BrazilAmerica.com presents a selection of common words and phrases that you are likely to hear in and around Fortaleza.  The language presented here is Portuguese, the national language of Brazil. The examples below are presented in wav clips. To hear our selections, simply click on the speaker... 

In Brazil, the language is Portuguese, and inside the country the name is spelled Brasil. Brasilian Portuguese is a little different from the language of Portugal, and can vary even region to region inside the country. Portuguese is spoken because the first Europeans to arrive on the scene were from Portugal. As in the U.S., if you know the basic language, the regional differences pose little problem.

  1. Hello = Oi

2. Good morning = Bom dia

3. Good afternoon = Boa tarde

4. Good evening = Boa noite

5. How are you? = Como vai você?

6. I am fine, thanks. = Estou bem, obrigado

7. And you? = E você?

8. Good bye = Tchau/Até logo

9. Please = Por favor

10. Thank you = Obrigado

11. You are welcome = Não há de que

12. I am sorry = Desculpe

13. Yes = Sim

14. No = Não

15. I don’t know = Eu não sei.

16. Excuse-me = Com licença

17. I beg your pardon? = Não entendi

18. I didn’t understand = Não entendi

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Remember that especially as a tourist visitor the two most
important phrases to practice are numbers 9 and 10 above.