Language - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 920

Portuguese
The great exception to the Spanish-speaking rule in South America is, of
course, Portuguese-speaking Brazil (that is, putting the Guianas to the side).
Unfortunately, far too many people - especially Spanish-speakers - are put
off going to Brazil solely because of the language, while this should actually
be one of your main reasons for going. Brazilian Portuguese is a colourful,
sensual language full of wonderfully rude and exotic vowel sounds,
swooping intonation and hilarious idiomatic expressions.

he best dictionary currently available is Collins Portuguese Dictionary , which has a
pocket edition. For a phrasebook , look no further than Portuguese: The Rough Guide
Phrasebook , with useful two-way glossaries and a brief and simple grammar section.

Pronunciation
Although its complex pronunciation is far too difficult to be described in detail here,
for the most part, Brazilian Portuguese is spoken more slowly and clearly than its
European counterpart. The neutral vowels so characteristic of European Portuguese
tend to be sounded out in full; in much of Brazil outside Rio the slushy “sh” sound
doesn't exist; and the “de” and “te” endings of words like cidade and diferente are
palatalized so they end up sounding like “sidadgee” and “djiferentchee”.
WORDS AND PHRASES
You'll also find that Brazilians will greatly appreciate even your most rudimentary efforts, and every small improvement in
your Portuguese will make your stay in Brazil much more enjoyable.

BASIC EXPRESSIONS
Yes, No

And E (pronounced like “ee”

Sim, Não in “seek”)

Please Por favor Something, Nothing Alguma coisa, Nada

Thank you Obrigado (men)/ Sometimes Às vezes

Obrigada (women)

GREETINGS AND RESPONSES
Hello, Goodbye

Where, When? Onde, Quando

What, How much? Que, Quanto Oi, Tchau (like the

This, That Este, Esse, Aquele Italian “ciao”)

Now, Later Agora, Mais tarde Good morning Bom dia

Open, Closed Aberto/a, Fechado/a Good afternoon/night Boa tarde/Boa noite

Pull, Push Puxe, Empurre Sorry Desculpa

Entrance, Exit Entrada, Saída Excuse me Com licença

With, Without Com, Sem How are you? Como vai?

For Para/Por Fine Bem

Good, Bad Bom, Ruim I don't understand Não entendo

Big, Small Grande, Pequeno Do you speak English? Você fala inglês?

A little, A lot Um pouco, Muito I don't speak Portuguese Não falo português

More, Less Mais, Menos My name is … Meu nome é ...

Another Outro/a What's your name? Como se chama?

Today, Tomorrow Hoje, Amanhã I am English/American Sou inglês/americano

Yesterday Ontem Cheers Saúde

But Mas (pronounced

like “mice”)