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Portuguese Accessibility Phrases

  Whenever I travel I find myself using the same phrases no matter where I go.  I put together the list of phrases below based on all the trips I have taken.

Whereas many people without disabilities can just go with the flow in a foreign country, people with disabilities may need to ask for assistance from time to time.

At a minimum I would learn the “Most Useful Phrases” before your trip.  If you have more time, learn all the phrases in bold.  If you enjoy foreign languages, learn all the phrases below!  Be sure to print out these phrases and bring them on your trip.  If you have trouble pronouncing the phrases, you can always just point to the one you need.

* Note: the pronounciation in this guide is actually the Brazilian Portuguese that I used in my trip to Rio de Janeiro.  You will still be understood in Portugal using this pronounciation….similar to the way that Americans and Brits can still communicate with each other.

Most Useful Phrases

Is there a handicapped bathroom? – Há um banheiro deficiente? (ah ooN bahn-yay-roh deh-fee-syehn-chee)
Is there an entrance without steps? – Há uma entrada sem degraus? (a oo-mah ehN-trah-dah sehN deh-graws)
Where is the elevator? – Onde fica o elevador? (ohN-jee fee-kah oo eh-leh-vah-dohr)
My friend is outside in a wheelchair. – Meu amigo está fora numa cadeira de rodas. (meh-oo ah-mee-goo ehs-tah foh-rah noo-mah kah-day-rah jee hoh-dahs)
Can you help me? – Você pode ajudar-me? (voh-seh poh-jee ah-zhoo-dahr-mee)
Lift here and here. – Levanta aqui e aqui. (leh-vahN-tah ah-kee ee ah-kee)
How much does it cost? – Quanto custa? (kwahN-toh koo-stah)
Do you accept credit cards? – Você aceita os cartões de crédito? (voh-sehah-say-tah ohs kahr-toyNs jee kreh-dee-toh)
…is straight ahead? – …está direto? (ehs-tah jee-reh-too)
I would like… – Eu queria de… (eh-oo kehr-ee-ah jee)
The bill, please – A conta, por favor. (ah kohN-tah pohr fah-vohr)
Thank you – Obrigado. (oh-bree-gah-doo)
Excuse me – Desculpe-me. (jee-skool-pee-mee)
Hello – Olá (oh-lah)
Bye – Tchau (chow)
Yes – Sim (seeN)
No – Não (nowN)

Useful Phrases

Hello/Goodbye
Hello – Olá (oh-lah)
Hi  – Oi (oy)
Goodbye  – Tchau (chow)
Good morning – Bon dia (bohN jee-ah)
Good afternoon – Boa tarde (boh-ah tahr-jee)
Good evening – Boa noite (boh-ah noy-chee)
Good night – Boa noite (boh-ah noy-chee)
How are you? – Como vai? (koh-moh vai)
Good  – Bom (bohN)
Very well – Muito bem (mwee-toh behN)
See you later – Até logo (ah-teh law-goo)

Please/Thanks
Please – Por favor (pohr fah-vohr)
Thank you – Obrigado, if you are a man (oh-bree-gah-doo) / Obrigada, if you are a woman (oh-bree-gah-dah)
You’re welcome – De nada (jee nah-dah)

Yes/No
Yes – Sim (seeN)
Yeah – Já (zhah)
No – Não (nowN)
Maybe – Talvez (tahl-vehz)
It doesn’t matter – Não importa (nowN eeN-pohr-tah)
Of course – é claro (eh klah-roh), Com certeza (kohN sehr-teh-zah)
Okay – Tá bom (tah bohN)
It’s okay – Está bem (ehs-tah behN)
That’s right – Tá certo (tah sehr-toh) / é verdade (eh vehr-dah-jee)
No problem – Nenhum problema (nen-yooN proh-bleh-mah)
Cool! – Legal! (leh-gow)
Right? – Né (neh)

Communication
Do you speak English? – Você fala o ingles? (voh-seh fah-lah oo een-glehs)
How do you say? – Como se diz? (koh-moh seh jeez)
Repeat please. – Repete por favor. (heh-peh-chee pohr fah-vohr)
Speak slower please. – Fale mais lento por favor. (fah-leh mais lehn-toh pohr fah-vohr)
What does __ mean? – O quê quer dizer…? (oo kee kehr jee-zehr)
I (don’t) understand – (Não) entendo   (nowN eeN-tehN-doh)
I have studied Portuguese for 3 months – Eu estudei o português durante tres meses (eh-oo ehs-too-day oo pohr-too-gehz doo-rahn-chee trehz meh-sehs)

