Polite Phrases in Portuguese
Portuguese politeness is warm and used often. Two things decide whether you sound natural: matching obrigado to yourself, and knowing which apology fits.
Please and thank you
-
por favor
poor fah-VOR
-
please
-
obrigado
oh-bree-GAH-doo
-
thank you
Said by a man, whoever he is thanking
-
obrigada
oh-bree-GAH-dah
-
thank you
Said by a woman
-
muito obrigado
MOOY-too oh-bree-GAH-doo
-
thank you very much
-
de nada
jee NAH-dah
-
you're welcome
-
imagina
ee-mah-ZHEE-nah
-
don't mention it
Very Brazilian and very common
Excusing yourself and apologising
-
com licença
kohng lee-SEN-sah
-
excuse me
Before passing someone, or leaving a room
-
desculpa
des-KOOL-pah
-
sorry
Informal. desculpe is the formal version
-
sinto muito
SEEN-too MOOY-too
-
I am very sorry
For bad news and real apologies
-
sem problema
sang proh-BLEH-mah
-
no problem
Phrases for the moment
-
saúde
sah-OO-jee
-
bless you, cheers
One word for a sneeze and a toast. It means health
-
bom apetite
bohng ah-peh-CHEE-chee
-
enjoy your meal
-
parabéns
pah-rah-BANGS
-
congratulations
Also what you say for a birthday
-
boa sorte
BOH-ah SOR-chee
-
good luck
-
boa viagem
BOH-ah vee-AH-zhang
-
have a good trip
-
melhoras
meh-LYOH-rahs
-
get well soon
Com licença or desculpa
Com licença comes before the act: you are about to squeeze past, reach across someone, or leave the table.
Desculpa comes after it: you already bumped into someone, or you are interrupting.
Sinto muito is heavier than both and belongs with bad news, not with brushing past a stranger.
Obrigado and obrigada agree with the speaker. A woman thanking a man still says obrigada. This is worth over-practising, because it is the giveaway that separates a beginner from someone who has been paying attention.
Keep learning Portuguese in Vocabloot
Snap anything and learn the Portuguese word for it, with pronunciation and an example sentence.
Coming soon to
the App Store
Coming soon to
Google Play
Free during early access. We only use your email to send your invite.