Basic Portuguese for World Cup 2014

World Cup is coming up in 3 months and the anxiety for the big event here in Brazil is rising. Although most hotel receptionists will speak a language other than Portuguese (English most commonly), the common person on the street will most likely be very limited in their ability to communicate in or understand a language other than their own. Therefore, we have decided to make a short post of the basics of Brazilian Portuguese for getting around in Brazil.

xo Jessica and Luiz

Here are some basic Portuguese phrases to learn or have handy in case you run into a situation where no one around speaks your language.

Asking for Directions

• Onde é o/a.... - Where is the...
• banheiro - bathroom
• estadio - stadium
• metro - subway/metro
• ônibus - bus
• hotel - hotel
• Com licença - Excuse me
• Por favor - Please
• Direita - Right
• Esquerda - Left
• À frente - In front
• Atrás - Behind
• Rua - Street
• Avenida - Avenue
• Subir - Go up
• Descer - Go down

Ordering Food

• Eu quero... - I want...
• Comida - Food
• Refrigerante - Soda
• Agua - Water
• Cerveja - Beer
• Cardâpio - Menu
• Carne - Meat
• Frango - Chicken
• Fish - Peixe
• Salmon - Salmão
• Arroz - Rice
• Fritas - French Fries
• Frio - Cold
• Quente - Hot
• Café - Coffee
• Chá - Tea
• Acuçar - Sugar
• Sal - Salt
• Conta - Check
• Sobremesa - Dessert

Small Talk/Basic Vocabulary

• Oi - Hello
• Tudo bem - How are you
• Tchau - Goodbye
• Meu nome é... - My name is...
• Desculpe - Sorry
• Obrigado - Thank you
• Eu não falo português - I don't speak Portuguese
• Você fala inglês? - Do you speak English?

Money

• Dinheiro - Cash
• Cartão - Card
• Debito - Debit
• Credito - Credit
• Caixa Eletronica - ATM
• Troco - Change
• Câmbio - Place to exchange currency
• Real - R$1
• Reais - More than R$1
• Centavos - Cents

Transportation

• Ônibus - Bus
• Carro - Cars
• Metro - Metro/Subway
• Bilhete - Ticket (Usually for metro)
• Avião -  Plane
• Aeroporto - Airport
• Terminal - Bus terminal
• Ponto de ônibus - Bus stop
• Passaporte - Passport
• Passagem - Ticket (For a flight or bus)