Lisbon phrasebook: speaking Portuguese as a visitor
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, and the language you will hear is European Portuguese. It shares its grammar and almost all of its vocabulary with Brazilian Portuguese, but sounds quite different: unstressed vowels are often reduced or swallowed, and an s at the end of a syllable is usually pronounced 'sh', so mais (more) sounds like 'mighsh' and dois (two) like 'doysh'. If you have learned Brazilian Portuguese, you will be understood, but give your ear a few days to adjust.
Say obrigado if you are a man and obrigada if you are a woman — the word agrees with the speaker, not the listener. Coffee culture is everywhere: um café gets you a small espresso, usually drunk standing at the counter. People appreciate an attempt at Portuguese rather than Spanish, even though the two look similar on paper.
Conversation lifelines
When a conversation in Lisbon moves faster than you can follow, these keep it going instead of switching to English:
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Não entendo | nowng en-TEN-doo | I don't understand |
| Repita, por favor | rreh-PEE-tuh poor fuh-VOR | repeat, please |
| Mais devagar | mighsh deh-vuh-GAR | slower, please |
Travel phrases for Lisbon
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| dois | doysh | 2 |
| dez | desh | 10 |
| água | AH-gwah | water |
| pão | powng | bread |
| delicioso | dlee-SYOH-zoo | delicious |
| à esquerda | ah shkerr-dah | left |
| a casa de banho | ah KAH-zah duh BAH-nyoo | toilet |
| Socorro! | soo-KOH-rroo | Help! |
| Preciso de um médico | pruh-SEE-zoo duh oong MEH-dee-koo | I need a doctor |
Flight search and trip essentials
Compare flights on Kiwi.com, our flight-search partner. Enter the airport code below as your destination when the search opens.
| Destination | Airport code (IATA) |
|---|---|
| Lisbon, Portugal | LIS |
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Once you land
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Situations to practise before you go
Getting around
Key pieces: Onde é · esquerda/direita
'Where is…?' is Onde é…? or Onde fica…? The toilet (EP) is a casa de banho.
To say “Where is the toilet?” in Portuguese: Onde é a casa de banho? (ON-duh eh ah KAH-zah duh BAH-nyoo). Built from onde é = where is; casa de banho = toilet.
- à esquerda (ah shkerr-dah) — to the left
- à direita (ah dee-RAY-tah) — to the right
- em frente (eng FREN-tuh) — straight ahead
To say “I'd like to go to the airport” in Portuguese: Queria ir ao aeroporto (kuh-REE-uh eer ow ah-eh-roo-POR-too). Built from Queria = I'd like; ir = to go; ao = to the; aeroporto = airport.
To say “a taxi, please” in Portuguese: um táxi, por favor (oong TAK-see poor fah-VOR). Built from um táxi = a taxi; por favor = please.
To say “To the left, please” in Portuguese: À esquerda, por favor (ah shkerr-dah poor fah-VOR). Built from à esquerda = to the left; por favor = please.
If lost: 'I don't understand' is Não percebo (European) or Não entendo.
To say “I don't understand” in Portuguese: Não percebo (nowng per-SEH-boo). Built from não = not; percebo = I understand (EP).
Transport & tickets
Key pieces: o comboio · o bilhete
In Portugal the bus is o autocarro, the train o comboio, and the metro o metro.
- o autocarro (oo ow-too-KAH-roo) — the bus Memory hook: auto ≈ auto (English).
- o comboio (oo kom-BOY-oo) — the train
- o bilhete (oo bee-LYEH-teh) — the ticket Memory hook: ≈ biglietto (Italian).
- a paragem (ah pah-RAH-zheng) — the stop Memory hook: parar ≈ to stop.
- partir (par-TEER) — to leave / depart Memory hook: ≈ partire (Italian).
Ask timing with a que horas parte? — at what time does it leave?
To say “I would like a ticket to Lisbon.” in Portuguese: Queria um bilhete para Lisboa. (kuh-REE-uh oong bee-LYEH-teh PAH-rah leezh-BOH-ah). Built from queria = I would like; um bilhete = a ticket; para Lisboa = to Lisbon.
To say “At what time does the train leave?” in Portuguese: A que horas parte o comboio? (ah keh OH-rahsh PAR-teh oo kom-BOY-oo). Built from a que horas = at what time; parte = leaves; o comboio = the train.
To say “Where is the bus stop?” in Portuguese: Onde é a paragem do autocarro? (ON-deh eh ah pah-RAH-zheng doo ow-too-KAH-roo). Built from onde é = where is; a paragem = the stop; do autocarro = of the bus.
To say “Does this metro go to the centre?” in Portuguese: Este metro vai para o centro? (ESH-teh MEH-troo vai PAH-rah oo SEN-troo). Built from este metro = this metro; vai = goes; para o centro = to the centre.
To say “How much is a ticket?” in Portuguese: Quanto custa um bilhete? (KWAN-too KOOSH-tah oong bee-LYEH-teh). Built from quanto custa = how much costs; um bilhete = a ticket.
Hotel & booking
Key pieces: um quarto · a chave
A room is um quarto, the key a chave, and breakfast o pequeno-almoço.
- um quarto (oong KWAR-too) — a room Memory hook: ≈ quarto (Italian, room).
