EnglishPortuguesePronunciation/Notes

My name is…Chamo-me…Shamu-me… – lit. “I call myself…”

O meu nome é…oo mayu nome eh – lit. “the my name is…”

What is your name?Como se-chama?Komu se-shama? – lit. "How do you call yourself?"

Qual é o seu nome?Kwal eh oo sayu nome? – lit. “What is the your name?”

This is…Este é…Eshte eh… (when introducing a male)

Esta é…Eshta eh… (when introducing a female)

my husbando meu maridooo mayu mareedu – lit. “the my husband”

my wifea minha esposaa minya eshpoza – lit. “the my spouse”

a minha mulhera minya mulyair – lit. “the my woman” – ‘mulher’ is usually used to refer to your own wife, whereas ‘esposa’ can be used for your own, or someone elses wife.

my boyfriendo meu namoradooo mayu namorahdu – lit. “the my boyfriend”

my girlfrienda minha namoradaa minya namorahda – lit. “the my girlfriend” – when used by a male referring to his female partner

a minha amigaa minya ameega – lit. “the my friend” – when used by a female referring to a female friend

a friendum amigooom[ng] ameegu – a male friend

uma amigaoom[ng]a ameega – a female friend

Do you speak English?Fala Inglês?Fahla Ingle[a]ysh? – Although the ‘ê’ sometimes sounds more open (‘ay’), the circumflex still denotes that it should be a close pronunciation. Listen carefully to a native speaker – the sound is like a cross between the ‘ea’ of ‘ear’ and the ‘ai’ of ‘air’. The same is true of the words ‘Inglesa’; ‘Português’; and ‘Portuguesa’.

I am learning to speak PortugueseEu aprendo a falar PortuguêsAyoo aprendu a falar Portooge[a]ysh

I am EnglishSou InglêsSoh Ingle[a]ysh – only said by males

Sou InglesaSoh Ingle[a]yza – only said by females

I am PortugueseSou PortuguêsSoh Portooge[a]ysh – only said by males

Sou PortuguesaSoh Portooge[a]yza – only said by females

I am from EnglandSou da InglaterraSoh da Inglaterrrra – lit. “I am from the England”

I am from PortugalSou de PortugalSoh de Portugal – they don’t say ‘from the Portugal’ (like they do with England), just ‘from Portugal’ (like we do). Most other countries of the world require ‘from the’ (‘do’ or ‘da’ depending on the gender of the country – see section on nouns below)

Where are you from?De onde é?Di-yondi-yeh?

in Englandna Inglaterrana Inglaterrrra – lit. “in the England”

in Portugalem Portugalaym[ng] Portugal

I am from LondonSou de LondresSoh de Londresh

Sorry!Desculpe!Deshculpe!

I am sorryLamentoLamentu – lit. “I lament”.

Peço desculpasPessu Deshculpash – lit. “I ask for excuses”.

Excuse meCom licençaCom[ng] lissensa – lit. “with permission”.

I don’t understandnão entendonow[ng] entendu – lit. “not I understand”.

so thenentãoentow[ng] – lit. “then”, but used frequently in places where English would say ’so’, or ’right then’.

you (singlular)vocêvosseh – A formal way of addressing someone (in Brazil they use você informally as well).

o senhoroo senyor – lit. “the gentleman”

a senhoraa senyora – lit. “the lady”

Note, the Portuguese generally speak more formally than the English, so although referring to someone as ’the lady’ or ’the gentleman’ would sound rather pompous to us, it is quite common in Portuguese. Senhor/Senhora can also mean sir/madam, Mr/Mrs (‘Miss’ would be ‘a menina’, or ‘Senhorita’), or Lord/Lady.

Ieuayu

heeleele - the first ’e’ is very close, almost like an English ’i’, whereas the second ’e’ is barely audible (so it sounds almost like you are saying ’ill’).

sheelaela

’Com licença’ is often said as a parting formality – for example, as a polite way to end a telephone conversation. The word ’então’ is a very useful word for linking to a new subject without appearing too abrupt.