Phrasebook Portuguese - Taalgids Portugees

This article only covers Portuguese as spoken in Europe, Africa, and Asia. See Phrasebook Brazilian Portuguese for Portuguese as spoken in Brazil.

Portuguese is the main language of Portugal, but this language is also spoken in Brazil, Cape Verde,Angola, East Timor, Macau and Mozambique. Portuguese is a Romance language that uses the Latin alphabet.

Grammar

Pronunciation

The pronunciation of Portuguese is quite complicated and is more similar to French than to Spanish, partly due to the use of nasal sounds and schwas.

vowels

For the vowels there is an importance for the stress, the stress falls on a A, E, O? Then the vowel will be pronounced open. If not? Then the vowel is pronounced dull or nasal. At the I, U does not change the pronunciation if it is stressed or not. The stress is always on the penultimate syllable, unless the word is on a i, im, l, r, u, um, z or diphthong ends, the stress falls on the last syllable.

A - Stressed as a in porcha, unstressed as a in andermans, nasal as a combination of a and UH.

E - Stressed as E in Eat, unstressed as the E in bakker, nasal as EGG in Bereggk.

I - If the IE in diep.

O - Stressed as O in sorryOn, unstressed as the OE in zouchknow, nasal as the O in Onder.

You - If the OE in zouchknow.

Y - If the IE in diep, either between two vowels or at the beginning of a word like de J in Jwell.

consonants

B - If the B in Bfield.

C - For a A, O, U as the k in kace, for a E, I as the s in singel.

D - If the d in direland.

F - If the f in ffirst.

G - For a a, oh, you, as the English G in Ged, for a E, I as the ZJ in Journal.

H - De huh is not pronounced in Portuguese.

J - If the ZJ in Journal.

K - Not used in Portuguese language.

L - If the l in lang.

M - If the m in mand, but do not pronounce it at the end of a word.

N - If the N in Nneedle.

P - If the p in pEarth.

QU - For a a if QUA in Kwalite, for a E, I as the k in kace.

R - If the R in Rown.

S - Between two vowels like de z in zingen, at the end of a word like the SJ in sjeel.

T - If the T in Ttime.

V - If the V in Viss.

W - Not used in Portuguese language.

X - Between two vowels like de X in Xylophone, the s in savenue, the z in zlook or the SJ in sjeel.

Z - In the middle or beginning of a word like the z in zon, at the end of a word like the SJ in sjeel.

diphthongs and double consonants

diphthongs

ouch as the ouch in auto.
ÃO as the ouch in auto, but then nasal.
EGG as the egg in Bereggk.
E as the oh my in fooh my, but then nasal.
AE as the aj in Kraai.

Double consonants

CH as the sj in sjeel.
LH as the letter combination LJ.
NH as the nj in oranje.
SS as the s in sseries.
RR like a R, but then formed in the throat.

Nasal Sounds

Nasal sounds are important aspects in Portuguese that appear in almost every sentence. The main rules for nasal sounds are:

Like a word on a m ends, the vowel before that is pronounced as a nasal sound. Pudim (poedim), Bomb (boh)
If a word a m or N plus has another consonant, the vowel before that is pronounced as a nasal sound. Under (Onduh), Vende (Veinduh)
As soon as a a or O a tilde (~), the letter is pronounced as a nasal sound. Irmã (Iermah), pão (Peacock)

accents

Portuguese has three accents, which indicate the pronunciation of a vowel, and one punctuation mark before the letter C:

lift (~), indicates whether a a or O when a nasal sound has to be pronounced. Irmã (Iermah), pão (Peacock)
acento agudo ('), indicates an open sound on vowels. music (Moesika), Cafe (cafe)
Accento circunflexo (^), indicates a somewhat closed sound on vowels. Dutch (Olandesh), Avô (Avò)
cedila (ç), indicates that a C for a A, O, U like a s is pronounced. Estacão (estasau), direces (dieresoish)

Dictionary

basic words

Common expressions

OPEN: aberto
CLOSED: fechado
ENTRANCE: entrada
EXIT: Saida
PUSH: Empurrar
PULL: sacar
WC: house of banho
MEN, MEN: homens
LADIES, WOMEN: Mulhers
FORBIDDEN: proibido

