Brazilian Portuguese is melodic, soft, and full of charm — and it differs significantly from European Portuguese. Here you will find the most important words, typical Brazilian expressions, and sentences for every situation.
Basic Vocabulary & Brazilian
Brazilian Portuguese is softer, more melodic, and more open than European Portuguese — the vowels are pronounced more clearly, the "s" at the end of a word doesn't sound like "sh" (as in Portugal), and the language has many loanwords from Tupi (an indigenous language) and African languages.
Important: Brazilians do not speak Spanish! This is a common misconception. Although the languages are related, mutual understanding is limited. A few words of Portuguese immediately open doors — Brazilians love it when foreigners try their language.
Greeting & Politeness
German
Portuguese
Pronunciation
Hello
Oi / Olá
oi / olá
Good morning
Bom dia
bom dschía
Good afternoon
Boa tarde
boa tardsche
Good evening
Boa noite
boa noitschi
How are you?
Tudo bem?
tudo beng?
Good, thanks
Tudo bem, obrigado/a
tudo beng, obrigádo/a
Goodbye
Tchau / Até logo
tscháu / até lógo
Please
Por favor
por favór
Thank you (m/f)
Obrigado / Obrigada
obrigádo / obrigáda
Sorry
Desculpa / Com licença
dschiskulpa / kong licença
Yes / No
Sim / Não
sing / naung
Difference from European Portuguese
Brazilian Portuguese differs from European like American English from British — or even more:
Topic
Brazil
Portugal
Pronunciation
More open, clearer, more melodic
More swallowed, "muffled"
You
Você (everywhere)
Tu (informal)
Train
Trem
Comboio
Mobile phone
Celular
Telemóvel
Bus
Ônibus
Autocarro
Breakfast
Café da manhã
Pequeno-almoço
Typical Brazilian Expressions
Expression
Meaning
Tudo bem? — Tudo bem!
THE universal greeting. "All good? — All good!"
Legal!
Cool! Great! (The most used word in Brazil)
Beleza!
Beauty! = Cool / All right / OK
Valeu!
Thanks! (informal) / It was worth it!
Saudade
Untranslatable word: deep longing for something beautiful that is gone
Malandragem
Cunning, cleverness, street smarts
Jeitinho brasileiro
The "Brazilian way": creative improvisation to solve problems
Delicious (food) / Attractive (person) — Be careful with the context!
Useful Phrases
German
Portuguese
How much does it cost?
Quanto custa?
Too expensive!
Muito caro!
Where is...?
Onde fica...?
I don't understand
Não entendo
Do you speak English?
Você fala inglês?
I'm from Germany
Sou da Alemanha
No problem
Sem problema / Tranquilo
The bill, please
A conta, por favor
Can I pay by card?
Posso pagar com cartão?
Help!
Socorro!
Police!
Polícia!
I need a doctor
Preciso de um médico
Food & Restaurant
German
Portuguese
Breakfast
Café da manhã
Lunch
Almoço
Dinner
Jantar
Daily special
Prato feito / PF
Water
Água
Beer
Cerveja
Coffee
Café / Cafézinho
Juice
Suco
Meat
Carne
Chicken
Frango
Fish
Peixe
Rice
Arroz
Beans
Feijão
Spicy
Picante
Delicious!
Delicioso! / Gostoso!
I'm a vegetarian
Sou vegetariano/a
Numbers
Number
Portuguese
Number
Portuguese
1
Um/Uma
6
Seis
2
Dois/Duas
7
Sete
3
Três
8
Oito
4
Quatro
9
Nove
5
Cinco
10
Dez
100
Cem
1,000
Mil
Emergency Numbers
Service
Number
Police emergency
190
Fire department
193
Ambulance (SAMU)
192
Tourist police (Rio)
+55 21 2332-2924
German Embassy Brasília
+55 61 3442-7000
German Consulate São Paulo
+55 11 3097-6644
German Consulate Rio
+55 21 3380-1700
Tipp
"Tudo bem?" with a smile is the key to Brazil. It's the universal greeting — in the taxi, in the restaurant, in the store. The response is always "Tudo bem!" And if you say "Legal!" and "Valeu!" you've already mastered 90% of Brazilian small talk.
