Learn Portuguese with
Barbara Sharon
Most Important Beginner Brazilian Portuguese Phrases
Whether you're travelling to Brazil, learning Portuguese for fun, or preparing for your first conversation, these essential phrases will help you communicate from day one.
Learning a few useful phrases is the fastest way to start speaking Portuguese confidently. Practice them every day, use them whenever you can, and focus on communication rather than perfection.
How Do You Say "How Are You?" in Portuguese?
The most common ways to ask "How are you?" in Brazil are:
E aí, tudo bem?
Tudo bem?
Beleza?
Those phrases literally mean "Is everything good?" and are used in almost every informal conversation.
A more formal alternative is:
Como você está?
Essential Brazilian Portuguese Phrases
| English | Portuguese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Oi / Olá | oy / oh-LAH |
| How are you? | Tudo bem? | To-doo behyn? |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-VOR |
| Thank you | Obrigado / Obrigada | oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Desculpe | des-KOOL-pee |
| I don't understand | Eu não entendo | eh-oo na-oon ehn-TEN-doo |
| Can you repeat? | Pode repetir? | Podjee heh-peh-TeeR? |
| Where is...? | Onde fica...? | Ondjee FEE-kah...? |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa? | KWAN-too KOOS-tah? |
| I would like... | Eu gostaria de... | uh-oo gos-tah-REE-ah djee... |
| Good morning | Bom dia | bohn Djee-ah |
| Good night | Boa noite | boah Noitchee |
These twelve phrases cover greetings, politeness, directions, shopping, restaurants, and everyday conversations.
Useful Travel Phrases
Getting Around
- Onde fica o banheiro? = Where is the bathroom?
- Onde fica o aeroporto? = Where is the airport?
- Esquerda = Left
- Direita = Right
- Em frente = Straight ahead
Restaurants and Cafés
- Eu gostaria de... = I would like...
- Água = Water
- Café = Coffee
- Cerveja = Beer
- A conta, por favor. = The bill, please.
- Delicioso! = Delicious!
Shopping
- Quanto custa? = How much does it cost?
- Aceita cartão? = Do you accept cards?
- Dinheiro = Cash
- Desconto = Discount
- Muito caro. = Too expensive.
Emergencies
- Socorro! = Help!
- Chame a polícia! = Call the police!
- Preciso de um médico. = I need a doctor.
- Onde fica o hospital? = Where is the hospital?
Beginner Conversation Starters
- Tudo bem?
- Meu nome é...
- Você fala inglês?
- Sou iniciante em português.
- Pode falar mais devagar?
- Muito prazer!
These simple phrases are enough to start many everyday conversations in Brazil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first Portuguese phrase I should learn?
Start with Oi and Tudo bem?. Together, they allow you to greet people naturally in almost any situation.
How can I sound polite in Portuguese?
Use por favor, Obrigado/Obrigada e desculpe. These three expressions are used constantly in daily interactions.
Is Brazilian Portuguese beginner-friendly?
Yes. Brazilian Portuguese is very beginner-friendly. Everyone starts from the beginning, so there is no need to feel intimidated. The most important step is simply to start.
To take the first step.
Learning a few useful phrases is the fastest way to start speaking Portuguese confidently. Practice them every day, use them whenever you can, and focus on communication rather than perfection.