Good day. (formal): Bomb slide (Bomb die-a)
Hey. (informal): Ola (ola)
How are you?: Como estas? (come on estas)
How are you?: Como esta? (come on)
How are you? (formal): Como vai? (Komoe vai)
How are you? (informal): What number? (Kee tal)
Good thank you.: Bem, obrigado/obrigada (Beh, obriekadoe/obriekada)
What is your name?: Como chama-se? (Come on shamaas)
My name is ______.: chamo-me ______ (Shamoo me)
Nice to meet you: muito prazer (Moe-ietoe prazer)
Please (request): por favor (poer favor)
Please (indicate): Faça favor (Phase favor)
Thank you.: Obrigado/obrigada (Obriekadoe/obriekada)
Do not mention it.: the nada (the seam)
Yes.: Sim (siem)
New.: Não (Nau)
Excuse me.: Peco desculpa (peso deshcoolpa)
Sorry.: sinto muito (Sientoe moe-ietoe)
Bye.: Ate logo (Atee lokoe)
I don't speak ______.: Não falo ______ (Nau faloo_____)
Do you speak Dutch?: Fala Dutch? (Falaa inlandesj)
Does anyone here speak Dutch?: . ()
Help!: Ajuda! (Azhuda!)
Good morning.: Bomb dia (Boh die-a)
good evening.: boa noite (Boa noit)
Good night.: boa noite. (boa noit)
I do not understand.: No compreendo. (Nau compree duck)
Where is the toilet?: Onde está a casa de banho? (Onduh shta a caasa duh banjoe?)

When problems occur

Leave me alone.: . ()
Do not touch me!: No me toques! (Naum tock!)
I'm calling the police.: Chamo a policia. (Shaamoe a police-a)
Law enforcement!: Policia! (Police-a)
Stop! Thief!: ! ()
I need your help.: Preciso de sua ajuda. (Presizu de sua azuda)
It's an emergency.: Está uma emergencia. (shta uma emerzhensie-a)
I am lost.: . ()
I lost my bag.: Tenho perdido a minha tote. (Teinjoe perdiedoe a mienja tote)
I lost my wallet.: . ()
I am ill.: . ()
I'm hurt.: . ()
I need a doctor.: . ( ')
Can I use your phone?: Posso usar o suo telemovel? (Possoe oesar oe su-oe tellemowel)

Numbers

1: um (oem)
2: dois (doisj)
3: tres (tresj)
4: quarto (quaro)
5: cinco (sienko)
6: season (seish)
7: set (setuh)
8: oito (ooo)
9: nove (novuh)
10: this (desj)
11: our (onzuh)
12: box (dozuh)
13: treze (trezuh)
14: catorze (katorzuh)
15: quinze (kienzuh)
16: dezasseis (dezaseisj)
17: dezasette (dezasetuh)
18: dezoito (dezoitoe)
19: dezanove (dezanovuh)
20: vinte (vientuh)
21: vinte e um (vient-ie-oem)
22: vinte e dois (vient-ie-doish)
23: vinte e tres (vient-ie-tresj)
30: trinta (trienta)
40: quarenta (quarter)
50: cinquenta (siekwenta)
60: sessenta (sesenta)
70: setenta (setenta)
80: oitenta (oitenta)
90: novent (noventa)
100: cem (ceic)
200: duzentos (dozentoesj)
300: trezentos (trezentoesj)
1.000: mil (miel)
2.000: dois mil (doish miel)
1.000.000: milhao (mieljau)
1.000.000.000: bilhao (cod)
1.000.000.000,000: trilhão (tricod)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): numbero (numeral)
half: metad (metaduh)
less: menos (menush)
Lake: corn (corn)

Time

now: agora (akora)
later: corn tarde (corn tarduh)
for: antes the (antesh duh)
morning: manhã (manjah)
afternoon: late (tarduh)
evening: note (never)
night: note (never)

Clock

One o'clock in the morning: E uma hora da manhã (ee oma ora daa manjah)
two o'clock in the morning: São duas horas da manhã (sau du-ash orash daa manjah)
Twelve o'clock in the afternoon: Meio-dia (mei-oe die-a)
One o'clock in the afternoon: É uma hora da tarde (ee uma ora daa tarduh)
Two o'clock PM: Sao duas horas da tarde (sauw do-ash orash daa tarduh)
Midnight: meia-noite (may never)

Expensive

_____ minute(s): minutes/minutes (mienutoe/mienutoesj)
_____ you(s): hora/horas (ora/orash)
_____ to dawn): slide/slide (die-a/die-asj)
_____ week(s): semana (semana)
_____ months): mês/mêses (knife/mesh)
_____ year(s): ano/anos (anoe/anoes)

