Portuguese Words and Phrases

**Creideiki** · 08-11-24 20:02

I am on my fourth foreign language. Each time I've traveled, I've learned as much of the language as I could before leaving. This time it's Portuguese. I will be visiting Brazil for the first time this October, and I've been learning Portuguese for the past 8 months. I can't contribute to the Brazil board yet as far as actual travel experiences, but I can at least contribute here.

We all learn differently. I'll post what works for me:

1. I've tried various apps (Duolingo, Mango Languages) and never liked them very much. I tend to agree with the criticism of apps as teaching how to play the app rather than actually talk to a person. One important exception: the Anki app is excellent for learning vocabulary, and you can customize it to learn the vocabulary you want to learn. After pulling out all the bedroom Portuguese from this forum--I did an end-to-end RTFF over several weeks and made notes--I've loaded those phrases into Anki so I can have them ready when or if the time comes for them.

(I keep saying that if there's an enterprising provider in Brazil who speaks English or Spanish, she can make bank teaching bedroom Portuguese. Same for Spanish.).

2. Further to #1, I use textbooks to learn the basic grammar rules. If you already speak Spanish, the book Pois andão is an excellent resource that relates Spanish to Portuguese. If you don't know Spanish the "Practice Makes Perfect" series in English is a very good resource. Also, quite a few of the Portuguese teachers on YouTube also maintain blogs or webpages that can be great resources as well. The Speaking Brazilian page has many resources free for all. There's other free resources mentioned in this forum worth seeking out.

3. I've heard good things about Pimsleur but never used it myself; I decided to prioritize live instruction over Piimsleur. Yeah, I paid more, but I also learned more.

4. Remember you're going to be talking and listening to people. If you're at all serious about learning this language you will need a live instructor! Italki is a good resource for freelancers. I've just completed a high intermediate-level course with Speaking Brazilian that was excellent, but pricey. I'll probably switch to Italki and try some instructors to nail down my conversational skills before I go to Brazil; many are available for nominal rates (US $8-10/ hour), or less for 30 minutes, so you can try a few and see which ones you like. The more you practice, the better you'll get.

5. Listening practice: make it daily. Find podcasts or Youtube videos on subjects of interest. Chances are there are videos them português for any subject that interests you. Listening comprehension is always the last to come in, so get a head start even if all you can do is courtesies and counting right now.

If you're wondering if all that effort is worth it, I can tell you this: in 2022 I visited Colombia, after studying Spanish for two years. My entire trip was conducted in Spanish. I also got to spend two days with a young woman I met online to practice Spanish with. That would not have been possible if I didn't know Spanish. It's absolutely worth it. Having ability in a second language (or more) really opens up a new world.

**AjayLost** · 06-27-23 22:31

Is it possible to manage with just English in Sao Paulo. I don't know Spanish or Portuguese.

**SoberHans69** · 09-23-22 18:48

Hi can anyone recommend a private online Portuguese tutor from Brazil?

Searched online but they all want you to pay the website a subscription fee on top of what you pay the tutor.

Obrigado.

**Xpartan** · 08-20-22 22:38

For example, how would a Brazilian who only speaks Portuguese fare in the DR, Mexico or Colombia? Would they understand Spanish on a reasonable level and make themselves understood? Not talking about complex interactions, but in tourist settings (restaurant / hotel / sightseeing).

**XXL** · 05-30-22 14:05

Originally Posted by ExecTalent [View Original Post]

Good article here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senhor

If you have any exposure to religions in Brazil, you will hear O Senhor quite often. And, as Sperto mentioned in his post, it is used often when referring to an older person. My personal experience has been that it is used more often by 30 - 50 year old Brazilians when speaking with someone 65+. Therefore, a younger person may not have the same sentiment or upbringing. When I have used it, along with maybe a gentle touch, the older person lit up like a Christmas tree. In most cultures, a foreigner showing respect for the elderly is one way to ingratiate yourself with the locals. But, it is important to understand cultural differences. In Japan, I always asked my host for approval before giving my seat on the train to an elderly woman.

O Senhor / A Senhora, polite form for "you" when speaking to total strangers, usable with persons of the same age and even younger in order to show respect. I am 62 but I'd use "O Senhor / A Senhora" with someone queueing in front of me at a cashier or with the customs officer stamping my passport, regardless of their age. Like Vd. In Spanish as opposed to "tu". If you know the name of the person you want to show some respect to, you use their name, eg someone called Luisa to whom you want to ask whether she likes cold meat, rather than say "Vc gosta de carne fria?" (neutral, no special respect), you say "A Luisa gosta de carne fria?" (a bit more respect than neutral but with a touch of friendliness). Since you know her already, "A Senhora" would sound weird.

