This guide focuses on European Portuguese—the Portuguese spoken in Portugal—rather than Brazilian Portuguese. Some words, pronunciations, and everyday expressions differ between the two, so these are the phrases travelers are most likely to hear while exploring Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, and the rest of Portugal.

I live in Coimbra and use versions of these phrases in cafés, markets, train stations, and all the other places where my Portuguese confidence occasionally decides to stage-dive off the platform.

Let me guess—you’ve landed in Lisbon or Porto, and suddenly, Duolingo’s tiny green owl ghosted you. “Wait… I thought I knew some Portuguese phrases?” Sound familiar?

Don’t worry. I’ve been there. Spanish helped me a bit, sure—but Portuguese? It hits different. Between the shushy “sh” sounds and the nasal vowels, it feels like French and Russian had a baby… in Brazil. But fear not, fellow adventurer. I’ve collected 50 phrases that will make your Portuguese trip smoother than a fresh pastel de nata.

And, because we’re practical around here, I’ve included what to say and how to respond (or at least pretend you know what’s going on).

50+ Essential European Portuguese Phrases for Travel

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Essential Portuguese Greetings and Polite Phrases

Day one in Portugal was a mix of awe, caffeine, and mild panic—especially when I realized my Spanish wouldn’t save me from the rapid-fire, mushy-mouthed Portuguese I was hearing. But a few key phrases became my survival kit. I must’ve said “Bom dia” a hundred times that morning, just to feel like I belonged.

What Portuguese Phrases Should You Learn Before Visiting Portugal?

The most useful Portuguese phrases for travelers are:

• Bom dia — Good morning
• Por favor — Please
• Obrigado or obrigada — Thank you
• Desculpe — Excuse me or sorry
• Fala inglês? — Do you speak English?
• Não percebo — I do not understand
• Pode repetir? — Can you repeat that?
• Onde fica…? — Where is…?
• A conta, por favor — The bill, please
• Onde fica a casa de banho? — Where is the bathroom?

Learning these ten expressions will not make you fluent, but they can get you through a surprising number of everyday situations without relying entirely on pointing, smiling, and interpretive dance.

Quick European Portuguese Pronunciation Guide

European Portuguese pronunciation can feel intimidating at first, but you do not need a perfect accent to communicate.

Keep these basic pronunciation patterns in mind:

• ão produces a nasal sound, as in não and pão.
• nh sounds similar to the “ny” in “canyon.”
• lh sounds similar to the middle of “million.”
• An s at the end of a word often sounds like “sh.”
• Unstressed vowels may sound softer or nearly disappear.
• Portuguese speakers often connect words when speaking quickly.

Do not wait until your pronunciation is flawless. It never will be if you refuse to use it. Speak clearly, be polite, and allow the occasional linguistic car crash to become part of the adventure.

Asking “Fala inglês?” (Do you speak English?) was my lifeline, and “Quero um café, por favor” quickly became muscle memory—because if there’s one thing Portugal takes seriously, it’s coffee. Even just saying “Desculpe” as I awkwardly fumbled past people in tight bakery lines helped smooth over my cluelessness. Trust me: Most folks will appreciate the effort even if your accent is a bit tragic. Just throw in a smile and “obrigado/a” like you mean it.

Greetings matter in Portugal. Walking into a shop or café without saying hello can feel abrupt, while a simple bom dia immediately makes the interaction warmer.

Use bom dia until lunchtime, boa tarde during the afternoon, and boa noite during the evening.

European Portuguese	English meaning	What you may hear back
Olá!	Hello!	Olá! Tudo bem? — Hello! How are you?
Bom dia.	Good morning.	Bom dia!
Boa tarde.	Good afternoon.	Boa tarde!
Boa noite.	Good evening or good night.	Boa noite!
Por favor.	Please.	Claro. — Of course.
Obrigado / Obrigada.	Thank you.	De nada. — You’re welcome.
Desculpe.	Excuse me or sorry.	Não faz mal. — No problem.
Tudo bem?	How are you?	Tudo bem, e consigo? — I’m well, and you?
Chamo-me Carter. E você?	My name is Carter. And you?	Chamo-me… — My name is…
Fala inglês?	Do you speak English?	Sim, um pouco. — Yes, a little.
Não percebo.	I do not understand.	Sem problema. — No problem.
Pode repetir mais devagar, por favor?	Can you repeat that more slowly, please?	Claro. — Of course.

Should You Say Obrigado or Obrigada?

Use obrigado when the person speaking identifies as male and obrigada when the person speaking identifies as female.

The ending refers to the speaker, not the person being thanked.

