Language

 

 

You may or may not have known it, but Portuguese is the first language of over 100 million people. It is the seventh language in the western world and once had the stature of French as an international language. Being the language of Brazil, its future is assured.

 

The Portuguese of today are accomplished linguists in the Romance languages. In the tourist resorts, in restaurants and at hotels, they'll understand you if you speak to them in Spanish, to which they are quite accustomed, in French, which the educated people learn as a matter of course, and sometimes even Italian. English and German are a little less useful, though there are many who do speak a few words.

 

In order to understand them in return, however, it would be wise for you to learn a few phrases in their own beautiful language. It will amuse and interest them, and help you to make friends, if you know these few phrases, and it is of great important for reading menus.

 

The language is more or less uniform throughout the country, it being a small country, with one exception. In the north, especially in Minho, a language called Gallego is spoken, which is still Portuguese, but different, very musical and poetical. It was this language that formed the basis for the most important lyric poetry in the twelfth century. The poetry spread out over the entire Iberian peninsula, and the traveler with an ear for languages will enjoy discerning the differences in this region.

 

 

QUICK GUIDE TO PORTUGUESE PRONUNCIATION

 

Portuguese pronunciation is, quite frankly, a matter of great difficulty. Thankfully, this will not bother you in your reading of menus, but on all other occasions you will never be understood by trying to pronounce phonetically. Therefore, study these few directions.

 

Nasalization: The Portuguese love to nasalize many sounds. The final sound indicated by an "m", as in "sim" or "bom" falis somewhere between an English "m" and 'n", with a much stronger nasalizing, as it occurs in French. The sound of final "ng" as in "dong" is the closest English equivalent.

 

The sound that will impress you as most frequent in the language, though it is really not ali that Frequent, is that indicated in English as "sh". This is indicated in Portuguese by the letter "s", when it comes at the end of a word and in certain other places, and by the letters "ch" in other places.

 

The nasalized diphthong "ao", is another beautiful and frequent sound. Its closest English equitable is the sound indicated by the letters "ow" Other diphthongs are "ai", pronounced like the letter "y" when it behaves as a vowel in English; "au", which sounds like "ow" but without the nasalization; "oi" which carries the same sound these letters make in English and "ei", "ei" and "eu", which have approximately the same sounds in English.

 

Normal vowels are generally pronounced as the soft sounds that they make in English as:

 

a pronounced as English a in want.

 

e pronounced as English e in rent.

 

e or ê sometimes pronounced like English ay.

 

As a final letter the e in Portuguese is almost always a silent letter.

 

i is generally pronounced as in Romance languages, with the sound of English ee as in keen.

When it comes before any other vowel in an unstressed syllable. it is pronounced like the consonant sound of y.

 

o generally makes a sound somewhere between the English o in oh and the oo sound in root. In a stressed syllable it carries the short English o sound as in rock. When o comes before a, e or i, in a word it has the sound marfe by English w.

 

The following consonants are pronounced differently from their English counterparts:

 

c is pronounced like an s when it comes before e or i or when it is the symbol ç. In other occurrences, it is pronounced like a k.

 

d has a less explosive sound than in English.

 

g is pronounced like the s in measure or treasure when it comes before e or i. Otherwise, it carries the normal hard g sound.

 

h is a silent letter in Portuguese.

 

j is also pronounced like the s in measure.

 

lh or nh give to the h the sound of consonant y in English.

 

r or rr both have a trill marfe by vibrating the tongue against the palate.

 

s between two vowels is pronounced like a z. When it comes at the end of a word it has the sound ot sh. Otherwise it is pronounced as in the English word "sound".

 

w is like v.

 

x has several different pronunciations. When it falls between two vowels, it is pronounced like an s. When it comes at the beginning or end of a word, it is pronounced like sh. When it is part of the frequent prefix, "ex", it has the sound of z. Occasionally it does have the English sound, usually in words derived from English.

 

y has the sound of the English vowel y.

