… a glass of wine.)

… um copo de suco.
(… a glass of juice.)

… um hambúrguer e batatas fritas.
(… a hamburger and french fries.)

… filé de frango e uma salada.
(… a chicken fillet and a salad.)

… peixe com arroz.
(… fish with rice.)

… filé com purê de batata.
(… a steak with mashed potatoes.)

… macarrão.
(… some pasta.)

… uma sobremesa.
(… a dessert.)

… um café.
(… a cup of coffee.)

Você pode trazer a conta, por favor?
(Can we have the check, please?)

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Enjoyed this post? Check out polyglot and LingQ cofounder Steve Kaufmann’s blog post on how to learn Portuguese!