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 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 você está?

“how” = como

“you” = você

“are” = está

Remember that in Portuguese, the word order in questions is different from English.

You say como você está?, literally “how you are?” and you make it a question just by using a rising intonation at the end.

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 Brazil, calling someone “sir” is a very polite way to address someone, so we don’t use você (“you”) in that context. “You, sir” becomes o senhor, because it is the formal pronoun for “you.”

Only a few formal pronouns take articles in Portuguese, because they come from nouns, not from regular pronouns.

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

Reminder: In Brazil, in more informal contexts, some women may not like senhora because it can sound like “elderly,” even if they are not actually that old. When in doubt, it is safer to say moça or simply você, which are polite and neutral in everyday speech.

Question 10

Translate to Portuguese:

Ah, excuse me!

(apologies)

Answer 10

Ah, 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 mistake.

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

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, Brazilians 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.

(trying to get someone’s attention)

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.

(trying to get by someone in a crowded place)

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:

Excuse me, young man?

(trying to get by someone in a crowded place)

Answer 15

Com licença, moço?

“young man” = moço

In Brazil, moço usually means “young man” and is a polite way to address a man you don’t know, especially in informal situations.

It can also be used with adult men, and it feels polite and neutral in everyday speech. In fact, you could even flag down your waiter at a restaurant by simply calling out “Moço!”.

Note that for a young woman, you would just change the -o to an -a (moça), and it would have similar connotations.

Question 16

Translate to Portuguese:

Yes, please.

Answer 16

Sim, por favor.

“please” = por favor

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

Question 17

Translate to Portuguese:

What? / Huh?

Answer 17

O quê?

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

Question 18

Translate to Portuguese:

What do you mean?

(in a surprised / confused tone)

Answer 18

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 19

Translate to Portuguese:

What does “janela” mean?

Answer 19

O que significa “janela”?

“mean” = significa

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

Question 20

Translate to Portuguese:

in English

Answer 20

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 21

Translate to Portuguese:

How do you say “window” in Portuguese?

Answer 21

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 22

Translate to Portuguese:

I don’t understand.

Answer 22

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 23

Translate to Portuguese:

Correct!

Answer 23

Correto!

Question 24

Translate to Portuguese:

More, please.

Answer 24

Mais, por favor.

mais = “more”

Question 25

# Translate to Portuguese: _More slowly_, please.

Answer 25

Mais _devagar_, por favor. ## Footnote *devagar* = "slowly"

Question 26

# Translate to Portuguese: that one ## Footnote (e.g. If you'd like someone to speak more slowly)

Answer 26

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 27

# Translate to Portuguese: this one

Answer 27

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 28

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

Answer 28

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

Question 29

# Translate to Portuguese: See you soon!

Answer 29

Vejo você em breve! ## Footnote "See you soon" = *Vejo você em breve* Note that the subject *eu* (“I”) is not written because the verb ending for *vejo* already shows who is speaking. This is the standard, neutral way to say "see you soon".