Intro
Have you learned a little Portuguese, but still do not dare to chat with natives?
- It is perfectly normal to feel that insecurity, but there are ways to overcome it and gain new skills and more self-confidence.
- In this guide I will provide you with practical tools to break the ice and keep the conversation going, so to can speak conversational Portuguese effortlessly.
How will this Portuguese communication guide help you?
Many students point out that the most challenging part of the learning journey is to carry on a conversation.
This difficulty is especially common among students who learn Portuguese using only an app on their smartphone.
- Although all input to learn a language can be helpful, apps do not usually prepare the ground for communication in real life.
- Apps expose you to a limited number of phrases, and these are not always relevant phrases.
- These phrases are also not taught in a context, but in an isolated and random manner.
For these and many more reasons, apps are useful to dmemorize words and phrases in a pleasant way. Apps are useful as a dlearning aid, but it is not advisable to rely solely on them to learn a language.
- To reach fluency in Portuguese or any other language you need systematic and varied didactic resources that allow you to express yourself spontaneously.
If you learn the basics of the language, the logic of its internal structure, you are much closer to being able to communicate naturally.
With that goal in mind, you will find free materials to learn Portuguese in this blog and you also have a free online course.
- It is an introduction to the language that will allow you to start thinking in Portuguese. Try it out, because the course is free and you have no commitments or obligations. You will obtain the certificate of completion at no cost. Sign up with just two clicks!
And with the aim of helping you to have simple conversations in Portuguese you also have this guide. I hope you like it!
FREE Portuguese Course
Who this guide is for and what you will learn here
This guide consists of:
A video with the 106+ most relevant phrases to start a simple conversation in Portuguese and resources to keep this conversation going (in English, with captions).
The same content is available in a Portuguese video with Portuguese/English captions, if you prefer to do linguistic immersion. You also have the material in Portuguese (available for free).
PDF + MP3 + quiz + flashcards to practice this content for free.
All this material is available just below.
Below you will find the phrases of the video with audio.
Free material from this Portuguese conversation guide for English-speaking beginners
In this for English-speaking beginners you will find for free:
The tables with all the phrases of the video with audio.
The PDF that is used as the basis for the explanation you saw in the video. The PDF includes theory, summary, exercises, and answers. You can download it for free.
The audio with all the phrases of the guide in MP3 format to download (Portuguese + English). You can download it for free.
The audio with all the phrases in MP3 (only in Portuguese). You can download it for free.
A free quiz to practice what you learned here (at the end of the post).
Interactive flashcards to learn the 106+ phrases of the guide (in Portuguese + English). You can choose your favorite learning or game mode. You can practice on your smartphone with the free Quizlet app.
To learn Portuguese from scratch, you also have a mini-course, which is totally FREE, no strings attached!
- The online self-study course is an introduction to the new language with video lessons and varied materials so that you learn at your own pace, in an enjoyable and productive way.
- The mini-course includes a certificate and a gift so you can continue learning Portuguese in a totally flexible way.**
How to introduce yourself in Portuguese: Useful phrases for English-speaking beginners
You will learn these phrases starting on minute 01:59 of the video.
| Como você se chama? / Como o senhor / a senhora se chama? | What is your name? |
| Eu me chamo X. | My name is X. |
| O meu nome é X. | My name is X. |
| Eu sou o X. , Eu sou a X. | I am X. |
| Eu lhe apresento o X. , Eu lhe apresento a X. | Let me introduce you to X. |
| Este é o X. , Esta é a X. | This is X. |
| Muito prazer. | Nice to meet you. |
| Igualmente. | Likewise. |
| O prazer é todo meu. | The pleasure is mine. |
In this short video you will learn more useful phrases so that you can be friendly and you can introduce yourself in Portuguese. The videos are part of a series of videos with free material to practice that will teach you the basics of conversational Portuguese.
The main polite phrases in Portuguese:
How to introduce yourself in Portuguese:
How to ask and answer “how are you?” in Portuguese: Helpful phrases for English-speaking beginners
You will learn these phrases starting on minute 07:18 of the video.
| Que alegria ver você aqui! | Great to see you here! |
| Tanto sempo sem te ver! | Long time, no see! |
| O que há de novo? | What’s new? |
| Você sabe alguma coisa sobre o X?. Você sabe alguma coisa sobre a X? | Have you heard anything from X? |
| Como vai a família? | How is your family doing? |
| Como vai o trabalho? | How are things at work? |
| Como foi o seu dia? | How was your day? |
| Normal. | Normal. |
| Tranquilo. | Quiet. |
| Estressante. | Stressful. |
| O que você fez hoje? | What did you do today? |
| Eu trabalhei. | I worked. |
| Eu descansei. | I rested. |
| Não fiz nada. | I did not do anything. |
In this free guide (starting on minute 13:49), you will find alternative ways to ask “how are you?” in Portuguese and varied ways to answer. It includes colloquial and slang expressions for you to speak Portuguese like a native! It includes free material to practice and download.
