25 Portuguese Phrases That Will Actually Save Your Life (And Your Dignity) as an Expat
Here’s what nobody tells you about moving to Portugal: you can live here for years buying groceries at the English-speaking Continente, ordering coffee by pointing, and surrounding yourself exclusively with other expats in Portugal who also can’t roll their Rs. Or you can learn twenty phrases and suddenly the woman at the corner bakery remembers your name, your neighbors invite you to their kid’s birthday party, and the guy at the hardware store gives you the local price instead of the tourist markup.
The difference between being a foreigner who lives in Portugal and actually being part of Portugal is about 500 words and the willingness to sound ridiculous while learning them. Portugal now has over one million foreign residents, representing a 34% increase in expats, which means there are two kinds of people here: those who stay in the expat bubble and those who butcher the Portuguese language with enough enthusiasm that Portuguese people adopt them anyway.
This isn’t about becoming fluent. It’s about showing you give enough of a damn to try. And trying starts with these twenty-five essential Portuguese phrases that will take you from invisible tourist to actual community member faster than any visa possibly could.
Your Go-To Guide for Learning Portuguese for Expats
- “Bom dia” / “Boa tarde” / “Boa noite” (Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening)
Portugal runs on greetings like cars run on gasoline. Walk into any store, café, or elevator without saying hello and you might as well be announcing you were raised by wolves. “Bom dia” until around noon, “Boa tarde” from lunch until sunset, and “Boa noite” after dark. Get the timing wrong and nobody will correct you but you’ll see that tiny flicker in their eyes that says “close enough, we appreciate the effort.” - “Olá” (Hello)
When you’re not sure which greeting fits the time of day, “Olá” is your safety net. It works morning, noon, or night and carries zero risk of embarrassment. Think of it as the linguistic equivalent of wearing black to a party when you’re not sure of the dress code. - “Tudo bem?” (Everything good?)
This is the casual greeting that oils every social interaction. Someone asks you “Tudo bem?” and you respond with “Tudo bem!” even if your apartment flooded that morning. It’s the Portuguese equivalent of “How are you?” and “I’m fine” rolled into one efficient exchange. Nobody actually wants details. It’s just the verbal handshake confirming you’re both human and functioning at minimum capacity. - “Obrigado/Obrigada” (Thank you)
Men say obrigado, women say obrigada. This matters more than you’d think. Get it right and you’ll see subtle nods of approval from locals who appreciate that you care about details. Use it constantly at the bakery, pharmacy, when someone holds a door, when someone doesn’t slam a door in your face. Portuguese culture appreciates gratitude the way plants appreciate water. - “Não há de quê” (You’re welcome)
Skip the textbook “de nada” and jump straight to this phrase, which literally translates to “there’s nothing to it” but functions as warm, genuine acknowledgment. Locals light up when foreigners use it because it signals you’re not just visiting, you’re paying attention. It’s the linguistic equivalent of bringing wine to dinner instead of showing up empty handed. - “Por favor” (Please)
You’d think this would be obvious, but watch how many expats skip it entirely when ordering. “Um café” sounds like a demand. “Um café, por favor” sounds like a request from a civilized human. Those two extra words are the difference between service and enthusiastic service. - “Chamo-me…” (My name is…)
Instead of just blurting your name like you’re taking attendance, use “Chamo-me” followed by your name. It’s slightly more formal than necessary for casual interactions, which makes it perfect for showing respect. At the post office, the bank, or meeting your neighbor for the first time, this phrase transforms you from random foreigner to person worth remembering. - “Como se chama?” (What’s your name?)
Once you’ve introduced yourself, asking someone their name creates actual connection instead of transactional interaction. Use this with your regular barista, the person who always walks their dog at the same time as you, or literally anyone you see regularly. Portuguese people appreciate relationship building, and names are where relationships start. - “Queria…” (I would like…)
This is your polite opener for ordering anything. “Queria um café” (I would like a coffee), “Queria uma sandes” (I would like a sandwich), “Queria ver aquele” (I would like to see that one). It’s softer than “I want” and more polite than just pointing. Pair it with “por favor” at the end and you’ve achieved peak politeness. - “Pode trazer…” (Can you bring…)
At restaurants when you need something brought to the table, this phrase is your friend. “Pode trazer a conta?” (Can you bring the check?), “Pode trazer mais pão?” (Can you bring more bread?). It’s more graceful than gesturing wildly for the waiter’s attention and communicates that you understand they’re busy humans, not servants. - “Tem…?” (Do you have…?)
Your essential grocery store, pharmacy, and shop phrase. “Tem leite?” (Do you have milk?), “Tem isto em azul?” (Do you have this in blue?). Point at things while saying this and you’ve successfully bridged the gap between knowing zero Portuguese and getting exactly what you need. Follow it up with “obrigado” regardless of whether they have it and you’re golden. - “Quanto custa?” (How much does it cost?)
Essential for markets, restaurants without visible prices, and any situation where you need to know if something costs three euros or thirty. Point at the item while saying this and you’ve communicated complex economic inquiry across language barriers. Following it up with a surprised face is optional but often accurate. - “Onde fica…?” (Where is…?)
Lost? Need directions? This phrase is your navigation system. “Onde fica a estação?” (Where is the station?), “Onde fica a casa de banho?” (Where is the bathroom?). People will either point, give you detailed directions you won’t understand, or physically walk you there because Portuguese people are aggressively helpful. - “Como se vai para…?” (How do I get to…?)