To dawn

Today: hoje (ossie)
yesterday: onem (onei)
tomorrow: amanhã (amanjah)
this week: this semana (this semana)
last week: semana passada (semana pasaada)
next week: proxima semana (prosiema semana)
Monday: segunda-feira (sekoenda-feira)
Tuesday: terça-feira (tersa-feira)
Wednesday: quarta-feira (quarter-feira)
Thursday: quinta-feira (kienta-feira)
Friday: sexta-feira (seishta-feira)
Saturday: sabado (saabadu)
Sunday: domino (doom cow)

Months

January: janeiro (sjaneiro)
February: fevereiro (fuhvreiro)
March: marco (marso)
April: abril (ehbriel)
May: mayo (maio)
June: junho (sjoenjo)
July: you (shuffleboard)
August: agosto (akoshto)
September: setembro (suhteimbro)
October: outobro (ootoebro)
November: novembre (Novembro)
December: thismbro (duhzembro )

To colour

black: preto (pretoe)
white: Branco (brankoe)
gray: Cinzento (Sienzentoe)
red: vermelho (tell me)
blue: Azul (Ahzul)
yellow: amarelo (amareloe)
green: verde (Verduh)
Orange: Cor-de-laranja (Kor-duh-laranzja)
Violet: violet (Vie-oleta)
brown: castanho (chestnut)

Transport

Train and bus

How much does a ticket to _____ cost?: ? ()
A ticket to _____, please.: Um bilhete a _____, por favor. (Oem bieljetuh a _____, poer favor)
Where does this train/bus go?: ? ()
Where is the train/bus to _____?: ? ()
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: ? ()
When does the train/bus leave for_____ ?: ? ()
When does the train/bus arrive in _____?: ? ()

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: Para _____? (para _____)
...the station?: O estação? (oh estasau)
...the bus stop?: O paragem autocarro? (oo parasjei autoekarroe)
...the airport?: Oh aeroporto? (oo airoportoe)
...the city center?: O centro historico? (oo sentroe istoria cow)
...the youth hostel?: A albergue da juventude? (ah alberguh daa zjoeveintoeduh)
...the hotel?: O _____ hotel? (o _____ hotel)
...the Dutch/Belgian/Surinamese consulate?: ? ()
Where are there many...: Onde está muito(s) _____ (Onduh shta mu-eetu(sh) _____)
...hotels?: hoteis? (oteisj)
...restaurants?: restaurants? (restaurantesj)
...cafes?: cafes? (cafes)
...sights?: ? ()
Can you mark it on the map?: ? ()
street: rua (roe-a)
Turn left.: vire a esquerda. (Viera sjkerda)
Turn right.: vire a direita. (Viera diereita)
left: esquerda (eshkerda)
right: direita (animalita)
straight ahead: em frente (egg frent)
towards _____: em direct de _____ (egg animal sao duh)
beyond the _____: atras de _____ (atrash duh)
for the _____: antes the (antesh duh)
Note the _____.: . ()
intersection: ()
north: norte (nortuh)
South: sul (sol)
east: est (estuh)
west: oyster (oe-estuh)
uphill: ()
downhill: ()

Cab

Cab!: Cab! (Taksi)
Take me to _____, please.: . ()
How much does it cost to drive to _____?: ? ()
Take me there, please.: . ()

To sleep

Do you still have rooms available?: Tem quartos disponiveis? (Tei kwartoesj diespoenveisj)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: Quanto costa um quarto para um pessoal/dois pessoas? (Kwaantoe kosta oem kwartoe parum pessoeal/para doish pessoeasj)
Does the room have...: Tem ... no quarto? (Tei ... bye bye)
...sheets?: ? ()
...a toilet?: uma casa de banho? (oma kaza duh banjoe)
...a bathroom?: uma casa de banho? (ooma kaza duh banjoe)
...a phone?: um phone? (oem telefonuh)
...a television?: uma television? (umma teluhviesau)
Can I see the room first?: Posso ver o quarto? (possoe far oe quack)
Don't you have anything calmer?: ? ()
...taller?: major? ( major)
...cleaner?: corn limpo? (maisj liempoe)
...cheaper?: maize barato? (mash baratoe)
Okay, I'll take it.: . ()
I stay _____ night(s).: . ()
Can you recommend me another hotel?: ? ()
Do you have a safe? (for valuable possessions): ? ()
...lockers? (for clothes): ? ()
Is breakfast/dinner included?: ? ()
What time is breakfast/dinner?: ? ()
Would you like to clean my room?: ? ()
Can you wake me up at _____?: ? ()
I want to check out.: . ()

