You're going to travel to Portugal soon and want to get acquainted with the language? Discover our selection of phrases and expressions to speak Portuguese!
It is always pleasant and appreciable (for you as much as for the locals) to know a few words in the language of the country you visit... But in addition to the indispensable phrases of politeness, we offer you to learn some typical and light expressions, an indispensable complement to any vocabulary. You will not find them in the books, but you will hear them everywhere in the streets!
1. Basic expressions
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- « Bom dia / Boa noite » Hello / Good evening - "Olà" Hi. - "Bem-vindo" Welcome. - « Prazer em conhecê-lo-« How do you do? - "Como vai voce? » How are you? - « Muito bem, obrigado, evocê? » Thank you very much. - "Cual o seu nome? » What's your name? - "Me chamo..." : My name is - "Eu sou francês(a)" : I am French - « Sim / Não » Yes / No - "Por favor" : Please - "Obrigado/a" Thank you. - « De nada / E um prazer » : Nothing / Please - "Com licença / Desculpe" Excuse me. - "Você fala francês/inglês? » : Do you speak French/English? - « Eu compreendo / Eu não compreendo » I understand/I don't understand - "Onde fica...? / Como ir para/até...? » : Where is it? / How to go? - « Esquerda / Direita » : Left / Right - « Quanto custa? » How much does it cost?
2. Tirar o cavalinho da chuva
This popular expression in Portuguese means abandoning something, abandoning its claims, losing its illusions. Literally, it is said to "remove the little horse from the rain." When someone uses this phrase, it means that the person should not wait for an event to happen.
Example : « Se está pensando que eu vou arrumar o seu quarto, pode tirar o cavalinho da chuva! » If you think I'm gonna clean your room, you can get the horse out of the rain!
3. Boa como o milho
If you’re a girl and someone tells you this in the street, it’s a fairly straightforward way and not the most class to mean you’re pretty... Originally, this phrase is used to make the analogy between corn and something (or someone) very well, good or beautiful.
Example : "Essa piscina é boa como milho": "This pool is good as corn. » "Você viu aquela garota? Ela é boa como milho” : Did you see this girl? She's good as corn... charming!
4. Com um pé nas costas
In Brazil, this expression is used to mean that we will do or succeed something very easily or to designate a very easy task, which could be embarrassed by putting your foot in the back and even in this case the task would be done easily. Basically it is our “finger in the nose” to us. Example: "Vou ganhar este jogo com um pé nas costas" : I'm gonna win this game with a foot in the back.
5. Dar água pela barba
This expression is used when a person has a lot of work and it has trouble getting out of it. At home, we use “to have bread on the board” or what is closer to it “I’m under the water”. The Portuguese have water to the beard.
Example : – “Você quer vir conosco hoje? » : You want to come with us today? – “Não, desculpe, eu tenho água até a barba! » : No sorry, I have water to the beard!
6. Vai slopear macacos
Peigner le monkey is a popular expression of the Portuguese language, used in Brazil. The phrase “Go peigner des monkeys” is used to hunt someone who is boring or disturbing. Basically, it’s their way of saying “go to see you”.
Example : "O que é que você ainda está fazendo aqui? Vai slopear macaco! » : What are you still doing here? Go paint the monkey! »
7. Agora é que a piga torce o rabo
Literally, this phrase means "Now, the rig twists its tail." It is an expression used to designate a difficult situation, usually the time to make an important decision. It is also used as an observation, that means that now, things will become stronger.
Example : "Está na hora de fechar o negócio, agora é que a piga torce o rabo. » : It’s time to close the case, now the rig is twisting its tail.
8. Ter o cú virado prá lua
For our Brazilian friends, it’s like us when we say “to have the ass lined with noodles”. Here there is no question of pate, but of moon!
Example : "Ele ganhou de novo, sua o cú virado prá lua" : He won again, he has his ass turned towards the moon
How to learn other expressions and vocabulary in Portuguese?
Before you go on a trip to Portugal or to Brazil (attention there again, the Brazilian Portuguese differs from Portuguese), it may be interesting for you to assimilate some expressions and phrases that return regularly. For this, we advise you to look at the list of small books of expression below:
- 1001 Phrases for Good Talk Portuguese - Dictionary Larousse pocket plus Portuguese - French-Portuguese conversation guide - E canja! It's chicken broth! : A thousand and a way of saying to learn Portuguese
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