Slightly more sophisticated than “onde fica,” this asks for directions rather than location. “Como se vai para o centro?” (How do I get to downtown?). Warning: the answer will involve hand gestures, cardinal directions, and landmarks you’ve never heard of. Smile, nod, thank them, and pull out Google Maps the second they walk away. - “A conta, por favor” (The check, please)
In Portugal servers will not bring you the check until you ask for it because rushing diners is considered deeply rude. This cultural politeness is charming until you’ve been sitting at a café for 45 minutes making uncomfortable eye contact with your waiter. Learn this phrase early and avoid the awkward international gesture of air-signing an invisible receipt. - “Com licença” (Excuse me)
Your Swiss Army knife phrase for every awkward social situation. Trying to squeeze past someone on a crowded tram? “Com licença.” Need to interrupt a conversation to ask where the bathroom is? “Com licença.” It’s the social lubricant that keeps Portuguese society running smoothly, and you’ll use it a dozen times daily without thinking. - “Desculpe” (Sorry)
This is “com licença’s” more apologetic cousin. Use it when you’ve actually done something wrong, like stepped on someone’s foot, or need to get someone’s attention urgently. “Desculpe” carries real weight, so save it for moments when you genuinely need forgiveness. Overuse it and you’ll sound anxious. Use it appropriately and you’ll sound considerate. - “Não entendo” (I don’t understand)
Be radically honest about your confusion. Portuguese people respect directness, and they’d rather know you’re lost than watch you nod and agree to something you’ll regret later. This phrase has saved countless expats from accidentally agreeing to adopt someone’s cat or signing up for a gym membership while trying to ask for directions. - “Pode repetir, por favor?” (Can you repeat, please?)
Your follow-up when someone slows down but you still missed it because a motorcycle drove by or your brain short-circuited processing nasal vowels. This phrase signals you’re trying hard enough that most people will happily repeat themselves, often with helpful hand gestures this time around. - “Pois, pois” (Yeah, yeah / I see)
This wonderfully versatile phrase is less a concrete statement and more social punctuation proving you’re still engaged. Portuguese people use “pois” constantly as conversational filler. It means “yes,” “I understand,” “go on,” or “I’m listening” depending on inflection. Master this and you’ll sound 40% more fluent while actually understanding nothing additional. It’s the linguistic equivalent of nodding thoughtfully during a meeting where you stopped paying attention ten minutes ago. - “Pronto” (Ready / Done / Okay / So…)
“Pronto” might be the most overworked word in European Portuguese. It means “ready” but also “done,” “okay,” “so,” “well then,” and “I guess that’s that.” You’ll hear it approximately 600 times per day in every possible context. Use it when you’re ready to leave, when you’ve finished a task, when you’re accepting a situation you can’t change, or when you need a conversational transition. It’s the linguistic duct tape holding Portuguese conversations together. - “Fixe” (Cool / Nice)
Your go-to word for expressing approval about literally anything. Something good happened? “Fixe!” Someone tells you about their weekend plans? “Que fixe!” It’s the universal enthusiastic response that works whether you’re talking about weather, food, or someone’s new haircut. The word skews slightly younger and more casual, which makes it perfect for building rapport without sounding like a textbook. - “Estar com os azeites” (To be with the olive oils)
When someone is in a genuinely foul mood, they’re “with the olive oils.” This phrase is pure Portuguese poetry. No logical explanation exists for why olive oils represent crankiness, but natives use it constantly to describe someone who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. “Ele está com os azeites hoje” (He’s with the olive oils today) is your diplomatic way of warning others that someone is not to be approached until further notice. - “Ter muita lata” (To have a lot of can)
The literal translation makes zero sense, but the meaning is crystal clear: someone has nerve, audacity, or shocking boldness. Use it when someone does something impressively shameless. Your neighbor parks in your spot for the third time? “Tem muita lata!” Someone cuts in line at the café? “Que lata!” The beauty is that your tone determines whether it’s playful teasing or genuine outrage, giving you remarkable emotional range with just three words. - “Não falo português” (I don’t speak Portuguese)
Let’s end with radical honesty. After attempting all twenty-four phrases above, you’ll eventually hit a conversation wall where none of your memorized phrases apply and someone is asking you something complex about taxes or plumbing. This is your emergency brake. It buys you approximately three seconds of sympathy before they either switch to English or, more entertainingly, just speak louder in Portuguese as if volume was your problem all along.
The Reality of Learning Portuguese as an Expat
Portugal was rated 15th among the best destinations for expats in 2024, which sounds great until you realize that “best destination” doesn’t mean “easiest language.” Portuguese is notoriously difficult to pronounce even when you know what you’re supposed to be saying. The vowels are nasal, the ‘r’ sounds like you’re summoning ancient gods, and entire syllables seem to be swallowed mid-word like linguistic black holes.
But here’s what makes it worth the struggle. Foreign nationals now make up more than 10% of Portugal’s population, which means you’re surrounded by people who fumble through these same basic Portuguese phrases daily. The cashier at your local grocery store has heard every possible mispronunciation of “obrigado” in twelve different accents. They’re not judging you. They’re just genuinely happy you tried.
Because trying is what matters. You can live in Portugal without learning Portuguese the same way you can live on pizza and beer without vegetables. Technically possible, but you’re missing the entire point. The language isn’t just communication, it’s the password to a community that’s waiting to welcome you if you’re willing to sound foolish for a few months while you learn it.
So memorize these twenty-five Portuguese phrases, butcher them with confidence, and remember that every expat before you has accidentally said something wildly inappropriate while ordering bread. You’re part of a grand tradition now, and the tradition starts with trying. Welcome to Portugal, where the language is impossible but the people are patient and the pastéis de nata make all the linguistic humiliation worthwhile.