Making Friends
My name is… – O meu nome é…. (oo meh-oo noh-mee eh)
I am John / Jane. – Eu sou o João / a Jane.  (eh-oo soh oo zhoh-owN / zheyn)
What is your name? – Qual é seu nome? (kwow eh seh-oo noh-mee)
Pleased to meet you – Muito prazer (mwee-toh prah-zehr)
Where are you from? – De onde você é? (jee ohN-jee voh-seh eh)
Which part of Brazil? – Qual parte du Brazil? (kwahl pahr-chee doo brah-zee-oo)
I went there on Monday – Eu fui ali segunda-feira. (eh-oo fwee ah-lee seh-gooN-dah fey-rah)
I am going there on Saturday – Eu vou ir lá no Sábado (eh-oo voh eer  lah noh sah-bah-doo)
How long are you here? – Por cuanto tempo você estou aqui (pohr kwahN-toh tehN-poh voh-seh eh-stoh ah-kee)
I am from the United States – Eu sou dos Estados Unidos (eh-oo soh dohz eh-stah-dohz oo-nee-dohz)
I live in California – Eu moro na California (eh-oo moh-roh nah kah-lee-fohr-nyah)
I am on vacation – Eu estou nas férias (eh-oo eh-stoh nahs feh-ree-ahs)
I arrived yesterday – Eu cheguei ontem (eh-oo sheh-gay ohN-tehN)
I am going to leave tomorrow – Eu vou soir amanhã (eh-oo voh sah-eer ah-mahn-yah)
I am excited – Eu estou excitado (eh-oo eh-stoh eh-see-tah-doo)

Accessibility
Is there an entrance without steps? – Há uma entrada sem degraus? (ah ooN ehN-trah-dah sehN deh-grows)
Where is the elevator? – Onde está o elevador? (ohN-jee eh-stah oo eh-leh-vah-dohr)
My friend is outside in a wheelchair – Meu amigo / minha amigo  está fora numa cadeira de rodas. (meh-oo ah-mee-goo / meeN-yah ah-mee-goo eh-stah foh-rah noo-mah kah-day-rah jee hoh-dahs)
I am in a wheelchair. – Eu estou numa cadeira de rodas (eh-oo eh-stoh noo-mah kah-day-rah jee hoh-dahs)
Is there a handicapped bathroom? – Há um banheiro deficiente? (ah ooN bahn-yeh-roo deh-fee-syehn-chee)
 
Excuse me – Desculpe-me (jee-skool-pee-mee)
Can you help me? – Você pode ajudar-me? (voh-seh poh-jee ah-zhoo-dah-mee)
Lift here and here – Levanta aqui e aqui (leh-vahN-tah ah-kee ee ah-kee)
Can you help me go up? – Você pode me subir? (voh-seh poh-jee mee soo-beer)
Can you help me go down? – Você pode me descer? (voh-seh poh-jee mee dehs-sehr)
I am ready – Eu estou pronto. (eh-oo eh-stoh prohN-toh)
Are there hills there? – Há morros lá? (ah moh-hoos lah)

Should I wait here? – Eu devo esperar aqui? (eh-oo deh-voh eh-speh-rahrah-kee)
Stay here – aguarde aqui (ah-gwah­-jee ah-kee)
I will return – Eu vou retornar (eh-oo voh heh-tohr-nahr)

Handicapped – Deficiente (jee-fee-syehn-chee)
Accessible – Acessível (ah-seh-see-vehl)
The elevator – O elevador (oo eh-leh-vah-dohr)
The escalator – A escada rolante (ah eh-skah-dah hoh-lahN-chee)

The ramp – A rampa (ah hahm-pah)
The steps – As degraus (ahs deh-grows)
The stairs – As escadas (ahs eh-skah-dahs)
The cobblestones – As pedras arredondadas (ahs peh-drahs ah-heh-dohN-dah-dahs)

Wheelchair – a cadeira de rodas (ah kah-day-rah jee hoh-dahs)
It folds up – Ela se dobra (eh-lah seh doh-brah)
It comes apart – Ela se desmonta (eh-lah seh dehs-mohN-tah)
It is a wet / dry battery – É uma bateria molhada / seca (eh oo-mah bah-teh-ree-ah mohl-yah-dah / seh-kah)
I have a flat tire – Eu tenho um pneu vazio (eh-oo tehN-yoh ooN pee-neh-oo vah-zee-oo)