 

z has the sound of sh when it comes at the end of a word Otherwise it has the English z sound.

 

USEFUL WORDS and PHRASES

 

Yes - Sim

Good - Bom

No - Não

That's fine - Bem

Please - Por favor / faz favor

Bad - Mau

Thank you - Obrigado

Help - a ajuda

Enough - Bastante

Sorry - Desculpe

I beg your pardon? -

0 quê / Como disse?

I am English / American -

Sou inglês ; americano

Do you speak English? -

Fala inglês?

I don't speak Portuguese -

Não falo Portuguese

I don't understand -

Não entendo / comprendo

I don't know -

Não sei

 

 

GREETINGS

 

Good morning -

Bom dia

Good evening -

Boa noite

Hello -

Olá

How are you? -

Como está

Very well, thank you -

Muito bem obrigado

Good-bye -

Adeus

See you soon -

Até logo

What's you name? -

Como se chama?

Glad to know you -

Encantado

 

 

QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS

 

Where is / are . . .? -

Onde está / estão . . .?

When? -

Quando?

How much is / are . . .? -

Quanto é / sao . . .?

How far? -

Qual é a distancia?

Please give me... -

Faça o favor de me dar...

I want j should like -

Quero

 

 

PROBLEMS

 

Where's the police station? -

Onde é a esquadra da policia?

Please let the consulate know -

Comuniquem com o consulado por favor

Call a doctor -

Chame um médico

There has been an accident -

Houve um acidente

I have lost my luggage / passport / traveler's checks -

Perdi a minha bagagem / o meu passaporte / o meu livro de checks

 

 

TIME AND DATES

 

What time is it? -

Que horas são?

It's one o'clock -

É uma hora

2 o'clock -

São duas

midday -

É meio-dia

midnight -

É meia-noite

quarter to ten -

São dez menos um quarto

quarter past five -

São cinco e um quarto

half past four -

São quatro e meia

five past eight -

São oito e cinco

twenty-five to seven -

São sete menos vinte e conco

It's early / late -

É cedo / tarde

What time does it start / finish? -

A que horas convença termina?

Today - Hoje

Afternoon - Tarde

Yesterday - Ontem

Evening - Anoitecer

Tomorrow - Amanhã

Night - Noite

Day - Dia

Week -'Semana

Morning - Manhã

Month - Mês

 

 

DAYS OF THE WEEK

 

Sunday -

Domingo

Monday -

Segunda-feira

Tuesday -

Terça-feira

Wednesday -

Quarta-feira

Thursday -

Quinta-feira

Friday-

Sexta-feira

Saturday-

Sábado

 

 

 

 

MONTHS

 

 

 

January -

Janeiro

July -

Julho

February -

Fevereiro

August -

Agosto

March -

Março

September -

Setembro

April -

Abril

October -

Outubro

May -

Maio

November -

Novembro

Jane -

Junho

December -

Dezembro

 

 

SEASONS

 

Autumn - o outono

Summer - o verão

Winter - o inverno

Spring - a primavera

 

 

NUMBERS

 

0 – Zero

3 - Tres

1 – Um

4 - Ouatro

2 – Dois

5 - Cinco

 

 

6 – Seis

60 - Sessenta

7 – Sete

70 - Setenta

8 – Oito

80 - Oitenta

9 – Nove

90 - Noventa

10 – Dez

100 - Cem

11 - Onze

101 - Cento e um

12 - Doze

200 - Duzentos

13 – Treze

300 - trezentos

14 – Catorze

1000 - Mil

15 – Quinze

2000 - Dois mil

16 - Dezasseis

1st - Primeiro, -a

17 - Dezassete

2nd - Segundo

18 - Dezoito

3rd - Terceiro

19 - Dezanove

4th - Quarto

20 - Vinte

5th - Quinto

21 - Vinte e um

6th - Sexto

22 - Vinte e dois

7th - Sétimo

30 - Trinta

8th - Oitavo

40 - Quarenta

9th - Nono

50 - Cinquenta

10th - Décimo

 

 

AT CUSTOMS

 

This is my luggage -

Esta é a minha bagagem

I have only my personal things in it -

Tenho somente as minhas coisas pessoais

I am here on business / holiday -

Venho em negócios . / de férias

I have ...escudos / pounds / dollars -

Tenho ...escudos / libras / dolares

May I go through? -

Já posso passar / posso ir-me embora?

