Top Portuguese words you must learn

A Romance language that originates in the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe, while having co-official language status in East Timor, Equatorial Guinea and Macau. Considered to be one of the most formal languages in the entire world, it is spoken by over 282 million people. There’s absolutely no doubt that this language holds a massive ground on its own. In addition to its popularity, Portuguese expands your horizons when it comes to your job opportunities as well. Whether you wish to travel to one of those countries that primarily speak the language, or are just curious to learn a new language, Portuguese is the language for you.

One of the first steps of learning any language is to learn a couple of important words associated with the language. This helps your vocabulary build a little faster than usual. Portuguese is no stranger to such a notion.

Olá = Hello

A ‘hello’ is the most important word in every language. It is also the first word we learn as it is a greeting which helps you initiate conversations with people who speak the language. 

amor = love

Love is the most beautiful feeling in the world. Therefore, in my opinion, it is one of the top words in any language. Portuguese is a beautiful language and learning the word that represents love would make your language learning experience even better.

felicidade = happiness

When there’s love, there’s definitely happiness. We are all chasing “felicidade” as Portuguese speaking people would say, not just for ourselves but also for our loved ones. Happiness is the objective of everybody’s life. 

gato = cat

Let’s talk about pets. There are two types of people in the world: cat people and dog people. We are going to talk about cats first. The feline creature is loved by quite a lot of people and would be a good topic of conversation for anyone who adores cats.

cão = dog

Let’s not forget our lovely and loyal companions, dogs. Dogs are equally loved by a huge population and similarly would be a great topic of conversation especially in dog parks or cafes around town. 

sorrir = smile

Now it is time to smile or like someone from Brazil would say it, “sorrir”. Smiling makes us happy and helps us stay healthy, so that’s why we all need to smile every day. Smiling through life is the best way to enjoy it.

brasileiro = Brazilian

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Hence it only makes sense to know what Brazilian is in Portuguese. 

Sim = Yes

Portuguese speakers say “yes” by simply saying “sim”. The perfect way to agree with someone or at least show your consent for something. This provides affirmation and would be especially useful while travelling. 

Obrigado = Thank you

Politeness is appreciated by everybody, especially if you show gratitude while being polite. Use “Obrigado” to show gratitude when you seek help or simply to be polite. 

Adeus = Goodbye

When we need to end any conversation in Portuguese a polite and appropriate manner, using “Adeus” is useful. When you’re either leaving or simply ending a conversation, use this word.

These are the top 10 words in my opinion, that you must learn in Portuguese. Portuguese is a beautiful language and the best way to learn a language is by learning a few words that are either super important or that would help initiate or end conversations.