**Sun08** · 01-11-22 03:19

Portuguese Language Lessons.

https://ielanguages.com/portuguese.html

**Exec Talent** · 12-09-21 09:53

It is great to learn proper Portuguese. It would also be great if the locals spoke it. They don't. I have had educated Portuguese friends with me when speaking with porteiros (apartment doormen and gatekeepers) and asked them to help me understand what the porteiros were saying. Just like me, they had no idea.

**Mr Enternational** · 12-07-21 00:36

Originally Posted by Questner [View Original Post]

I have no idea yet, however since I see this usage all the time, I suspect the speakers don't use first personal singular in this expression (and the youtube channel that you've posted below confirmed it in a couple of videos).

Maybe you have something confused.

I saw the dog. Eu vi o cachorro or Vi o cachorro.

You saw the dog. Voce viu o cachorro or Viu o cachorro.

Or you can say (you) see what I mean. Viu.

I saw your profile. Vi seu perfil.

You saw your profile. Viu seu perfil.

**Questner** · 12-06-21 23:59

Originally Posted by MrEnternational [View Original Post]

Change viu to vi. With viu you are saying she saw her own profile.

I have no idea yet, however since I see this usage all the time, I suspect the speakers don't use first personal singular in this expression (and the youtube channel that you've posted below confirmed it in a couple of videos).

**Mr Enternational** · 12-05-21 23:32

Originally Posted by Questner [View Original Post]

Ol, .(name), tudo bem? Viu seu perfil

Change viu to vi. With viu you are saying she saw her own profile.

**Questner** · 12-05-21 22:41

Olá, (name), tudo bem? Viu seu perfil no (.name of the site) why gostaria de mais informações. Poderia por gentileza me informar o valor do seu cachê e se você está disponível hoje à noite?

You may use the above phrase to communicate on Whatsapp to schedule a date with a provider:

Hello, (her name), how are you? I've seen your profile on (name of the website) and would like to get more information. Would you please let me know your rates and availability for this night?

Or you can start a conversation anywhere with the following:

— Você é linda. Qual é o seu nome? You're beautiful. What's your name?

Anyway, you need some basic language to communicate, and to distinguish between your basic Spanish.

There are many suggestions how to do it: use internet resources (youtube, blogs, podcasts); set up captions on youtube and TV channels; subscribe to video resources (example Amazon Prime); learn to type and use diacritics from the beginning; buy Brazilian edition (with the flag in the upper left corner) of Gramatica Ativa 1 and 2 on Amazon; etc.

I'm trying to attach my vocabulary starter for beginners, which may help you to read online ads, etc. It's not perfect by no means, and you can copy and modify it for your needs. If you are a Brazilian national, I apologize that this starter has been skewed into adult content.

Well, Docx shows 'Invalid file' and ISG does not permit me to upload (let me know how I can solve the issue).

**Vagabundo1** · 11-01-21 21:31

Thanks.

This is another instant report of distinction.

If I could figure out how to link to that thread correctly haah.

Originally Posted by MrEnternational [View Original Post]

This is a Brazilian Portuguese language learning youtube channel that I enjoy watching.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5em2rhzvSjQ

**Mr Enternational** · 10-29-21 15:39

This is a Brazilian Portuguese language learning youtube channel that I enjoy watching.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5em2rhzvSjQ

**Phate** · 05-10-21 12:49

More used is kkkkkkk.

Originally Posted by MrEnternational [View Original Post]

Totally agreee with everything you said. Except I have never known a Brazilian person to write jajajaja as people that speak Spanish do. It would even be pronounced as zsazsazsa as in Zsa Zsa Gabor. I have more commonly known them to write rsrs, which is short for riso or laughter.

**Vagabundo1** · 05-09-21 13:07

An article published by O Globo in 2007 revealed the origin of Complexo do Alemão. After World War I, a Pole named Leonard Kaczmarkiewicz bought the land. It was not long before the place became known as Morro do Alemão German's Hill due to Kaczmarkiewicz's physical looks a person of stereotypical European fair complexion is informally called alemão, galego or russo in Brazilian Portuguese, while gringo only apply to non-Portuguese-speaking tourists; these terms can be offensive, jocose or intimate depending on context, but are generally impolitely neutral.

Source: wiki on alemao.