This document provides 9 common Portuguese expressions that tourists should know, along with their English translations and examples of use. Some of the key expressions included are "Ó, desculpe! Com licença!" meaning "Excuse me", "Pá!" used as an interjection like "hey", "E então?" meaning "So what?" when dismissing someone's complaints, and "Vou ter saudades disto..." expressing nostalgia and that something will be missed.

1. Nine Portuguese expressions every tourist
should know.

2. Ó, desculpe! Com licença!
Ó, desculpe! Com licença! – “Excuse me”
You can strike the “com licença” and just say “ó,
desculpe!” over and over again until someone hears
you. It works everywhere, from asking for help in the
streets to ordering food.

3. Pá !
Pá – “Hey,” “So,” and other meaningless interjections
“Pá” is the Portuguese equivalent of “che” for Argentinians. You use it
at the beginning or ending of a sentence.
Or you can just say “Pá…” take your time, while thinking about
something.
During the Carnation Revolution, a French journalist came to Portugal
(without knowing much Portuguese) and, after talking to a lot of
people, made a note to see a guy named “Pá” since he was always
being mentioned. That’s how much we use it.

4. E então?
E então? – “So what?”
If someone’s bothering you, or accusing you of doing
something, you can say “E então?” like you just don’t
give a damn about their problems, and move on with
your life.

5. Vai mais uma?
Vai mais uma? – “One more?”
This is what you should say when you’ve been at the
bar a while, everyone’s having a good time, and you’re
unsure whether or not to order another beer. Just call
the waiter — “Ó, desculpe” — and look to your friends
and ask, “Vai mais uma?”

6. Que seca…
Que seca… – “How boring”
Literally, it means “what a drought.” Use it when you
can’t stand being in the same place much longer or are
just absolutely fed up with whatever you’re doing.

7. Bora lá, pessoal!
Bora lá, pessoal! – “C’mon guys!”
Use this when you’re trying to motivate people and get
them moving.

8. Vou-me baldar / Baldei-me !
Vou-me baldar / Baldei-me – “I’m skipping / I skipped”
If you’re a student, this can be helpful when people wonder
why you’re not in class.
For more social occasions, the equivalent is “Vou-me cortar
/ Cortei-me” — “I’m cutting / I cut myself.” It’s used when
you were supposed to go some place but then decided not
to.

9. Eh, lá…!
Eh, lá…! – “Oh, wow!”
This is usually used ironically, or as an exaggeration. If
someone’s being cocky telling a story or bragging about
something, say this to bring them back down to earth.

10. Vou ter saudades disto…
Vou ter saudades disto… – “I’m going to miss this…”
Finally, and because every list of Portuguese
expressions has to include “saudade,” say this when
you’re feeling nostalgic about leaving Portugal,
preferably when you’re sitting somewhere, watching
the sunset, immersing yourself in the present, and just
sigh, “Vou ter saudades disto…”