Money

Can I pay with US dollars?
()
Can I pay with British Pounds?: ()
Can I pay with euros?: ()
Can I pay with a creditcard?: ? ()
Can you change money for me?: ? ()
Where can I exchange money?: ? ()
Can I exchange traveler's checks here?: ? ()
Where can I redeem traveler's cheques?: ()
What is the exchange rate?: ? ()
Where is there an ATM?: ? ()

Food

A table for one person/two people, please.: . ()
May I see the menu?: . ()
Can I take a look in the kitchen?: . ()
Is there a house specialty?: ? ()
Is there a regional dish?: ? ()
I am vegetarian.: . ()
I do not eat pork.: . ()
I don't eat beef.: . ()
I only eat kosher.: . ()
Can you make that with less oil/butter/fat, please?: ? ()
fixed menu: ()
à la carte: ()
breakfast: ()
lunch: ()
afternoon tea (meal): ()
supper: ()
I would like _____.: . ()
I would like a dish with _____.: ()
chicken: frango ()
beef: ()
fish: ()
ham: ()
sausage: ()
cheese: ()
Eggs: oven(s) ()
salad: ()
(fresh vegetables: ()
(fresh fruit: ()
bread: O pão (oops)
toast: ()
noodles: ()
rice: ()
beans: ()
Can I have a glass of _____?: ? ()
Can I have a cup of _____?: ? ()
Can I have a bottle of _____?: ? ()
coffee: Oh cafe (oh coffee)
tea: oh cha (oh shaa)
juice: ()
sparkling water: A agua com gas (Ah akoe-a coh kash)
mineral water: A água mineral (Ah akoe-a mineral)
beer: A cerveja (ah serveisja)
wine: oh vinho (oh vienjoe): Red wine; Oh vinho tinto (Oh vienjoe tientoe); White wine; oh vinho branco (Oe vienjoe brankoe)
Can I have some _____?: ? ()
salt: ()
black pepper: ()
butter: ()
Waiter!: ! ()
I'm ready.: . ()
It was delicious.: . ()
Can you clear the plates?: ? ()
The bill please.: . ()

Going out

Do you serve alcohol?: ? ()
Is there table service?: ? ()
One beer/two beers, please.: . ()
A glass of red/white wine, please.: . ()
A vase, please: . ()
A bottle, please.: . ()
_____ (liquor) of _____ (added drink), Please.: . ()
whiskey: ()
vodka: ()
rum: ()
water: ()
soda water: ()
tonic: ()
orange juice: ()
coke: ()
Do you have snacks?: ? ()
One more, please.: . ()
One more round, please.: . ( ')
When do you close?: ? ()
Cheers!: ! ()

Shop

Do you have this in my size?: ? ()
How much does that cost?: ? ()
That's too expensive.: . ()
Want to sell it for _____?: ? ()
expensive: Caro (Karoe)
cheap: barato (barato)
I can't afford that.: . ()
I do not want it.: . ()
You are deceiving me.: . ()
I am not interested.: . ()
Okay, I'll take it.: . ()
Can I have a bag?: ? ()
Do you deliver (overseas)?: ()
I would like...: . ()
...toothpaste.: . ()
...a toothbrush.: . ()
...tampons.: . ( ')
...soap.: . ()
...shampoo.: . ()
...a painkiller.: . ()
...a remedy for the common cold.: ()
...stomach tablets.: ... ()
... razor blades: . ()
...an umbrella.: . ()
...sunscreen.: . ()
...a postcard.: . ()
...stamps.: . ()
...batteries.: . ()
...writing paper.: . ()
...a pen.: . ()
...Dutch books.: . ()
...Dutch magazines.: . ()
...a Dutch-language newspaper.: . ()
...a Dutch-Portuguese dictionary.: . ()

To drive

I want to rent a car.: . ()
Can I have it insured?: ? ()
Stop: ()
one way street: ()
give priority: ()
parking ban: ()
speed limit: ()
gas station: ()
gasoline: ()
diesel: ()

authorities

I haven't done anything wrong.: . ()
It was a misunderstanding.: . ()
Where are you taking me?: ? ()
Am I arrested?: ? ()
I am a Dutch/Belgian/Surinamese citizen.: ()
I want to talk to the Dutch/Belgian/Surinamese embassy/consulate.: ()
I want to speak with a lawyer.: ()
Can't I just pay a fine now?: ()

This is a usable article. It contains information on how to get there, as well as the main attractions, nightlife and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but dive in and expand it!