Access · Language & Belonging
Fala português?
A few words that open every door in Lisbon.
Lisbon is a city that rewards the curious. Beyond its famous viewpoints and tiled facades, there's an entire social world that most visitors never reach — held together by shared language, local rhythm, and a warmth the Portuguese reserve for those who try.
You don't need to be fluent. You just need to show that you tried. A handful of words said in the right moment — a bom dia at a café counter, a com licençain a narrow tile corridor, a genuine obrigada — signals something important. It says: I'm not just passing through.
Portuguese is not an easy language. Its vowels swallow themselves, its verbs conjugate in directions that feel arbitrary, and native speakers often speak at a pace that makes Spanish sound like slow motion. But that's not what this is. This is something smaller — and more useful.
Must-know words
01
When you're actually in the room
Greetings and everyday courtesy — the words that signal you're paying attention.
Bom dia
greetingbom dee-ah
Good morning
Switch to boa tarde after noon, boa noite after dark. Using the right one signals awareness — locals notice.
Tudo bem?
greetingtoo-doo baym
All good? / How are you?
The standard check-in. Reply with tudo bom or tudo bem, obrigado/a. It's brief, warm, and expected.
Que saudade!
feelingkeh sow-dah-deh
I've missed this so much!
Portugal's most untranslatable word. A warm ache for something you love. Use it and you'll earn a smile every time.
Obrigado / Obrigada
essentialoh-bree-gah-doo / -dah
Thank you
Men say obrigado, women say obrigada. Getting this right is a small act of respect that rarely goes unnoticed.
Desculpe
courtesydesh-kool-peh
Sorry / Excuse me
Use desculpe to apologise. Use com licença to pass someone in a narrow hallway or market aisle.
Com licença
courtesykom lee-sen-sah
Excuse me (to pass)
The polite way to move through a crowd, navigate a café, or interrupt someone gently. Never goes wrong.
02
On the belonging you order
Inside a café, pastelaria, or tasca — the words that make you a regular, not a tourist.
Uma bica, por favor
caféoo-mah bee-kah
An espresso, please
In Lisbon, coffee is a bica — not a café, not an espresso. Order it correctly and you've passed the first test.
A conta, se faz favor
caféah kon-tah seh fash fah-vor
The bill, please
Politer than just asking for a conta. Se faz favor softens every request and costs nothing.
Não faz mal
everydaynow fash mal
No problem / Never mind
One of the most useful phrases in daily life. Said when something goes slightly wrong and it genuinely doesn't matter.
Mais um!
cafémyze oom
Another one!
At a bar, a pastelaria counter, or a petisco spread. Direct, cheerful, universally understood.
Está bom
everydayshtah bom
It's good / That works
Confirming something is fine, agreeing to a suggestion, or approving what's just arrived at the table.
Pode ser
everydaypod sehr
Could be / Maybe
A very Portuguese way of saying something is likely, or of agreeing without over-committing. Relaxed and common.
03
Navigating with locals, not just maps
Street directions work better when you ask a person. These phrases start that conversation.
Onde fica...?
navigationon-deh fee-kah
Where is...?
The most useful navigation phrase. Onde fica o Mercado? Onde fica a paragem? Drop in any destination.
É aqui perto?
navigationeh ah-kee pehr-too
Is it nearby?
Once someone points you in a direction, this follow-up confirms whether you're walking or needing a taxi.
Sempre em frente
navigationsem-preh aym fren-teh
Straight ahead
The answer you'll hear most often in Lisbon. Also useful to say it back to confirm you understood.
Vira à esquerda / direita
navigationvee-rah ah esh-kehr-dah / dee-ray-tah
Turn left / Turn right
Esquerda (left) and direita (right) are worth memorising — you'll hear them the moment you ask for directions.
04
Words that go beyond the transaction
The phrases that move a conversation from exchange to connection.
Fica à vontade
warmthfee-kah ah von-tah-deh
Make yourself at home
The classic Portuguese welcome into a space. If someone says this to you, take it seriously — they mean it.
Com certeza
warmthkom sehr-teh-zah
Of course / Certainly
Confident, warm agreement. More emphatic than sim alone — signals that the answer was obvious from the start.
Que beleza!
expressionkeh beh-leh-zah
How beautiful!
Said in front of a view, a dish, a piece of tile work, or an unexpected moment. Genuine and freely used.
É pá!
expressioneh pah
Hey! / Wow! / Come on!
The most Portuguese exclamation. Surprise, mild frustration, friendly emphasis — context does all the work.
05
At the feira and beyond
Markets, stalls, and the gentle art of the slow browse.
Quanto custa?
marketkwan-too koosh-tah
How much does it cost?
Essential at the Feira da Ladra, Mercado de Arroios, or any artisan stall. Opens every negotiation.
É muito caro
marketeh mwee-too kah-roo
It's very expensive
Not rude — it's part of the conversation at a market. Say it gently and see what happens next.
Pode fazer um desconto?
marketpod fah-zehr oom desh-kon-too
Can you give a discount?
Only at markets and independent stalls — not in shops. The worst they can say is não.
Olha! / Linda!
marketol-yah / lin-dah
Look! / Beautiful!
Olha is a casual attention-getter between friends. Linda (beautiful, feminine) is freely directed at objects, views, children.
Até já.
Language is the smallest bridge between strangers in Lisbon. A single word in Portuguese is enough — to show you're present, that you notice, that you're not just here for the views.
Até já — see you soon.
