0.2.1 Basic Conversation

Question 1

Translate to Portuguese:

It’s alright.

Answer 1

Está tudo bem.

“alright” = tudo bem

Remember that there is not really a direct Portuguese translation for the English word “it”. We just skip straight to the verb for “is” (as if it were “it’s”):

• It is okay. = Está tudo bem. (state/condition)
• It is my name. = É o meu nome. (identity)

Question 2

Translate to Portuguese:

It’s okay.

Answer 2

Está tudo certo.

“okay” = certo

Both “It’s okay” and “It’s alright” are translated pretty much the same way in Portuguese: está tudo bem or está tudo certo.

In everyday speech, you’ll often hear people say just ‘tá tudo bem / ‘tá tudo certo, or even just tudo bem / tudo certo.

Question 3

Translate to Portuguese:

no problem

Answer 3

sem problema

Although não means “no” in Portuguese, we use sem problema in this phrase, which literally means “without problem.”

Question 4

Translate to Portuguese:

How are you?

Answer 4

Como estás?

“how” = como

“[you] are” = estás

Note that como estás? is informal (used with tu). A more formal and polite version is Como está?

In European Portuguese, the subject pronouns (tu, você) are usually omitted, so Como você está? is rarely used.

Also remember that in Portuguese, to ask a question, you can just use the same order as you do in the affirmative (literally “how you are?”); the listener can tell that it’s a question simply by the rising intonation at the end of the sentence.

Question 5

Translate to Portuguese:

How is it going?

Answer 5

Como vai?

Como vai? literally means “How does it go?”. It is a polite, neutral way to ask “How is it going?”.

Question 6

Translate to Portuguese:

[I’m] well, thank you!

Answer 6

Bem, obrigada!

“well” = bem

You can also use bem to say “fine”.

Question 7

[What is being said in the audio recording?]

Answer 7

Homem: Como a senhora está?

Mulher: Bem, obrigada. E o senhor?

Homem: Bem.

Translation:

Man: How are you, ma’am?

Woman: Well, thank you. And you, sir?

Man: Well.

In European Portuguese, o senhor and a senhora are very polite ways to address someone. In these cases, você is not needed.

While você exists, it is often avoided in formal situations because it can sound less polite or slightly impersonal. Instead, use more common phrases like Como está, senhora? or A professora está bem?

These expressions use nouns (like senhora or professora), which is why they take articles (o / a).

Question 8

Translate to Portuguese:

Mr. Silva

Answer 8

Senhor Silva

“Mr.” = Senhor

In Portuguese, the title senhor (+ last name) is used to show respect, especially when speaking to an older man.

It is also common when addressing people with higher authority, position, social status, or age.

Question 9

Translate to Portuguese:

Mrs. Oliveira

Answer 9

Senhora Oliveira

Mrs. = Senhora

In Portugal, you use the title senhora (+ last name) to show respect, especially when speaking to an older woman or someone in a higher position.

In addition, in Portugal it is also common to call people in positions of authority, or anyone with presumed higher education, doutora as a sign of respect.

(In the male version you would change the ending by removing the -a and the word would become doutor.) This has the same meaning as calling someone Senhora it just depends on the context of the situation.

Question 10

Translate to Portuguese:

Oh, excuse me!

(apologies)

Answer 10

Oh, desculpe!

Desculpe (or desculpa) is a polite way to say “excuse me” in Portuguese. This word is often used to apologize for a minor inconvenience or getting someone’s attention.

e.g., Desculpe, posso pegar isso? (“Excuse me, can I take this?”)

Note that in Portugal desculpe is used in more formal contexts, whilst desculpa is more informal.

Question 11

Translate to Portuguese:

I’m sorry.

Answer 11

Sinto muito.

Literally, sinto muito means “I feel much.” It is used for stronger apologies: when someone is hurt, upset, or when something sad has happened.

For small everyday inconveniences, Portuguese people usually say desculpe / desculpa.

Question 12

Translate to Portuguese:

Excuse me!

Answer 12

Com licença!

