Thread: Portuguese Phrases You Should Know to Survive in Brazil

What Portuguese phrases do you think I should learn to survive in Brazil?

These are what I have learned so far:

1. Oi, tudo bem? - Hello, how are you?
2. Bom Dia - Good morning
3. Boa tarde - Good afternoon
4. Boa noite - Good evening (this phrase is also used when entering or leaving from what I understand)
5. Podes me ajudar ? - Can you help me?
6. Quanto custa? - How much does it cost? (important when I go shopping )
7. Posso pagar com cartao de credito? - Can I use the credit card? (another important phrase for me!)
8. Onde e o banheiro? - Where is the toalet?
9. Podes me ajudar ? - Can you help me?

While shopping in Brazil, how do you bargain for the price of the item you want to buy? How do you say it in Portuguese?

Does Spanish and Portuguese has difference?

They differ in some ways...

You can as for a discount, " Tem desconto à vista?" if you´ll pay in cash probably you´ll get some discount.

Can you ask a discount for as low as 50% of the tag price?

Still dreaming!!

Originally Posted by paty_bh

You can as for a discount, " Tem desconto à vista?" if you´ll pay in cash probably you´ll get some discount.

thanks paty_bh! it's time to practice this phrase...i'm definitely gonna use it often..hehehe...

Is cash still the prominent form of payment in Brazil? how about payment via credit card?

Originally Posted by ola brazil

They differ in some ways...

How they differ? Can you give sample phrases in Spanish and Portuguese? Thank you in advance~!

Originally Posted by thirsty_traveller

thanks paty_bh! it's time to practice this phrase...i'm definitely gonna use it often..hehehe...

Is cash still the prominent form of payment in Brazil? how about payment via credit card?

You can pay with credit card everywhere, but cash is very used as well, anyway if you go for some remote place, bring some money with you.

Wow, that is so cool! Can u tell how to pronounce them??

You pronunciate just as you write. No Secrets

hey! thanks for the informative post! anyway, how about asking for direction? example: where can i find this place? thanks!

Yes Spanish and Portuguese are two completely different languages,

Hi misty! You can say: "onde possa eu acho este lugar?" in Portuguese.

It is better if we can hear the pronunciation and how they speak this. Brazilians talk too fast and it is really hard to catch up. =)

Yes, I think your list is very nice, but you must also know the following ones:

1. Por favor - Please
2. Com licença - Excuse me
3. Obrigado - Thank you!
4. Você poderia, por favor... - Could you please...

I hope you have a wonderful and amazing stay in Brazil!

sure! spanish and portugues are different...

i am not a nativespeaker. i would call my portugues advanced. i don´t speak spanish. when i am watching spanish tv i get 10%. to much RrrRRrrr for my taste

but i know some brasilians which use to understand 95% of spanish tv. others get nothing! just like me!

but when i am reading spanish i understand alot of it. up to 70%.

The Spanish language has many similar words to the Portuguese language, but meanwhile, there are also many words used in both languages, that have very diferent meanings, such as following:

For te word GAIN, in Portuguese you say GANHAR, but in Spanish you say GANANCIA, which means selfishness for Brazilians;

For the word SURVEY, in Portuguese you say PESQUISA, but in Spanish you say ENCUESTA, that would mean to lean in something for Brazilians;

...and there many other cases that make Brazilians laugh for the so diferent meaning for so similar words.

That´s very funny for both Spanish and Portuguese people.