 

 

TRAVELING

 

 

 

General

 

Where is the information bureau, please? -

Onde está o bureau de informação, por favor?

Porter, here is my luggage -

Bagageiro (moço) esta é a minha bagagem

I shall take this myself -

Eu levo esta

Would you call a taxi? -

Pode chamar-me um taxi?

How much do I owe you? -

Quanto lhe devo?

 

 

Buying a Ticket

 

Hove you a timetable, please? -

Tem um horário, por favor?

How much is it first / second / third class to . . . ? -

Quanto custa um bilhete de primeira / segunda / terceira para . . .?

A return to... -

Um bilhete de ida e volta a . . .

 

 

By Train and Subway

 

Where's the railway station? -

Onde é a estação de caminho de ferro?

Two seats on the 11.15 tomorrow to... -

Duas reservas para amanhã no comboio das onze e um quarto para . . .

Is it an express? -

E rápido?

I want to reserve a sleeper -

Quero reservar uma cama

is there a restaurant car on the train? -

Há carruagem restaurante?

Which platform does the train to . . . leave from? -

De que plataforma sai o comboio para . . .?

Is the train late? -

Está atrasado o comboio?

Is this seat free? -

Está livre este lugar?

 

 

By Air

 

is there a flight to Oporto on Thursday? -

Há algum vôo na quinta-feira para o Porto?

When's the next plane? -

A que horas é o proximo avião?

Is there a coach to the airport? -

Há autocarro para o aeroporto?

When must I check in? -

A que horas me devo apresentar?

 

 

By Ship

 

Is there a boat from here to...? -

Há barco de aqui para...?

When does the next boat leave? -

A que horas sai (parte) o proximo barco?

Can I book a single berth cabin?

Posso reservar um camarote individual?

/ second / luxury class cabin? -

um camarote de primeira / de segunda/ de luxo?

When must we go on board? -

A que horas há que estar a bordo?

How long do we stay in port?-

Quanto tempo ficamos no porto?

 

 

By Bus or Coach

 

Where's the bus / coach station? -

Aonde é estação de autocarros / camionetas?

Bus Stop -

Paragem de autocarros

When does the coach get to . . .? -

A que horas chega a camioneta a . . .?

 

 

We want to take a coach tour round the sights -

Queremos visitar os sítios de interesse em autocarro turístico

does this bus go to the town center / beach / station? -

Vai este autocarro para o centro da cidade / a praia / a estação?

Has the last bus gone? -

Já partiu o último autocarro?

Which bus goes to . . .? -

Que autocarro vai a . . .?

Where do I get off? -

Onde tenho que apear-me / sair-me?

 

 

By Taxi

 

Are you free? -

Está livre?

Please take me to the Ritz Hotel / the station / this address -

Ao hotel Ritz / á estação / a esta direcção por favor

Stop here -

Pare aqui ,

How much is it? -

Quanto é?

That's too much -

É demasiado (é muito caro)

 

 

Motoring

 

I want to hire a car and a driver / self-drive car -

Quero alugar um carro com conductor / sem conductor

How much is it to hire it by the hour / day / week? -

Quanto custa o aluguer á hora / dia / semana?

Where's the nearest petrol station? -

Onde é a estação de gasolina mais proxima?

30 liters of patrol and please check the oil and the water

Trinta litros de gasolina e reveja o óleo a água, por favor

 

 

Fill her up, please -

Encha-o por favor

The oil needs changing -

O óleo necessita ser mudado

Please change the wheel -

Mude a roda, por favor

Passes wash the car -

Lave o carro, por favor

What time does the garage close? -

A que horas fecha a paragem?

