A Traveller's Guide to Portuguese | Europe's Famous Hostels

A Traveller’s Guide to Portuguese

Planning on a trip to Portugal but a little worried about the language? You can relay with our Traveller’s Guide to Portuguese!

It’s always fun to learn a few words and phrases in a foreign language, and it especially comes in handy when travelling. Speaking with locals and being able to understand basic phrases certainly adds to the overall experience. And while the Portuguese speak English fairly well, it’s always appreciated when tourists make an effort in the local language. Ready to learn a bit? Check out our Traveller’s Guide to Portuguese for useful words and phrases to help make your adventure easier!

Lisboa, Portugal – A Traveller’s Guide to Portuguese

Greetings

Olá – Hello / Adeus – Goodbye

It’s always good to start with the basics. These two words are super easy to pronounce, so just go for it!

Bom dia – Good Morning / Boa tarde – Good Afternoon / Boa noite – Good night

It’s polite to greet someone when you enter a place, be it a cafe, restaurant, shop, or museum. You’ll be treated well if you make that extra effort with the locals!

Lagos, Portugal – A Traveller’s Guide to Portuguese

Polite Phrases

Obrigado/ Obrigada – Thank You

This is the most important one if you want to come off as a polite tourist. Learning to say thank you in any language will always make your time easier! The word is pronounced o-bree-gah-doh if you’re a man. And if you’re a woman, it’s pronounced o-bree-gah-da.

De nada – You’re Welcome

Just use it like you would in English! If someone says ‘Obrigado/da‘, you can simply reply with, ‘De nada‘. Not a lot of tourists do this so you’ll instantly get brownie points if you do!

Por favor – Please

If you’re familiar with Spanish, then this one should also come easy. Nothing charms the locals more than polite tourists. You might even get a kiss from an old lady, an honour for anyone, really!

Desculpe – Excuse me

Pronounced like ‘days-cool’pee’, you use it just like you would in English. For example, you use it in situations when you accidentally bump into people, want to apologise, or want to get someone’s attention.

Lisboa, Portugal – A Traveller’s Guide to Portuguese

Other Helpful Words or Phrases

Saúde – Cheers

This is pronounced ‘Sa-ú-de’ with a silent D in the end. If you know Brazillian Portuguese, this is a difference as they pronounce it like, ‘Sa-ú-dji’. You’ll want to learn this phrase well as you’ll need it for the many toasts you’ll do in Portugal!

Uma água, por favor. – A water, please.

We were going to teach you to ask for beer (cerveja), or wine (vinho), but decided to just go for water. It’s easy to get dehydrated by walking around in the sun all day, so water it is! If you want to order a beer or wine, just replace the word in the above phrase and order away!

Fixe – Cool

Pronounced feesh, it’s an informal way of saying something is cool or very good. We encourage you to try and use it as not a lot of tourists do. So it might surprise some Portuguese people if you drop it in a conversation!

Não falo Português. Pode falar em Inglês? – I don’t speak Portuguese. Can you speak English?

If all else fails, you can always use this phrase. As long as you’re in the main spots in the country, you’ll always find people who speak English. But we hope you’ve at least picked up a few phrases or words by now!

Oporto, Portugal – A Traveller’s Guide to Portuguese

Where to Stay in Portugal

Europe’s Famous Hostels has three incredible hostels in Portugal, located in Lisbon, Porto, and Lagos. Whether you’re after an urban adventure or a beach holiday, there’s a place for you with us in Portugal!

Lisboa

You have to check out Sunset Destination Hostel Lisbon! Located only 4 mins from the popular Barrio Alto, you’ll love the atmosphere, free activities, and great amenities at this famous hostel. Did we mention they have a swimming pool and rooftop bar with spectacular views over Lisbon?!

Porto

gatos Hostel is located in the heart of Porto and is ready to host you! Choose from a range of rooms, and spend some time on their rooftop watching the Porto sunset.

Lagos

The Algarve is one of the most beautiful areas of Portugal, and Lagos is a hot destination to check out! Book your room at Rising Cock Hostel, and enjoy the best party hostel in the Algarve!