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Portuguese Phrases for Restaurants and Cafés

Ordering food is where bravery meets hunger.

The first time I ordered food in Portugal, I accidentally asked for a kiss instead of cheese. True story—“um beijo” sounds a lot like “um queijo” when you’re jet-lagged and overconfident. Lesson learned.

And don’t forget to ask, “Está incluído uma gorjeta?”—tipping culture here is chill, but clarity is gold. Honestly, half the fun of eating out in Portugal is how your server might gently chuckle at your pronunciation—and then proudly bring you something amazing anyway.

You can often order politely with queria, meaning “I would like.” It usually sounds softer and more natural than marching into a café and announcing quero, or “I want.”

When dining out, I leaned heavily on “Quero isto, por favor” while subtly pointing at the menu like a confused raccoon. If I felt brave, I’d ask “O que recomenda?” and let the waiter guide me toward bacalhau or something smothered in olive oil and garlic. The phrase “A conta, por favor” became a ritual at the end of every delicious meal, even if I didn’t want it to end.

Portugal also commonly uses ementa for a restaurant menu. You may still see or hear menu, particularly in tourist areas, but ementa is the useful Portugal-specific word to remember.

European Portuguese	English meaning	What you may hear back
Queria uma mesa para duas pessoas, por favor.	I would like a table for two, please.	Tem reserva? — Do you have a reservation?
Queria isto, por favor.	I would like this, please.	Claro. — Of course.
Pode trazer a ementa?	Can you bring the menu?	Aqui tem. — Here you are.
O que recomenda?	What do you recommend?	Recomendo… — I recommend…
Tem alguma opção sem glúten ou sem lactose?	Do you have a gluten-free or lactose-free option?	Sim, temos. — Yes, we do.
Uma água sem gás / com gás, por favor.	Still water / sparkling water, please.	Pequena ou grande? — Small or large?
A conta, por favor.	The bill, please.	Já trago. — I’ll bring it shortly.
Posso pagar com cartão?	Can I pay by card?	Sim. / Só aceitamos dinheiro. — Yes. / We only accept cash.

A Small Coffee Warning

Ordering “a coffee” in Portugal usually means an espresso.

In Lisbon, you may hear it called a bica. In Porto, some people call it a cimbalino. Asking for um café works throughout Portugal without forcing you into a regional coffee identity crisis.

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Portuguese Phrases for Directions and Transportation

When public transport was involved, “Qual é a paragem?” (Which stop is it?) and “Onde compro o bilhete?” (Where do I buy the ticket?) It helped save me from looking too touristy, though the backpack had already given it away. Whether by train, tram, or sheer stubbornness, these phrases helped me feel a little less lost and much more like an Atypical Vagabond.

Navigating Portugal’s streets, metros, and endless hills was an adventure in humility. I got weirdly comfortable saying “Onde fica…” and letting locals finish the sentence for me, because the streets in places like Lisbon or Porto twist and turn like medieval spaghetti.

I learned early on that “Está longe?” is the polite way of asking, “Do I need hiking boots for this?” More than once, someone answered with “É já ali” (It’s just there), which usually meant, you’ll be sweating in 10 minutes.

Portuguese cities were not designed by people who believed streets should travel in predictable directions.

Lisbon has hills. Porto has staircases. Coimbra has alleys that seem perfectly happy to send you back where you started. Learning a few Portuguese phrases for directions can save you from turning a ten-minute walk into an accidental pilgrimage.

Be cautious when someone tells you é já ali, meaning “it is just over there.” In Portugal, “just over there” can apparently include three hills, two roundabouts, and a minor existential crisis.

European Portuguese	English meaning	What you may hear back
Desculpe, onde fica…?	Excuse me, where is…?	Fica já ali. — It is just over there.
Está longe?	Is it far?	É perto. / É um pouco longe. — It is close. / It is a little far.
Pode ajudar-me?	Can you help me?	Claro. Em que posso ajudar? — Of course. How can I help?
É à esquerda ou à direita?	Is it to the left or right?	É à esquerda. / É à direita.
Onde compro o bilhete?	Where do I buy the ticket?	Na máquina. / Na bilheteira. — At the machine. / At the ticket office.
Queria um bilhete para Coimbra, por favor.	I would like a ticket to Coimbra, please.	Só ida ou ida e volta? — One way or return?
Este comboio / autocarro vai para…?	Does this train / bus go to…?	Sim, vai. / Não, tem de mudar. — Yes. / No, you need to change.
Em que paragem devo sair?	At which stop should I get off?	Na próxima paragem. — At the next stop.
A que horas parte?	What time does it leave?	Parte às… — It leaves at…
Onde fica a casa de banho?	Where is the bathroom?	Ao fundo, à direita. — At the back, on the right.

