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
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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.
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