How to meet new people in Portuguese: Useful phrases for English-speaking beginners
You will learn these icebreakers starting on minute 12:36 of the video.
| De onde você é? / De onde o senhor /a senhora é? | Where are you from? |
| Eu sou de X (cidade). | I am from X (city). |
| Você é daqui? / O senhor / a senhora é daqui? | You are from around here? |
| Eu (não) sou daqui. | I am (not) from here. |
| Onde você mora? / Onde o senhor / a senhora mora? | Where do you live? |
| Eu moro em X (cidade). | I live in X (city). |
| Você mora aqui? / O senhor / a senhora mora aqui? | Do you live here? |
| Eu (não) moro aqui. | I do (not) live here. |
| Eu estou aqui de férias. | I am here on vacation. |
| Quantos anos você tem? / Quantos anos o senhor / a senhora tem? | How old are you? |
| Eu tenho X anos | I am X years old. |
| O que você faz (profissionalmente)? / Que o senhor / a senhora faz (profissionalmente)? | What do you do (for a living)? |
| Você gosta do seu trabalho? | Do you like your job? |
| Você estudas ou trabalha? | Do you study or do you work? |
| Eu sou X. | I am X. |
| Agora eu não estou trabalhando. | Currently, I am not working. |
| Você pode me dar seu número de telefone? | Can you give me your phone number? |
| Meu telefone é X . | My phone number is X. |
In this guide with the 81 most important questions and answers in Portuguese you have more useful phrases to make conversation with someone you just met (video: starting on minute 12:36). You have free material to practice and download.
How to chat with people you just met: Helpful phrases for English-speaking beginners
You will learn these phrases starting on minute 19:47 of the video.
| Está calor, né? | It is hot, isn’t it? |
| Está frio, né? | It is cold, isn’t it? |
| Que trânsito horrível, né? | Traffic was horrible, am I right? |
| Você soube das notícias? | Have you seen the news? |
| Você quer dançar? | Do you want to dance? |
| Você esta solteiro? , Você está solteira? | Are you single? |
| Você tem fogo? | Do you have a lighter? |
| Você tem horas? | Do you know what time is it? |
| Você gostaria de tomar um café? | Would you like to have a coffee? |
| Não, sinto muito. | No, I am sorry. |
| Não estou com vontade de conversar. | I do not feel like talking. |
| Não me incomode. | Do not bother me. |
| Não falo português. | I do not speak Portuguese. |
| Não tenho tempo. | I do not have time. |
| Não tenho dinheiro. | I do not have money. |
You can learn useful phrases to talk about pleasant topics (hobbies, family, weather, holidays) with strangers in these videos. They are part of a very practical series, so you do not run out of conversation topic in Portuguese. Includes free material to practice.
How to talk about hobbies in Portuguese:
How to talk about family in Portuguese:
How to talk about the weather in Portuguese:
How to talk about holidays in Portuguese:
How to talk about work and languages in Portuguese:
How to ask personal questions in Portuguese: Helpful phrases for English-speaking beginners
You will learn these phrases starting on minute 28:16 of the video.