Useful Transportation Words in Portugal

Comboio means train.

Autocarro means bus.

Paragem means stop.

Bilhete means ticket.

Ida e volta means round trip or return.

These words differ from some vocabulary commonly taught in Brazilian Portuguese courses, so they are worth remembering before traveling around Portugal.

Pro tip: carry some cash for small shops or older cafés where card machines are more myth than reality.

Hotels and airports are where your language skills either shine or fall face-first onto the baggage carousel.

Fortunately, many hotel and airport employees speak English. However, using a few Portuguese phrases is still useful—and shows that you are making an effort rather than expecting the entire country to operate as an extension of your hometown.

European Portuguese	English meaning	What you may hear back
Tenho uma reserva em nome de…	I have a reservation under the name…	Pode mostrar o passaporte? — Can you show your passport?
Onde posso fazer o check-in?	Where can I check in?	Pode fazer o check-in ali. — You can check in there.
A que horas é o check-out?	What time is checkout?	Até ao meio-dia. — By noon.
Qual é a palavra-passe do Wi-Fi?	What is the Wi-Fi password?	Está no cartão do quarto. — It is on the room card.
A que horas é o pequeno-almoço?	What time is breakfast?	Das sete às dez. — From seven until ten.
Pode chamar um táxi?	Can you call a taxi?	Com certeza. — Certainly.
Onde fica o portão de embarque?	Where is the boarding gate?	É o portão vinte. — It is gate twenty.
A minha mala não chegou.	My bag did not arrive.	Tem o comprovativo da bagagem? — Do you have the baggage receipt?

In European Portuguese, palavra-passe is the standard expression for password. You may encounter senha in Brazilian Portuguese, but palavra-passe is the better choice while traveling in Portugal.

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Portuguese Shopping and Market Phrases

Shopping in Portugal can mean browsing polished boutiques, buying fruit from a neighborhood market, or attempting to explain that you need the same shirt in a size that does not restrict breathing.

Shopping in Portugal is an experience—part treasure hunt, part language game show. From quirky boutiques in Porto to Saturday markets in the Algarve, I quickly learned that “Quanto custa?” was my golden phrase. It opened doors, sparked conversations, and sometimes even earned me a cheeky discount.

When browsing, I’d toss out a casual “Estou só a ver” (I’m just looking), which buys you time and keeps the pressure off. If I needed another size, “Tem outro tamanho?” usually got the job done—unless I pronounced “tamanho” like a taco, in which case I just got a polite smile. Most places accept cards, but “Posso pagar com cartão?” kept me from looking clueless at the register.a in Brazilian Portuguese, but palavra-passe is the better choice while traveling in Portugal.

A little Portuguese goes a long way, particularly in smaller shops and local markets.

European Portuguese	English meaning	What you may hear back
Quanto custa?	How much does it cost?	Custa dez euros. — It costs ten euros.
Estou só a ver, obrigado / obrigada.	I am just looking, thank you.	Esteja à vontade. — Take your time.
Tem outro tamanho ou outra cor?	Do you have another size or color?	Vou verificar. — I will check.
Posso experimentar?	Can I try it on?	O provador é ali. — The fitting room is over there.
Aceitam cartão?	Do you accept cards?	Sim. / Só dinheiro. — Yes. / Cash only.

Carrying a little cash is still useful for small cafés, markets, and independent shops. Most established businesses accept cards, but the one place you desperately need to use a card will inevitably be the one place where the machine has “temporarily” stopped working.

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Emergency Portuguese Phrases

Hopefully, you will never need these expressions.

Still, emergency Portuguese phrases belong in every traveler’s vocabulary. Save them to your phone, write them down, or take a screenshot before wandering into areas where your mobile signal may disappear.

Portugal uses 112 as its general emergency number.

And yes, if you get lost or robbed—“Estou perdido/a” or “Fui roubado/a”—those phrases are essential. Portugal is generally super safe, but a few emergency words go a long way in keeping your trip from going full travel horror story.

European Portuguese	English meaning	What you may hear back
Ajuda!	Help!	O que aconteceu? — What happened?
Chame uma ambulância!	Call an ambulance!	Já está a caminho. — It is already on the way.
Preciso de um médico.	I need a doctor.	Há um centro de saúde aqui perto. — There is a health center nearby.
Estou doente.	I am sick.	Onde lhe dói? — Where does it hurt?
Estou perdido / perdida.	I am lost.	Para onde quer ir? — Where do you want to go?
Fui roubado / roubada.	I was robbed.	Tem de falar com a polícia. — You need to speak with the police.
Chame a polícia!	Call the police!	A polícia está a caminho. — The police are on the way.