- a chave (ah SHAH-veh) — the key Memory hook: ≈ chiave (Italian).
- a casa de banho (ah KAH-zah deh BAH-nyoo) — the bathroom Memory hook: lit. 'house of bath'.
- o pequeno-almoço (oo puh-KAY-noo ahl-MOH-soo) — the breakfast Memory hook: lit. 'small lunch'.
- a noite (ah NOY-teh) — the night Memory hook: ≈ notte (Italian).
Say how long with para duas noites — for two nights.
To say “I would like a room for two nights.” in Portuguese: Queria um quarto para duas noites. (kuh-REE-uh oong KWAR-too PAH-rah DOO-ahsh NOY-tesh). Built from queria = I would like; um quarto = a room; para duas noites = for two nights.
To say “A room with a bathroom, please.” in Portuguese: Um quarto com casa de banho, por favor. (oong KWAR-too kong KAH-zah deh BAH-nyoo poor fah-VOR). Built from um quarto = a room; com = with; casa de banho = bathroom.
To say “Is breakfast included?” in Portuguese: O pequeno-almoço está incluído? (oo puh-KAY-noo ahl-MOH-soo shtah een-kloo-EE-doo). Built from o pequeno-almoço = the breakfast; está incluído = is included.
To say “Here is the key.” in Portuguese: Aqui está a chave. (ah-KEE shtah ah SHAH-veh). Built from aqui está = here is; a chave = the key.
To say “At what time is breakfast?” in Portuguese: A que horas é o pequeno-almoço? (ah keh OH-rahsh eh oo puh-KAY-noo ahl-MOH-soo). Built from a que horas = at what time; é = is; o pequeno-almoço = breakfast.
Politeness & survival
Key pieces: desculpe · pode ajudar-me?
The three survival words: por favor (please), desculpe (sorry/excuse me), com licença (excuse me, to pass).
- desculpe (desh-KOOL-peh) — sorry / excuse me Memory hook: ≈ disculpe (Spanish).
- com licença (kong lee-SEN-sah) — excuse me (to pass) Memory hook: licença ≈ licence (English).
- podia…? (poo-DEE-ah) — could you…? Memory hook: poder ≈ potere (Italian).
- lamento (lah-MEN-too) — I am sorry (regret) Memory hook: ≈ lamento (Italian).
- ajudar (ah-zhoo-DAR) — to help Memory hook: ≈ ayudar (Spanish).
To ask for help politely: pode ajudar-me? — can you help me?
To say “Excuse me, could you help me?” in Portuguese: Desculpe, pode ajudar-me? (desh-KOOL-peh, POH-deh ah-zhoo-DAR meh). Built from desculpe = excuse me; pode = can you; ajudar-me = help me.
To say “Excuse me (may I pass)?” in Portuguese: Com licença? (kong lee-SEN-sah). Built from com licença = with permission.
To say “Could you repeat, please?” in Portuguese: Podia repetir, por favor? (poo-DEE-ah reh-peh-TEER poor fah-VOR). Built from podia = could you; repetir = repeat; por favor = please. repetir ≈ repeat (English).
To say “I am sorry, it was my fault.” in Portuguese: Lamento, foi culpa minha. (lah-MEN-too, foy KOOL-pah MEE-nyah). Built from lamento = I am sorry; foi = it was; culpa minha = my fault.
To say “Sorry, I do not understand.” in Portuguese: Desculpe, não percebo. (desh-KOOL-peh, nowng per-SEH-boo). Built from desculpe = sorry; não = not; percebo = I understand.
Example dialogue
Ordering at a café
Server: Boa tarde, o que deseja? (boh-ah TAR-duh, oo kuh duh-ZAY-zhuh) — Good afternoon, what would you like?
You: Queria um café, por favor. (kuh-REE-uh oong kah-FEH poor fah-VOR) — I'd like a coffee, please.
Server: Mais alguma coisa? (mah-eez al-GOO-mah KOY-zah) — Anything else?
You: Quanto custa? (KWAN-too KOOSH-tah) — How much is it?
Server: Um euro e meio. (oong EH-oo-roo ee MAY-oo) — One euro fifty.
You: Obrigado! (oh-bree-GAH-doo) — Thank you!
Meeting someone
Local: Olá! Como se chama? (oh-LAH! KOH-moo suh SHAH-mah) — Hello! What's your name?
You: Chamo-me Alex. (SHAH-moo-muh Alex) — My name is Alex.
Local: De onde é? (duh ON-duh eh) — Where are you from?
You: Sou da Índia, mas vivo no Dubai. (soh dah EEN-dee-ah, mahsh VEE-voo noo doo-BYE) — I'm from India, but I live in Dubai.
Local: Bem-vindo! (beng-VEEN-doo) — Welcome!
Portuguese etiquette that helps in Lisbon
Two kisses
Greeting socially, people give two kisses (cheek to cheek, right first). Men usually shake hands or hug; two kisses are common between women, or a man and woman.
Late, unhurried meals
Lunch is ~1pm, dinner often after 8pm. Meals are relaxed; don't expect the bill until you ask ('a conta, por favor').
Modest tipping
Tipping is light — round up or leave 5–10% for good service. Not obligatory.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.