Is there a mechanic? -

Há um mecânico?

I want the car serviced -

Quero uma revisão

Something is wrong with my car / the engine /

Há algo que não está bem no meu carro / o motor / as luzes

the lights / the clutch / the gearbox

/ a embreagem / a caixa das velocidades /

/ the brakes / the steering -

os travões / a direcção

When will the car be ready? -

Quando estara pronto o carro?

 

 

Road Signs

 

Circulacao pela direita / esquerda -

Keep right / left

Curvas -

Winding road, bends

Desvio -

Detour

Direcção proibida -

No entry

E proibido estacionar, estacionamento proibido -

No parking

Estrada coartada -

Road blocked

Guiar com cuidado -

Drive with care

Parar -

Stop

Perigo -

Danger

Dentido único -

One way street

Trânsito vedado -

Road closed

Velocidade limitada -

Speed limit

 

 

AT THE HOTEL

 

Have you a room for the night? -

Tem um quarto para esta noite?

I want a single room with a shower -

Quero um quarto individual com duche

We want a room with a double bed and a bathroom -

Queremos um quarto de casal e asa de banho

Is there hot and cold water? -

Há água quente e fria?

I want a room for two or three days /

Quero um quarto para dois ou três dias /

a week / until Friday

uma semana / até sexta-feira

May I see the room? -

Posso ver o quarto?

I want a quiet room -

Quero um quarto sossegado

I'd like a room with balcony -

Desejaria um quarto com terraço

Have you nothing cheaper? -

Nao tem nada mais barato?

How much is the room per night? -

Quanto custa o quarto por noite?

How much is full board / half board? -

Quanto é a pensão completa / meia pensão?

Please wake me at 8.30 -

Chame-me ás oito e meia, por favor

Can I have more hangers, please? -

Podem dar-me mais cabides, por favor?

What's the voltage? -

Qual é a voltagem?

There are no towels in my room -

Naoha toalhas no meu quarto

There's no soap -

Não há sabão

May I have another blanket / pillow? -

Pode me arranjar outra manta / almofada?

Come in -

Entre

want this suit pressed -

Quero este fato passado

I'd like these shoes cleaned -

Quero estes sapatos limpos

My key, please -

A chave do meu quarto, por favor

Are there any letters for me? -

Há alguma carta para mim?

Please send the chambermaid -

O empregado de quarto, por favor

What time is breakfast

A que hora é o pequeno almoço

/ lunch / dinner? -

/ o almoço / o jantar?

I am leaving tomorrow -

Saio amanhã

Can you have my bill ready? -

Pode tirar-me a conta?

Could you have my luggage brought down? -

Pode trazer a minha bagagem para baixo?

Please order a taxi for me at 11 o'clock -

Chame-me um taxi para as onze horas, por favor

 

 

AT THE RESTAURANT

 

Can you suggest a good / cheap / vegetarian restaurant?

Pode recomendar um bom restaurante / um restaurante económico / vegetariano?

Have you a table for three? -

Há uma mesa para trás?

Waiter -

Criado / a

May I see the menu please? -

O menu / a ementa, por favor

Is there a set menu? -

Há menu do dia / menu turístico?

I'd like . . . -

Quero . . .

Without oil / sauce, please -

Sem azeite / molho, por favor

This is undercooked -

Está pouco cozido

May I see the wine list? -

A lista dos vinhos

A bottle of the house wine, please -

Um garrafa de vinho da casa

Two more beers -

Mais duas cervejas

The bill, please -

A conta, por favor

Please check the bill, I don't think it's correct -

Reveja a conta, por favor, penso que não está certa

 

 

Restaurant Vocabulary

 

Scrambled - Mexidos

Butter – A manteiga

Hard / soft boiled

Coffee - O café

cozido / quente

Fruit juice - O sumo de Fruta

Roast - Assado

 

