Portugal · Language · 2026
Talking your way around Lisbon
Portuguese (European Portuguese, distinct from Brazilian) is universal. Pronunciation is famously dense — Portuguese feels closer to Russian than to Spanish at first listen. Don't speak Spanish at people; it lands as 'I didn't bother to learn which country I'm in.'
English level: Higher English fluency than Spain — among Europe's best, especially in Lisbon and Porto. Younger Portuguese in service jobs are usually conversational.
Phrases worth memorising
Hello / Hi
/oh-LAH/
Olá
Thank you
/oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah/
Obrigado (m) / Obrigada (f)
The form depends on the speaker's gender, not the listener's.
Please
/por fah-VOR/
Por favor / Se faz favor
Sorry / Excuse me
/desh-KOOL-peh / kom lee-SEN-sah/
Desculpe / Com licença
Good morning / afternoon / evening
/bom DEE-ah / BOH-ah TAR-jeh / BOH-ah NOY-teh/
Bom dia / Boa tarde / Boa noite
The bill, please
/ah KOHN-tah/
A conta, por favor
Do you speak English?
/FAH-lah een-GLAYSH/
Fala inglês?
How much?
/KWAHN-too KOOSH-tah/
Quanto custa?
Cheers!
/sah-OO-jeh/
Saúde!
A small beer (Lisbon)
/OO-mah eem-peh-ree-AHL/
Uma imperial
'Fino' in Porto. 'Cerveja' = generic beer.
What's polite, what's a trap
European Portuguese pronunciation closes vowels and slurs syllables — 'obrigado' often comes out as 'brigá-doo'. Brazilian speakers pronounce vowels openly and are easier for English speakers to understand.
Don't open conversations in Spanish, even basic 'Hola'. Open in English or Portuguese.
'Faz favor' (literally 'do me a favour') is interchangeable with 'por favor' but slightly more local-sounding.
Last reviewed . Phonetic guides are approximate; native pronunciations are worth listening to before deploying.
See also: etiquette & customs · visa & entry.