Directions
Where is…? – Onde fica…? (ohN-jee fee-kah)
Do you know where ___ is? – Sabe onde fica…? (sah-bee ohn-jee fee-kah)
Is it near? – Fica perto? (fee-kah peh-toh)
Is it far from here? – É longe daqui? (eh lohN-zhee dah-kee)
How many kilometers? – Cuantos quilômetros? (kwahn-tohz kee-loh-meh-trohz)
Is there a good restaurant near here? – Há um bom restaurante próximo daqui? (ah ooN bohN hes-tow-rahN-chee dah-kee)
I would like a city map – Eu gostaria de um mapa da cidade (eh-oo goh-stah-ree-ah jee ooN mah-pah dah see-dah-jee)
 
…is straight ahead? – …está direto? (eh-stah jee-reh-toh)
…is to the left? – …está para a esquerda? (eh-stah pah-dah ah ehs-kehr-dah)
…is to the right? – …está para a direita? (eh-stah pah-dah ah jee-day-tah)

There – Ali (ah-lee)
Here – Aqui (ah-kee)
Over there – Lá (lah)

I’m looking for – Estou procurando (eh-stoh proh-koo-dahn-doh)
I am going to… – Eu vou a… (eh-oo voh ah)

Next to – do lado do/da (doh lah-doh doh/dah)
In front of – na frente (nah frehn-chee)
Behind – atrás (ah-trahs)
Inside – dentro (dehn-troh)
Outside – fora (faw-rah)

North – norte (nawr-chee)
South – sul (soo)
East – leste (lehs-chee)
West – oeste (oh-ehs-chee)

Transportation
The train – O trem (oo trehN)
The train station – O estação de caminhos-de-ferro (oo eh-stah-sowN jee kah-meen-yohs jee feh-hoh)
The bus stop – O paragem do autocarro (oo pah-rah-zhehN do ow-toh-kah-hoo)
The airport – O aeroporto (oo ah-eh-roh-pohr-too)
The flight – O vôo (oo voh-oo)
Arrivals/Departures – Chegadas/partidas (sheh-gah-dahs / pahr-chee-dahs)
Can you bring our luggage? – Você pode trazer nossa bagagem (voh-seh poh-jee trah-zehr naw-sah bah-gah-zheN)
Where can I find a taxi? – Onde eu posso encontrar um táxi? (ohN-jee eh-oo paw-soh eeN-kohN-trahr ooN tahk-see)

Tourism
What time do you open/close? – A qui horas você abre/fecha? (ah kee oh-rahs voh-sehah-bree / feh-cha)
I would like an audioguide. – Eu gostaria de um ___. (eh-oo gaws-tah-ree-ah jee ooN ­­__ )
What time is the tour? – A qui horas é a excursão? (ah kee oh-rahs eh ah ee-skoor-sowN)
Entrance – A entrada (ah ehN-trah-dah)
Exit – A saída (ah sah-ee-dah)
I have a question – Eu tenho uma pergunta (eh-oo tehn-yoh oo-mah pehr-gooN-tah)
Downtown (center of town) – o centro (oo sehN-troh)
The art museum – o museu de arte (oo moo-zeh-oo jee ahr-chee)
The old/new bridge – Ponte velha/nova (pohN-chee vehl-yah / no-vah)
The church – A igreja (ah ee-greh-zhah)
The plaza – a praça (ah prah-sah)
The street – a rua (ah hoo-ah)
The park – o parque (oo pahr-kee)
The beach – a praia (ah prah-yah)
The ocean – o mar (oo mahr)

Hotel
a big hotel – o hotel (oo oh-teh-oo)
a small hotel – a pousada (ah poh-sah-dah)
I have a reservation – Eu tenho uma reserva (eh-oo tehN-yoh oo-mah heh-zehr-vah)
I need to check-in / check-out – Eu tenho que check-in / check-out (eh-oo tehN-yoh kee shehk-een / shehk-owt)?
A room on the ground floor – o quarto ou térreo (oo kwahr-toh oh teh-hee-oh)

