3 Important Tips for Speaking Portuguese When You Visit Portugal

Olá a todos (hello, everyone)! My name is Stacy and I'm here to teach you 3 tips to improve your Portuguese that will impress the locals when you visit Portugal.

The only thing you'll need is your piehole and a willingness to learn!

The Portuguese language is filled with nuance, but there are key rules the language follows. Unlike English which is a mad hodgepodge of pronunciations and rules. When visiting Portugal, you'll undoubtedly come across some Portuguese that you will need to read and possibly say out loud; menus, locale names, street names, etc. Here are some letter combinations and how they should be pronounced.

ão - "ow" but nasalized. Try saying "ow" without rounding your lips with the w.

õe - "oi" but nasalized. Usually, this combination, like ão, will be on the end of a word.

' - If you see an accent over any word in Portuguese, the emphasis of the word is on that letter.

ç - When you see this character, it simply means the c is pronounced with an "s" sound like in the word "cents".

s - The Portuguese s is the most pervasive of all, especially in European Portuguese. If an s is at the beginning of a word like in seis (six), it is pronounced like an English. However, the s at the end of seis is pronounced with a "sh" sound like in the word "shoes". This "sh" rule also applies to any s placed after a vowel and before a consonant like in the word estar (to be) or desculpa (sorry). The words would be pronounced "eshtar" and "deshculpa". Keep this in mind when attempting to say a Portuguese word out loud!

z - the same rule for s's apply to z's

m - if an m is placed at the end of a word, it is not pronounced at all and the noun preceding it is nasalized. Like in the word sim (yes). The best way I can compare the sound to an English speaker is like when we say the word sing. That nasalized sound right before the g is where you'll find that coveted Portuguese nasalization.

When you visit Portugal, you'll be grateful to know that most of the population is fluent in English. But this doesn't mean that you, as an English-speaking tourist, should take it for granted. Luckily, Portuguese people are known for being warm-hearted and are very happy to speak English for you. It will go a long way to say thank you in their language to show your appreciation.

Here are some ways to thank a local for speaking English with you:

Obrigado / Obrigada - Unlike in some gendered languages, Portuguese puts the power of gender in the speaker's hands. If you identify as masculine, "obrigado" is para ti (for you). If you identify as feminine, "obrigada" is para ti. Either way, it's in your hands. Obrigado(a) is the simplest and easiest way to thank someone for anything, anytime, anywhere.

Muito obrigado / Muita obrigada - This means "thank you very much" or literally "very obliged". Save it for when someone goes out of their way to do something for you.

Obrigado(a) por falar inglês comigo - This means "thank you for speaking English with me." and will earnestly show a local that you appreciate them accommodating you.

Portuguese people are an incredible brand of friendly; tough to find in most of Europe, especially toward Americans. Showing an interest in their language and culture is a great way to make your visit to Portugal more memorable. Not to mention it's an easy way to rid yourself of that "dumb tourist" feeling that inevitably takes hold when traveling. Use the phrase below to ask how to say something in Portuguese, and let the comedy of you trying to mimic a local pronunciation ensue.

Como se diz...em Português? - Using the pronunciation rules from Step 1, this would be pronounced as "Como se deesh aim portugesh?" Place your word of inquiry between diz and em and you've got it!