Speak like a local: essential Portuguese phrases to feel at home

Portuguese is a tricky language for many, and great fun for others. Full of expressions with double meanings, charged with saudade (a nostalgic longing), and a cheeky little twist. There are many phrases you can learn to truly dive into Portuguese culture.

 

You’ve already booked your trip to Portugal. You’ve gathered all the info on places to visit, monuments not to miss, and the must-try dishes in each region. But want to avoid those awkward silences and make a good impression?

Well then, learning a few local expressions is the best way to understand the culture, make friends, and maybe even get a secret restaurant tip that’s not on Google.

Here are the most useful, fun (and sometimes curious!) phrases to help you speak like a real Portuguese local:

 

Bom dia! / Boa tarde! / Boa noite! (Good morning! / Good afternoon! / Good evening!)

Simple, effective, and polite. The Portuguese love a good greeting. Saying “bom dia” to a stranger on the street is more than normal — it’s almost a must!

Wherever you go, you’ll be greeted like this. At any time of day, what the Portuguese want most is for you to feel at home, and that’s why they welcome you with these words.

Whether it’s a shop, public transport, a restaurant, or a museum — you can be sure these will be the first words you hear.

 

Se faz favor (Please / If you please)

If you’re thinking of saying “I want a coffee, please (por favor),” forget it. The charm lies in saying “se faz favor.” And if it comes with a smile, that’s halfway to winning the country over!

You can use this expression when asking where to eat (and be ready to be sent to a place so good it’ll leave you wanting more!), for directions if you’re lost, in a café, restaurant… basically, everywhere!

 

Pois… (Well… / Right… / I see…)

The famous “Pois” is incredibly versatile and can carry several meanings. It can be a “yes,” a “no,” a “maybe”… It all depends on the tone of voice.

Hard to get? Here are a few examples to help you out:

• “Pois” with a thoughtful look means someone is processing what they’ve just heard;
• A short and direct “Pois!” means they agree with what’s being said;
• A slow “Pois…” while looking down suggests something went wrongl;
• And if someone’s listening and keeps saying “pois,” they might be paying close attention — or they’ve totally zoned out and are just pretending to listen!

Pois… it really does have a lot of meanings!

 

Está tudo bem? (Is everything okay? / How are things?)

Following a “bom dia/boa tarde/boa noite,” in a chat between friends or acquaintances, this is the next phrase you’ll hear: “está tudo bem?” It’s what the Portuguese love to ask! And the reply is nearly always the same: “está tudo bem, e consigo?” (All good, and with you?).

It’s a way to check in on others and start a conversation. Often, it’s a chance to get someone to open up, share feelings, confide challenges, or tell happy (or not-so-happy) news — and show they’re there to help.

It also kick-starts a good chat — something we Portuguese love! We’re always ready to talk — and listen.

 

Fixe! (Cool! / Great!)

It sounds like fish, but it’s not 🙂 “Fixe” is a casual way of saying something is good, that we like it. If someone asks, “are you enjoying the Douro region?” you can say, “é fixe” (it’s cool). It’s Portuguese slang, but used all the time.

And don’t forget to say why you’re enjoying the Douro… We’re very proud of our beautiful land, proud to be Portuguese and to live in a country by the sea full of natural beauty. Hearing someone say nice things about our region makes us even more smitten.

 

Está tudo bem, não se preocupe! (It’s all good, don’t worry!)

Portuguese people are incredibly understanding! So, if you make a little blunder, don’t worry. You’ll probably hear “não se preocupe” (don’t worry), with a smile and a genuine willingness to help.

We’re always ready with a pat on the back, a hearty laugh, and the ability to just carry on as if nothing happened.

Just be careful when it comes to talking about football — that’s a topic that gets people’s emotions running high! 🙂

 

Até já! / Até logo! / Até amanhã! (See you soon! / See you later! / See you tomorrow!)

Yes, they all sound the same, but they’re not used the same way. These Portuguese ways of saying goodbye depend on the context:

• Just popping out for a quick errand and coming back shortly? “Até já” is the oneo;
• Heading out for a while (say, to explore the city) and returning later? Use “até logo””;
• Not seeing the person again until the next day? Then it’s “até amanhã.”

