Language

Contrary to popular belief, the official language of Brazil is not Spanish! As a former colony of Portugal, Brazil is the only country in the Americas that speaks Portuguese.

With 220 million native speakers in the world (about 190 million of them Brazilians), Portuguese is somewhat similar to Spanish. However, people who know Spanish may find spoken Portuguese very hard to understand the first time they hear it.

The good news is that it is easy to find in Brazil someone with at least a working knowledge of a second language, usually English. Several hotels and restaurants, specially in the main tourist areas, will have English-speakers on their staff, and Brazilians are always willing to help and practice their language skills!

It's always useful to learn a few words on the language of the country you are visiting, so here is a short list of Portuguese words, just to get you started:

Basic Words

Yes: Sim
No: Não
Thank you: Obrigado (male), Obrigada (female)
You are welcome: De nada
Please: Por favor
Excuse me: Desculpe-me, Com licença
Hello: Olá, Oi
Good morning: Bom dia
Good afternoon: Boa tarde
Good evening: Boa noite
Good night: Boa noite
Good bye: Tchau, adeus

Places

Museum: Museu
Bank: Banco
Police Station: Delegacia de polícia
Hospital: Hospital
Pharmacy: Farmácia
Store, shop: Loja
Restaurant: Restaurante
Church: Igreja
Restrooms: Banheiro
Beach: Praia
Street: Rua
Swimming Pool: Piscina

Travelling

Bus Station: Rodoviária
Bus: Ônibus
Bus stop: Ponto de Ônibus
Airport: Aeroporto
Airplane: Avião
Train Station: Estação Ferroviária
Train: Trem
Subway Station: Estação de Metro
Subway: Metrô
Taxi: Táxi
Taxi Stand: Ponto de táxi
Car: Carro
Parking: Estacionamento
Rent a Car: Alugar um carro
Departure: Partida
Arrival: Chegada

Shopping

Money: Dinheiro
Coins: Moedas
Credit card: Cartão de crédito
Tax: Taxa
Receipt: Recibo
Expensive: Caro
Cheap: Barato
Open: Aberto
Closed: Fechado
Postcard: Cartão Postal
Stamps: Selos

Seasons

Spring: Primavera
Summer: Verão
Fall: Outono
Winter: Inverno

Eating

Breakfast: Café da manhã
Lunch: Almoço
Dinner: Jantar
Menu: Cardápio
Waiter: Garçom
Check/Bill: Conta
Napkin: Guardanapo
Glass: Copo
Plate: Prato
Fork: Garfo
Knife: Faca
Spoon: Colher
Table: Mesa
Chair: Cadeira
Rare: Mal-passado
Medium: Ao ponto
Well done: Bem-passado
Bread: Pão

Directions

Left: Esquerda
Right: Direita
Straight ahead: Em frente
Up: Para cima
Down: Para baixo
Far: Longe
Near: Perto