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Bonus: Everyday European Portuguese Slang

Textbooks teach grammar. Slang teaches you what people are actually saying while drinking coffee, watching football, or arguing about whether Lisbon or Porto is better.

If Portuguese textbooks make you sound like a formal robot, slang is your secret weapon for sounding like you belong. Tossing around casual expressions like “fixe” (cool) or “na boa” (no worries) gives serious street cred and helps you blend in with locals, especially in relaxed social settings.

Want to sound even cooler? Drop a “bora lá” when rallying friends to leave a bar, or say “estou cheio de fome” to express you’re starving—it hits harder than just saying “I’m hungry.”

Slang phrases aren’t just fun—they’re social glue. Mastering them turns awkward tourist moments into shared laughs. Just be careful not to overuse them in formal settings… your AirBnB host’s grandmother probably doesn’t want to hear you say “carago” at breakfast.

Use these expressions casually rather than forcing every one of them into the same conversation like you are completing a linguistic scavenger hunt.

Expression	Meaning	How it is used
Fixe!	Cool!	A common casual reaction in Portugal.
Bora lá!	Let’s go!	Used when encouraging people to get moving.
Na boa.	No worries.	Casual and relaxed.
É isso mesmo.	That is exactly it.	Used to confirm something.
Estou cheio / cheia de fome.	I am starving.	A stronger version of saying you are hungry.
Já agora…	While we are at it…	Used when adding another question or request.
Pois.	Right, well, or indeed.	The meaning changes dramatically with tone.
Estás a gozar comigo?	Are you kidding me?	Used when surprised or skeptical.

Bonus: Love, Flirting & Awkward Smiles

Flirting in Portuguese walks a charming line between poetic and playful, and it’s all about tone and confidence. A simple “És muito gira” (You’re really cute) works wonders—especially when paired with a warm smile and no creepy vibes.

Want to test the waters? “Posso pagar-te um café?” (Can I buy you a coffee?) is a low-pressure way to spark a connection without sounding too forward. If things go well, phrases like “Quero passar mais tempo contigo” (I want to spend more time with you) or the classic “Gosto de ti” (I like you) can lead to something more.

As with any culture, reading the room is key—Portuguese people value sincerity, so a well-timed compliment usually goes a lot farther than cheesy pickup lines.

Phrase	Meaning	How to Respond
És lindo/a	You’re beautiful	Obrigado/a, és muito simpático/a
Posso pagar-te um café?	Can I buy you a coffee?	Claro / Talvez um dia
Quero passar mais tempo contigo	I want to spend more time with you	Também eu.
Gosto de ti	I like you	Eu também gosto de ti. ❤️
Vamos dar um passeio?	Want to take a walk?	Boa ideia.

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Bonus: Portuguese Swear Words

Portuguese profanity is expressive, flexible, and occasionally launched into the atmosphere with the emotional force of a guitar being thrown through an amplifier.

These words can sound playful among friends and aggressive when directed at a stranger. Tone, relationship, and context matter.

Expression	General meaning	Strength and context
Merda!	Shit!	Common expression of frustration.
Porra!	Damn!	Strong but commonly heard.
Foda-se!	Fuck! / For fuck’s sake!	Very common and very strong.
Caralho!	Fuck! / Damn!	Strong, vulgar, and highly context-dependent.
Vai-te lixar!	Get lost! / Screw you!	Milder than its more vulgar alternatives.
Que se lixe!	Screw it!	Used when giving up or dismissing something.
Estou farto / farta disto!	I am fed up with this!	Not necessarily profanity, but emotionally useful.
Chiça!	Damn! / Good grief!	Old-fashioned and relatively mild.

⚠️ Note: Portuguese swear words hit different depending on tone and region. What’s common in Porto might be too harsh in the south—or too hard in the Alentejo. There is a difference between sounding integrated and sounding like you learned Portuguese from an angry dockworker five minutes ago.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portuguese Travel Phrases

Atypical Last Thoughts

Portuguese phrases may not roll off your tongue like Spanish or Italian, but it does sound like poetry dipped in espresso. With these 50 Portuguese phrases, you’ll blend in just enough to avoid looking like a lost tourist (most of the time). Keep practicing, stay curious, and remember: a smile and a “por favor” go a long way here in Portugal.

If all else fails, just point dramatically and say, “isso!”

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Meet Carter

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