You do not need fluent Portuguese for a short trip to Porto. You do need a few polite words. That matters more than perfect grammar.
Many people in central Porto speak some English, especially in restaurants, hotels and shops. Still, starting with Portuguese is respectful, and it changes the tone of the conversation.
If you learn only one habit, greet people before asking for something.
The basics
- Bom dia – good morning.
- Boa tarde – good afternoon.
- Boa noite – good evening or good night.
- Olá – hello.
- Adeus – goodbye.
- Até logo – see you later.
- Por favor – please.
- Obrigado – thank you, if you are male.
- Obrigada – thank you, if you are female.
- Desculpe – excuse me or sorry.
In cafés and small shops, a simple “bom dia” before ordering already helps a lot.
Asking if English is okay
- Fala inglês? – Do you speak English?
- Desculpe, fala inglês? – Sorry, do you speak English?
- O meu português não é bom. – My Portuguese is not good.
- Pode repetir, por favor? – Can you repeat, please?
- Mais devagar, por favor. – Slower, please.
Say it simply and with a smile. People are usually patient when they see you are trying.
In cafés
- Um café, por favor. – One espresso, please.
- Um galão, por favor. – One milky coffee, please.
- Uma meia de leite, por favor. – One coffee with milk, please.
- Uma água, por favor. – One water, please.
- A conta, por favor. – The bill, please.
- Para levar. – To take away.
In Portugal, “café” usually means espresso. If you want a larger coffee, ask for a galão or meia de leite depending on what you prefer.
In restaurants
- Mesa para dois, por favor. – Table for two, please.
- Tem reserva? – Do you have a reservation?
- Tenho reserva. – I have a reservation.
- O menu, por favor. – The menu, please.
- O que recomenda? – What do you recommend?
- Sem carne. – Without meat.
- Sem peixe. – Without fish.
- Sou alérgico/alérgica a… – I am allergic to…
- Estava muito bom. – It was very good.
If you have a serious allergy, use a written translation and show it clearly. Do not rely only on pronunciation when health is involved.
Transport
- Onde fica o metro? – Where is the metro?
- Onde fica a estação? – Where is the station?
- Quanto custa? – How much does it cost?
- Este autocarro vai para…? – Does this bus go to…?
- Preciso de um bilhete. – I need a ticket.
- Aeroporto – airport.
- Estação de São Bento – São Bento station.
- Estação de Campanhã – Campanhã station.
If a driver or staff member looks confused, show the destination written down. That is much easier than trying to win a pronunciation battle.
Shopping and markets
- Quanto é? – How much is it?
- Posso pagar com cartão? – Can I pay by card?
- Tem Multibanco? – Do you take card payment?
- Queria isto, por favor. – I would like this, please.
- Só estou a ver. – I am just looking.
- Tem outro tamanho? – Do you have another size?
In small shops, greet first. It sounds tiny, but it makes the interaction more normal.
Emergency and help
- Ajuda! – Help!
- Preciso de ajuda. – I need help.
- Chame uma ambulância. – Call an ambulance.
- Chame a polícia. – Call the police.
- Estou perdido/perdida. – I am lost.
- Onde é a farmácia? – Where is the pharmacy?
- Dói-me aqui. – It hurts here.
For a real emergency in Portugal, call 112. It is the European emergency number and it is free.
Useful Porto words
- Ribeira – the riverside historic area.
- Baixa – downtown.
- Foz – coastal area by the river mouth.
- Gaia – Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river.
- Ponte – bridge.
- Rua – street.
- Avenida – avenue.
- Praça – square.
- Miradouro – viewpoint.
Pronunciation
European Portuguese can sound very clipped if you are used to Spanish or Brazilian Portuguese. Do not panic. Speak slowly, keep phrases short and accept that you may not understand the answer the first time.
People may switch to English. That is not a failure. It usually just means they are trying to make things easier.
My take
Learn greetings, please, thank you, excuse me, the bill, card payment, allergies and help. That is enough for a visitor to be more polite and less lost.
Portuguese is the language of the place you are visiting. Use a little of it, even badly, and Porto will usually meet you halfway.