Restaurant/Bar
A table for two – Uma tabela para dois. (oo-mah tah-beh-lah pah-rah doys)
Waiter/Waitress – garçon/garconete (gahr-sohN/gahr-soh-neh-chee)
A glass of red wine – Um vidro do vinho vermelho (ooN vee-droh doh veeN-yoh vehr-mehl-yoh)
A glass of white wine – Dois vidros do vinho branco (doys vee-drohs doh veeN-yohbrahN-koo)
A beer – Uma cerveja (oo-mah sehr-veh-zhah)
A water – Uma água (oo-mah ah-gwah)
A menu, please – Um menu, por favor (ooN meh-noo pohr fah-vohr)
The bill, please – A conta, por favor (ah kohN-tah pohr fah-vohr)
Buy a Lonely Planet phrase book and check out the Culinary Reader section.

Shopping
How much does it cost? – Cuanto costa? (kwahN-toh koh-stah)
Too expensive – caro demais (kah-roh jee-mais)
Too much – demais (jee-mais)
I don’t want anything – Eu não quero nada. (eh-oo nowN keh-roh nah-dah)
I’ll take it – Vou levar. (voh leh-vahr)
Do you accept credit cards? – Aceita cartão? (ah-say-tah kahr-towN)

Building Blocks

Pronouns
I – Eu (eh-oo)
You (familiar) – Você (voh-seh)
You (formal) – O senhor / A senhora (oo sehN-yohr / ah sehN-yoh-rah)
He – Ele (eh-lee)
She – Ela (eh-lah)
It – Ele/Ela (eh-lee / eh-lah)
We – Nos (nohs)
You (plural) – vocês (voh-sehs)
They (masculine) – Eles (eh-lees)
They (feminine) – Elas (eh-lahs)

Possession
My – O meu / a minha / os meus / as minhas (oo meh-oo / ah meeN-yah / ohs meeN-yahs / ahs meeN-yahs)
Your (familiar) – O Seu / a sua / os seus / as seus (oo seh-oo / ah soo-ah / ohs seh-oos / ahs seh-oos)
Your (formal) – O Seu / a sua / os seus / as seus (oo seh-oo / ah soo-ah / ohs seh-oos / ahs seh-oos)
His – dele (deh-lee)
Her – dela (deh-lah)
Its – dele / dela (deh-lee / deh-lah)
Our – nosso / nossa / nossos / nossas (naw-soh / naw-sah / naw-sohs / naw-sahs)
Your (plural)   ????
Their – deles (deh-lees)

To be (characteristic)
I am – eu sou (eh-oo soh)
You are (familiar) – você é (voh-seh eh)
You are (formal) – o senhor / a senhora é (oo sehN-yohr / ah sehN-yoh-rah eh)
He is – ele é (eh-lee eh)
She is – ela é (eh-lah eh)
It is – é (eh)
We are – nós somos (nohz soh-mohs)
You are (plural) – vocês são (voh-sehs sowN)
They are (masculine) – eles são (eh-lees sowN)
They are (feminine) – elas são (eh-lahs sowN)

To be (condition)
I am – eu estou (eh-oo eh-stoh)
You are (familiar) – você está (voh-seh eh-stah)
You are (formal) – o senhor / a senhora está (oo sehN-yohr / ah sehN-yoh-rah eh-stah)
He is – ele está (eh-lee eh-stah)
She is – ela está (eh-lah eh-stah)
It is – está (eh-stah)
We are – nós estamos (nohs eh-stah-mohs)
You are (plural) – vocês estão (voh-seh eh-stowN)
They are (masculine) – eles estão (eh-lees eh-stowN)
They are (feminine) – elas estão (eh-lahs eh-stowN)

Need/Want/Have
Do you have…? – Você tem…? (voh-seh tehN)
I would like… – Eu queria… (eh-oo keh-ree-ah)
We would like… – Nos queremos… (nohs keh-reh-mohs)
I want… – Eu quero… (eh-oo keh-roh)
We want… – Nos queremos (nohs keh-reh-mohs)
I need… – Eu preciso… (eh-oo pdeh-see-zoo)
Do I need…? – Eu preciso…? (eh-oo preh-see-zoh)
Is it necessary…? – é necessário…? (eh neh-seh-sah-ree-oh)
Is it possible…? – é possivel…? (eh poh-see-veh-oo)
Should I…? – Eu devo…? (eh-oo deh-voh)
I have to… – Eu tenho que … (eh-oo tehN-yoh kee)
I can not… – Eu não posso… (eh-oo nowN paw-soh)

