Lisbon

Common Phrases in Lisbon, Portugal

Greetings

• Olá (Hello) - Informal, widely used.
• Bom dia (Good morning) - Used until around 12 PM.
• Boa tarde (Good afternoon) - Used from 12 PM to around 6 PM.
• Boa noite (Good evening/night) - Used after 6 PM.
• Como está? (How are you?) - Formal; use with strangers or elders.
• Tudo bem? (All good?) - Informal; use with friends or younger people.

Cultural Note: A handshake is common when greeting someone for the first time. Close friends may greet with a kiss on both cheeks.

Directions

• Onde fica...? (Where is...?) - Use to ask for directions.
• À direita (To the right)
• À esquerda (To the left)
• Em frente (Straight ahead)
• Perdão, pode ajudar-me? (Excuse me, can you help me?) - Polite way to ask for assistance.

Cultural Note: Locals appreciate when you ask for directions in Portuguese, even if your pronunciation isn't perfect.

Dining

• Uma mesa para [número], por favor (A table for [number], please) - Use when entering a restaurant.
• O menu, por favor (The menu, please)
• A conta, por favor (The bill, please)
• Está delicioso! (It’s delicious!) - Complimenting the food is appreciated.
• Sem glúten, por favor (Gluten-free, please) - Useful for dietary restrictions.

Cultural Note: Tipping is not mandatory but rounding up the bill or leaving small change is appreciated.

Shopping

• Quanto custa? (How much does it cost?)
• Posso experimentar? (Can I try this on?) - Use in clothing stores.
• Tem em outra cor/tamanho? (Do you have it in another color/size?)
• Estou só a ver (I’m just looking) - Polite way to indicate you don’t need assistance.

Cultural Note: Salespeople may not approach you immediately; it’s common to browse before receiving help.

Formal vs. Informal Language

• Use tu (you) with friends and younger people (informal).
• Use você (you) with strangers and in formal situations.
• Senhor/Senhora (Mr./Mrs.) is used for added respect in formal contexts.

Pronunciation Tips

• Olá - oh-LAH
• Bom dia - bohm DEE-ah
• Onde fica? - ON-deh FEE-kah
• A conta - ah KON-tah
• Quanto custa? - KWAHN-toh KOOS-tah

Additional Tips

• Practice basic phrases before your visit; locals appreciate the effort.
• Speak slowly and clearly; many locals understand English but prefer Portuguese.
• Use polite expressions like por favor (please) and obrigado/a (thank you) to show respect.

This guide will help you navigate daily interactions in Lisbon with confidence and cultural awareness.