| Você tem filhos? | Do you have children? |
| Não, não tenho. | No, I do not have. |
| Sim, tenho um filho. , Sim, tenho uma filha. | Yes, I have a son. , Yes, I have a daughter. |
| Quando é o seu aniversário? Qual é o seu signo? | When is your birthday? What is your zodiac sign? |
| O meu aniversário é no dia X de X. Eu sou X. | My birthday is the X of X. I am X. |
| Ouvi dizer que você gosta de X. | I heard you like X . |
| Que línguas você fala? | What languages do you speak? |
| Você tem passatempos? | Do you have hobbies? |
| Sim, eu gosto de X. | Yes, I like X. |
| No meu tempo livre X . | In my spare time X. |
| Você gosta de esportes? | Do you like sports? |
| Você gosta de ir para a balada? | Do you like to party? |
| Você gosta de viajar? | Do you like to travel? |
| Onde você passou suas últimas férias? | Where did you go on your last vacation? |
| Estive em X . | I was in X . |
| Você quer fazer alguma coisa no fim de semana? | Do you want to do something on the weekend? |
| Você tem planos para o fim de semana? | Do you have plans for the weekend? |
| Sim, estou ocupado. , Sim, estou ocupada. | Yes, I am busy. |
| Ainda não tenho planos. | I have no plans yet. |
| O que você fez no fim de semana passado? | What did you do last weekend? |
| Eu sai com amigos. | I went out with friends. |
| Eu fiquei em casa. | I stayed at home. |
| Você tem um pet? | Do you have a pet? |
| Sim, eu tenho um cachorro. | Yes, I have a dog. |
| Sim, tenho um gato. | Yes, I have a cat. |
| Você toca um instrumento? | Do you play an instrument? |
| Sim, eu toco X. | Yes, I play X. |
| Eu gosto de X. E você? | I like X. What about you? |
| Eu não gosto de X. E você? | I do not like X. What about you? |
| Você gosta de ler? | Do you like to read? |
| Você gosta de escutar música? | Do you like to listen to music? |
| Você gosta de ir ao cinema? | Do you like going to the movies? |
| Você gosta de assistir séries? | Do you like to watch series? |
| O que você (não) gosta de comer? | What do you (not) like to eat? |
In this guide with the 81 most important questions and answers in Portuguese you have more useful phrases to invite someone and to propose a meeting (video: starting on minute 52:10). You have free material to practice and download.
How to talk to strangers on the street in Portuguese: Useful phrases for English-speaking beginners
You will learn these phrases starting on minute 40:45 of the video.
| Tem um bom restaurante aqui por perto? | Is there a good restaurant nearby? |
| Onde dá para comer bem por aqui? | Where can you have a good meal around here? |
| Que comida é típica daqui? | What food is typical here? |
| Como eu posso ir para X? | How can I get to X? |
| O ônibus X passa por aqui? | Does the bus X passes here? |
| Que bonito o seu X! , Que bonita a sua X! | What a nice X! |
| Adoro o seu X. , Adoro a sua X . | I love your X . |
In this guide with the 81 most important questions and answers in Portuguese you have more useful phrases to ask for information on the street (video: starting on minute 44:15). You have free material to practice and download.
Filler words in Portuguese: Helpful words for English-speaking beginners
You will learn this vocabulary starting on minute 45:30 of the video.
| Ah, é? | Oh, really? |
| Sério? | Seriously? |
| É, né? | Right? |
| Puxa! | Wow! |
| Pois é. | Indeed. |
| Nossa! | Oh my! |
| Legal! = Bacana! (informal) | cool |
| Que bonito! , Que bonita! | That is beautiful! |
| Que fofo! , Que fofa! | That is cute! |
It is also important that you know Portuguese words that show interest during a conversation.
- These words are not content-rich in terms of meaning, that is, they do not provide valuable information.
- However, they are very useful from a pragmatic point of view, because they indicate that you are paying attention and getting involved in the conversation.
A free quiz to practice the 106+ Portuguese phrases to keep the conversation going
In the quiz there are questions such as “fill in gaps” (“___”), “action – – – > reaction” and “true” / “false”.
[tqb_quiz id='6852']
Keep on learning Brazilian Portuguese – online and for free, from scratch!
✨You have a FREE ONLINE mini-course for English speakers to learn the basics of communication in Brazilian Portuguese, starting from scratch. You have 5 lessons with video, PDF, MP3, flashcards, and quiz, and you will obtain the completion certificate.
You have a sneak peek of the mini-course that you can access without having to enroll. In the link you will also find FREE tips and resources to learn Portuguese.
✨You have a comprehensive Portuguese self-study online course (level A1 – beginners) with webinars and certificate of completion. Each of the 42 lessons has a video class, PDF (theory, exercises, answers), MP3, quiz, and flashcards. There is a free trial lesson available.
About the author: I am Alicia, your Portuguese teacher. I was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and I was raised trilingual, since my mother is German and my father, Spaniard. I did my undergraduate and Ph.D. studies in Madrid and Berlin. After completing my Masters in Didactics in 2010, I applied my knowledge to foreign language teaching. I worked at the Popular University in Berlin with group classes until 2018. Since then, I have specialized in online teaching and the creation of digital learning content.
Images obtained via Canva®.
©2023 Alicia Montero Schiemann
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