Well done - Bem passado

Jam - A compota

Rare - Mal passado

Lemon - O limão

Raw - Cru

Milk - O leite

Fried - Frito

Mustard - A mustarda

Braised - Guisado

Oil - O azeite

Grilled - Grelhado

Pepper - A pimenta

Course / dish - O prato

Roll - O pão

Cup - A chávena

Salt - O sal

Glass - O copo

Bread – O pão

Jug of water - A jarra de água

Sandwich - A sande / sanduíche

Knife - A faca

Snacks - Os pratos ligeiros

Napkin - O guardanapo

Sugar – O açúcar

Plate - O prato

Tea - O chá

Spoon - A colher

Toast - Torradas

Table - A mesa

Vinegar - Ó vinagre

Toothpick - O palito

Water – A água

Breakfast - O pequeno

Wine - O vinho

almoço

Soda water - Água gasosa

Dinner - O jantar

 

Fork - O garfo

Corna - Cacau

 

 

The-Menu

 

Sopas - Soups

Brains - Miolos

Peixe - Fish

Bacon - Toucinho

Carne - Meat

Veal - Vitela

Aves e Caça - Poultry and game

Kid - Cabrito

 

Rabbit - Coelho

Arroz - Rice

Pheasant - Faisão

Legumes e Verduras

Chicken - Galinha

Vegetables

Goose - Ganso

Ovos - eggs

Duck - Pato

Sobremesa - Dessert

Partridge - Perdiz

Frutas Frescas e Secas

Turkey - Peru

Fruit and Nuts

Pigeon - Pombo

Bebidas - Drinks

Celery - Aipo

Herring - Arenques

Lettuce - Alface

Olives - Azeitonas

Garlic - Alho

Snails - Caracois

Potatoes - Batatas

Smoked ham - Fiambre

Beetroot - Beterrabe

Asparagus - Espargos

Onion - Cebola

Sardines - Sardinhas

Carrot - Cenoura

Salad - Salada

Mushrooms - Cogumelos

Oysters - Ostras

Peas - Ervilhas

Clams - Ameijoas

Beans - Feijão

Tuna - Atum

Cucumber - Pepino

Squid - Choco, calamar

Pepper - Pimento

Eels - Enguias

Parsley - Salsa

Lobster - Lagosta

Tomato - Tomate

Sole - Linguado

Omelette - Omeleta

Salmon - Salmão

Preserved fruit - Compota

Prawns - Gambas

Creme Caramel - Flan

Mutton - Borrego

Ice cream - Gelado

Lamb - Carneiro

Cake - Pastel / Tarta

Beef - Carne de vaca

Orange - Laranja

Chop - Costeleta

Apple - Maçã

Sausages - Enchidos

Water melon - Melancia

Escalope - Escalope

Melon - Melão

Liver - Fígado

Strawberry - Morango

Suckting pig - Leitão

Grapefruit - Toranja

 

 

SHOPPING

 

Department atores -

Armazéns

Market -

Mercado

Supermarket -

Super-mercado

Chemist -

Farmácia

Hairdresser -

Cabeleireiro

Where can I buy . . .? -

Onde posso comprar . . .?

Do you sell . ..? -

Vendem . . .?

I like this one -

Gosto deste

Do you Nave different colors? -

Tem outras cores?

Have you a larger / smaller one? -

Tem um maior / mais pequeno?

f want size . . . -

Quero número . . .

Will you change it please? -

Podem trocá-lo, por favor?

How much is this? -

Quanto custa isto?