Com licença is the most common and versatile way to say “excuse me.” It literally means “with permission” and is used when you need to pass by someone, interrupt politely, or get someone’s attention.

Note: It is not used as an apology.

Question 13

Translate to Portuguese:

Excuse me, sir.

Answer 13

Com licença, senhor.

“sir” = senhor

Note that this is the same word as “Mister” when used as a title before a last name.

i.e. You can use the word either by itself (Olá, senhor) or as a title (Olá, Senhor Paiva).

Question 14

Translate to Portuguese:

Excuse me, ma’am.

Answer 14

Com licença, senhora.

“ma’am” = senhora

Note that this is the same word as “Mrs.” when used as a title before a last name.

i.e. You can use the word either by itself (Olá, senhora) or as a title (Olá, Senhora Paiva).

Question 15

Translate to Portuguese:

Yes, please.

Answer 15

Sim, por favor.

“please” = por favor

Por favor literally means “for favor.” It is the standard way to say “please” in Portuguese.

Question 16

Translate to Portuguese:

What? / Huh?

Answer 16

O quê?

O quê? literally means “the what?”. Portuguese uses this two-word form to ask “what?” or “what is…?” for questions.

Question 17

Translate to Portuguese:

What do you mean?

(in a surprised / confused tone)

Answer 17

Como assim?

Como assim means “What do you mean?”, “How so?”, or “How come?” Use it when you don’t understand something or when something sounds surprising.

Question 18

Translate to Portuguese:

What does “janela” mean?

Answer 18

O que significa “janela”?

“mean” = significa

(By the way, in case you were curious, janela means “window”.)

Question 19

Translate to Portuguese:

in English

Answer 19

em inglês

“in” = em

In Portuguese, em often translates as “in,” but many expressions don’t match word for word. Sometimes English uses “in” when Portuguese doesn’t, and vice versa.

e.g., em casa = “at home” (not “in home”). Always consider the entire expression, not only the individual word.

Question 20

Translate to Portuguese:

How do you say “window” in Portuguese?

Answer 20

Como se diz “window” em português?

“How do you say” = Como se diz?

In Portuguese, Como se diz? literally means “How is said?”, it’s closer to “How does one say?”.

But the natural English equivalent is “How do you say …?”

Question 21

Translate to Portuguese:

I don’t understand.

Answer 21

Não entendo.

“(I) understand” = entendo

The form entendo is always with the subject “I” (eu) in Portuguese.

The ending of the verb changes depending on the subject. e.g., “I don’t understand.” → Eu não entendo. ; “He doesn’t understand.” → Ele não entende.

Question 22

Translate to Portuguese:

Correct!

Answer 22

Correto!

Question 23

Translate to Portuguese:

More, please.

Answer 23

Mais, por favor.

mais = “more”

Question 24

Translate to Portuguese:

More slowly, please.

Answer 24

Mais devagar, por favor.

devagar = “slowly”

Question 25

# Translate to Portuguese: that one

Answer 25

aquele ali ## Footnote *Aquele ali* can also mean "that one over there." Use *aquele* for something farther away from both the speaker and the listener. The word *ali* reinforces the idea of distance ("over there").

Question 26

# Translate to Portuguese: this one

Answer 26

este aqui ## Footnote *Este aqui* literally means "this here." It can also mean "this one here." Use *este* for something close to the speaker. The word *aqui* reinforces the idea of closeness ("right here").

Question 27

# Translate to Portuguese: _Can you repeat that_, please?

Answer 27

_Pode repetir_, por favor? ## Footnote "Can you repeat" = *Pode repetir?* In Portuguese, the pronoun is usually dropped because the verb form (*pode*) already indicates the subject ("you"). We also don’t say "that"; it’s understood from context, so native speakers simply say: *Pode repetir?*

Question 28

# Translate to Portuguese: See you soon!

Answer 28

vejo-te em breve | (informal) ## Footnote "See you soon" = *Vemo-nos em breve* Literally “we see each other soon.” *Vejo-te em breve* (“I see you soon”) is grammatically correct but less commonly used in this context.