Greetings
Olá / Bom dia
oh-LAH / bom DEE-ah
Hi / good morning. A greeting opens every interaction in Portugal; 'boa tarde' (afternoon) and 'boa noite' (evening) follow through the day.
Obrigado / Obrigada
oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah
Thank you — and it's gendered by the SPEAKER: men say 'obrigado', women 'obrigada', regardless of who they're thanking. A classic newcomer slip.
Daily life
Se faz favor / Por favor
suh fash fah-VOR / poor fah-VOR
Please / excuse me. 'Se faz favor' (often 'sff') also flags a waiter. 'De nada' is 'you're welcome'.
Desculpe
desh-KOOL-puh
Sorry / excuse me — to apologise or get past. 'Com licença' is the polite 'may I pass'.
Quanto custa?
KWAN-too KOOSH-tah
How much is it? Handy at the Bolhão market and shops; most prices are fixed.
Não falo português
now FAH-loo poor-too-GESH
I don't speak Portuguese. Most younger Portuenses speak good English; this plus 'fala inglês?' (do you speak English?) gets you there.
Food
Um fino, se faz favor
oom FEE-noo
A small draft beer, please — the PORTO word. In Lisbon it's an 'imperial'; ordering a 'fino' instantly marks you as up north. Essential local knowledge.
Uma bica / um café
OO-mah BEE-kah
An espresso. 'Café' usually means espresso; 'meia de leite' is a milky coffee, 'abatanado' a longer black. Coffee is cheap (€0.80-1) and constant.
Social
Fixe
FEESH
Cool / great — the everyday Portuguese 'nice'. 'Tá-se bem' (it's all good) is the relaxed northern equivalent.
Tripeiro
tree-PAY-roo
A native of Porto — literally 'tripe-eater', a proud nickname from the legend that Porto gave its meat to explorers and kept the tripe (try tripas à moda do Porto).
Bora!
BOH-rah
Let's go! / come on — short for 'embora', the all-purpose nudge to get moving. Pairs with 'fixe' in casual northern speech.
Emergency
Socorro!
soo-KOH-rroo
Help! For emergencies dial 112 (EU, English-speaking operators); the SNS24 health line is 808 24 24 24.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.