It's too expensive -

E bastante caro

 

 

Drugstore

 

Bottle of aspirin -

Um tubo de aspirinas

Razor blades -

Laminas de barbear

After-shave lotion -

Locao de barba

Toothpaste -

Pasta para os dentes

Tissues -

Lenços de papel

Toilet paper -

O papel higiénico

Sanitary towels -

As toalhas sanitárias

Shaving cream -

O creme de barba

Comb -

0 pente

Suntan oil -

O óleo para bronzear

 

 

Clothing

 

Underwear -

A roupa interior

Blouse -

A blusa

Shirt -

A camisa

Necktie -

A gravata

Jacket -

O casaco

Suit -

O fato

Dress -

O vestido

Slip -

O combinação

Stockings -

As meias

Socks -

As peúgas

Raincoat -

O impermeável

Hat -

O chapéu

Gloves -

As luvas

 

 

Photography

 

Camera -

Uma máquina fotográfica

Film -

Um rolo

Color film -

Um rolo de cor

A 6 x 9 120 film -

Um rolo de seis por nove cento e vinte

 

 

Tobacconist

 

Virginia / dark tobacco -

Tabaco amarelo / negro

Cigars -

Charutos

Cigarettes -

Cigarros

A box of matches -

Uma caixa de fósforos

A lighter -

Um isqueiro

Gas refill -

Uma recarga de gás

 

 

Newspapers, books, etc.

 

Newspapers -

Jornais

Magazines -

Revistas

Do you have any English books? -

Tem livros ingleses?

I want a map of the city -

Quero um mapa de cidade

I want some color postcards -

Quero postais coloridos

Is there an entertainment /

Tem um programa dos espectáculos /

amusement guide? -

divertimentos?

 

 

POST OFFICE

 

How much is a postcard to England? -

Que franquia levam os postais para Inglaterra?

What's the airmail to the U.S.A.? -

Que franquia levam as cartas por avião para os Estados Unidos da América?

Surface mail -

Correio ordinário

Registered -

A carta registada

Express -

A carta expresso

How much does it cost per word? -

Quanto custa por palavra?

I want to send an overnight telegram / a reply paid telegram

Quero mandar um telegrama / um telegrama com resposta paga

 

 

TELEPHONE

 

Where is the nearest phone booth? -

Onde é a cabine telefónica mais próxima?

Please give me a token -

Uma ficha, por favor

Please give me Lisbon 552379 -

Quero uma chamada para o 552379 de Lisboa

May I speak to Senior . . .? -

O senhor . . . está? / Posso falar com o senhor.- por favor?

Who's speaking? -

Quem fala?

Will you take a message? -

Faz o favor de dizer-lhe . . .?

 

 

SIGHTSEEING

 

Where is the old part of the city? -

Onde é a parte antiga da cidade?

When is the museum open? -

A que horas está aberto 0 museu?

How much is it do go in? -

Quanto custa a entrada?

Can I take pictures? -

Posso tirar fotografias?

Is this the way to the zoo? -

É este o caminho para o jardim zoológico?

How do I get to... -

Como se vai para o . . .?

 

 

AT THE DOCTOR'S

 

Please call a doctor -

Chame um médico, por favor

I feel sick -

Estou enjoado

My stomach is upset -

Estou mal de estômago

My foot is swollen -

Tenho o pé inchado

I am diabetic -

Sou diabético

Must I stay in bed? -

Tenho que ficar na cama?

When can I travel again? -

Quando possi novamente viajar?

 

 

SIGNS AND PUBLIC NOTICES

 

Aberto -

Open

Alugam-se quartos -

Rooms to let

Bilheteria -

Booking Office

Caixa -

cashier

Cauteli / precaução -

Caution

Cavalheiros / senhores -

Gentlemen

Chegadas -

Arrivals

Correspondência -

Connections

Correios -

Post Office

Depósito de bagagem (consigna) -

Left luggage

Direcção proibida -

No entry

Entrada -

Entrance

Entrada gratuita -

Admission free

É proibido fumar -

No smoking

Fechado -

Closed

Guia -

Guide

Lavados -

Lavatory

Livre -

Vacant / free / unoccupied

particular -

Private

Partidas -

Departures

Peões -

Pedestrians

Retretes -

Lavatory

Saída -

Exit

Secção de objectos perdidos -

Lost property

Sala de espera -

Waiting room

Senhoras -

Ladies