Simple, right? And we prefer these over “adeus” (goodbye), which feels a bit more final and distant…

 

The rich vocabulary of Northern Portugal

Since our focus is on Northern Portugal, we couldn’t miss out on typical expressions from this region — where the accent and character are completely unique and unmistakable.

Ready for a good laugh? That’s what we love to do most around here:

• “Ó homem!” / “Ó mulher!” (Hey man! / Hey woman!)
  A very informal way to call someone — especially in rural villages. If you hear “Ó homem, veja lá isso!” (Hey man, look at that!) or “Ó mulher, já viste a confusão?” (Hey woman, have you seen this mess?), you’re in true Portuguese territory — where people use these interjections simply and without offence.

 

• “Dar à sola” (To leg it / Scarper)
  This funny expression means someone’s ready to leave or make a quick exit. It refers to the soles of your shoes — ready to hit the road!

 

• “Estás a ver?“ (You see?)
  It looks like a question, but it’s not! In Portuguese, it’s more like a spoken comma, used during conversation to check if the other person is following along — kind of like “pois”. For example: “I went to the market and bought some really fresh fruit, “estás a ver?” It was so delicious I had to go back the next day.”

 

• “Dar graxa” (To butter someone up)
  This unique phrase means you’re flattering someone to get what you want. Like: “Vou dar graxa ao meu chefe (I’m going to butter up my boss), hoping for a raise”

 

• “Dar uma volta ao bilhar grande” (Go take a long walk / Get lost – in a cheeky way)
  A playful Portuguese way of telling someone to get lost. If someone’s being annoying, you might say “vai dar uma volta ao bilhar grande” — said with a smile and a good mood, it’s taken lightly!

 

• “Ter lata” (To have some nerve / Be cheeky)
  This means someone had the audacity to do or say something unexpected. “Teve a lata de aparecer sem ser convidado” (They had the nerve to show up uninvited). But don’t worry — invited or not, you’ll always be warmly welcomed!

 

• “À grande e à francesa” (Living it large / With all the bells and whistles)
  Used when something is done with style, luxury and flair! If you go to a party full of food, drinks, music, and perfect décor, people might say, “isto é que foi uma festa à grande e à francesa” — that was one lavish party!

 

• “Estar feito ao bife” (To be in trouble)
  If you hear this, something’s gone wrong. Someone messed up? Estar feito ao bife. Missed your mum’s dinner call? Feito ao bife. Forgot an important birthday? Yep… feito ao bife.

 

We could go on for pages and pages with these expressions — but really, the best way is to visit Portugal and learn from the locals. You’ll be amazed at words you’ve never heard before!

But first, let us share a…

 

Bonus: lightning vocab

• Pastel de nata – iconic Portuguese pastry you must try (among many others…)
• Giro(a) – something nice or cool (people, places or things)
• Fino in the North / Imperial in the South – a refreshing Portuguese beer, perfect with a meal or on a sunny terrace
• Francesinha – an epic dish from Porto! Meat, cheese, sauce, egg, chips… all on one plate!
• Aqui ao lado – watch out! This could mean 5 minutes… or 45!
• Bacalhau – did you know there are 1001 ways to cook codfish? And the Portuguese love them all!
• Espetáculo! – what you’ll say when someone asks how your trip to Portugal went. Just don’t forget to say it in Portuguese!

 

Final tips…

To finish, here are a few suggestions:

• Speak slowly and smile. Even if you make mistakes, the Portuguese will appreciate the effort.
• Ask questions! We love to help.
• Never underestimate the power of a simple obrigado (thank you).

 

Portuguese friendliness is always there. And if you hear “desenrascou-se muito bem,” it means you managed to improvise like a pro!

 

NOW THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO SPEAK THE PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE, IT’S TIME TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE BY BOOKING YOUR TRIP TO PORTUGAL. OUR PROGRAMMES WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE BEST TEACHERS: AUTHENTIC LOCAL PEOPLE, INCREDIBLE COMMUNITIES, AND A WARM WELCOME WAITING FOR YOU!

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