Go
I am going… – Eu vou (eh-oo voh)
You are going… – Você vai (voh-seh vai)
We are going – Nos vamos (nohs vah-mohs)
I went… – Eu fui (eh-oo fuhy)
Have you gone… – Você foi…? (voh-seh foy)
We went… – Nos fuimos (nohs fwee-mohs)

There is / There are
Is there…? – Há…? (ah)
Are there…? – Há…? (ah)
There is… – Há… (ah)
There are… – Há… (ah)

It is
It is… – É… (eh)
Is it…? – É…? (eh)
They are… – São… (sowN)

This/That
This is… – Este é… (ehs-chee eh)
That is… – Isso é… (ee-soh eh)
These are… – Estes são… (ehs-chees sowN)
Those are… – Aqueles são… (ah-kehl-ees sowN)

Numbers
One – um (ooN)
Two – dois (doys)
Three – três (trehs)
Four – quatro (kwah-troh)
Five – cinco (seeN-koh)
Six – seis (seis)
Seven – sete (seh-chee)
Eight – oito (oy-toh)
Nine – nove (naw-vee)
Ten – dez (dehz)

People
Friend – o amigo / a amiga (oh ah-mee-goh / ah ah-mee-gah)
Husband – o marido (oo mah-ree-doo)
Wife – a esposa (ah eh-spoh-sah)
Mother – a mãe (ah maiN)
Father – o pai (oo pai)
Son – o filho (oo feel-yoh)
Daughter – a filha (ah feel-yah)
Person – a pessoa (ah peh-soh-ah)
People – o gente (oo zheN-chee)

Time
Today – Hoje (aw-zhee)
Tonight – Hoje à noite (aw-zhee ah noy-tee)
Yesterday – Ontem (ohN-tehN)
Tomorrow – Amanhã (ah-mahn-yahN)
Now – Agora (ah-goh-rah)
Early – Cedo (seh-doh)
Late – Tarde (tahr-jee)
Always – Sempre (sehN-pree)
Never – Nunca (noon-kah)
Already – Já (zhah)

Good/Bad
Good – Bom / Boa (bohN / boh-ah)
Bad – Mau (mow)
Well – Bem (behN)
Poorly – Mal (mahl)
Better – Melhor (mehl-yohr)
Worse – Pior (pee-ohr)

Big/Small
Big – grande (grahN-jee)
Small – pequeno (peh-keh-noh)
Wide – largo (lahr-goh)
Narrow – estreito (eh-stray-toh)

Prepositions
With – com (cohN)
Without – sem (sehN)
To – a (ah)
From – de (jee)
Of – de (jee)
For – para (pah-rah)
Before – antes (ahn-cheez)
After – depois (deh-poh-eez)

Pronunciation

In the following pronounciation guide, a Portuguese letter or combination of letters is listed first. After the hyphen is the symbol used in this pronounciation guide. Next is an example of the sound in an English word. On the next line a Portuguese word may follow with it’s pronounciation and translation.

For instance:
J – zh, like s in measure
Janeiro – zhah-nay-roh (January)

Consonants
Ç – s, like s in sit
C before e or i – s, like s in sit
All other C’s – k, like k in king
Di – jee, like jee in the English word jeep
Difícil – jee-fee-seel (difficult)
Dia – jee-ah (day)
Pedir – peh-jeer (to ask)
De at end of word – jee, like jee in the English word jeep
Onde – ohn-jee (where)
Tarde – tahr-jee (late)
G followed by e or I – zh, like s in measure
Gente – zhehn-chee (people)
H – silent
Hoje – oh-zhee (today)
Lh – h sounds like y, like ll in million
Mulher – mool-yehr (woman)
Nh – h sounds like y, like ni in opinion
Amanhã – ah-mahn-yah (tomorrow)
J – zh, like s in measure
Janeiro – zhah-nay-roh (January)
L at end of word or between vowel and consonant – w
Legal – leh-gow (cool)
m at end of syllable and after vowel– N, makes the vowel before it nasal
com – kohN (with)
n at end of syllable and after vowel– N, makes the vowel before it nasal
ponte – pohN-chee (bridge)
r at beginning of word – h, like h in happy
rio – hee-oh (river)
rr – h, like h in happy
morro – moh-hoo (hill
r at end of syllable – so soft it is virtually silent
perto – peh-too (close)

 

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