This document provides an introduction to basic Portuguese phrases for visitors. It begins by explaining that the presentation will teach basic Portuguese to help visitors interact and get around in Portuguese-speaking countries. It then lists countries where Portuguese is spoken and notes some regional differences. The presentation teaches common greetings, days of the week, times, emergencies, and includes exercises to practice what is learned with sample phrases and their English translations. It concludes by outlining topics for subsequent chapters on travel and dining.

1. Portuguese for visitors
-- Chapter I --
Introduction
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2. Did you…?
When visiting a new country, did you ever
considered learning at least some of its
basic language?
That’s what what this series of three
presentations will be for; you’ll be able to
learn basic Portuguese, so you can better
move around and interact with others
when you visit Portuguese-speaking
countries.
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3. Where can you speak
Portuguese?
Portuguese is spoken not only in Portugal,
but also in countries such as Brazil,
Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau,
East Timor, Cape Verde and São Tomé e
Príncipe. It is also spoken in Macau.
Some of these countries may have slight
language differences, but generally the
language is the same, and understood by
all.
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4. Before we begin…
Across this presentation you’ll see several
icons you can click, like this one: . By
clicking them, you’ll be able to hear the
Portuguese words or expressions placed
nearby, so you can better learn how to say
them all by yourself.
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5. Let’s start with some common
phrases
In the next slides you’ll be able to find
some basic expressions. They may seem
simple enough, but they’re among the
most important ones you’ll learn, when it
comes to Portuguese!
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6. Common Greeting Phrases
Good morning - Bom Dia
Good afternoon - Boa Tarde
Good night - Boa Noite
Hello - Olá
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7. Other Important Phrases
Goodbye - Adeus
Thank you - Obrigado
Please - Por favor
Sorry - Desculpe / Desculpa *
You’re welcome - De nada
* - The first is the formal form, the second is the
informal one. You’d use “desculpe” with a waiter,
but “desculpa” with a friend or family member.
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8. Answering Questions
Now, let’s suppose that you have to decide
something. In Portugal, you could say:
Yes - Sim
No - Não
Maybe - Talvez
I don’t know - Não sei
I don’t speak Portuguese - Não falo Português
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9. Placing yourself in time
The day before yesterday - Anteontem
Yesterday - Ontem
Today - Hoje
Tomorrow - Amanhã
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10. Days of the week
Monday - Segunda[-feira] *
Tuesday - Terça[-feira] *
Wednesday - Quarta[-feira] *
Thursday - Quinta[-feira] *
Friday - Sexta[-feira] *
Saturday - Sábado
Sunday - Domingo
*- Both forms mean exactly the same, and you can
use any of them.
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11. What does “feira” mean?
As you saw in the previous slide, you can either
say “segunda” or “segunda-feira”. But what does
“feira” mean, in these contexts?
Well, it comes from the Latin word feria, and it
used to mean “market day” or “holy day”.
Eventually the expression lost this original
sense, but it is still in use in the Portuguese
language. Nowadays, saying only “segunda”,
instead of “segunda-feira”, would mean exactly
the same.
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12. Emergency?
In case of an emergency, in Portugal you can
telephone 112. However, these keywords are also
very important for use in such a situation.
Hospital - Hospital
Ambulance - Ambulância
Police - Polícia
Firemen - Bombeiros
Stop! - Pare! or Pára! *
* - The first is the formal form, and the second the
informal.
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13. Let’s practise…
In the next few pages you’ll now see some
exercises to practise what you’ve just learned.
First, you’ll read some phrases in Portuguese
(you can listen to them as usual). In the following
page you’ll then be able to read their English
translation.
You may not know all the expressions and
words used in these phrases. Don’t worry, that’s
because they were designed to push you further
and help preparing you for the next lessons.
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14. Sample phrases #1
- Bom dia. Hoje é segunda-feira.
- Onde é o hospital?
- Onde fica a esquadra de polícia?
- Olá, Senhor John.
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15. Sample phrases #1 (translated)
- Good morning. Today is Monday.
- Where is the hospital?
- Where is the police station?
- Hello, Mister John.
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16. Sample phrases #2
- Anteontem fui ao teatro.
- Os bombeiros fazem muito barulho.
- Desculpe, a televisão não funciona.
- Desculpa, minha irmã.
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17. Sample phrases #2 (translated)
- The day before yesterday I went to the
theater.
- The firemen make a lot of noise.
- Sorry, my television isn’t working.
- I’m sorry, my sister.
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18. Sample phrases #3
- Sim, gosto de comida.
- Não sei, talvez sim ou talvez não.
- Que horas são?
- Quinta, sexta-feira, ou sábado?
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19. Sample phrases #3 (translated)
- Yes, I like food.
- I don’t know, maybe yes or maybe not.
- What time is it?
- Thursday, friday, or saturday?
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20. What’s next?
Chapter I - Introduction (basic words and phrases)
Chapter II - Going somewhere
Chapter III - Eating and shopping
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