Learn Brazilian Portuguese: 50 Essential Words + 100 Real-Life Examples!

Olá pessoal!

Today’s lesson is a shortcut for those looking to get conversational Brazilian Portuguese.

You will learn today the 50 most common nouns in Brazilian Portuguese.

Are you ready?

If you are, join me!

The words you will learn today have been arranged in alphabetical order.

And it is essential that you repeat them and the examples given out loud, to increase language awareness.

Well, let's see our first word.

(Friend) Repeat after me.

(Friend) AMIGO means friend, a male friend.

AMIGA is a female friend.

Let's see our examples.

(He is my friend.)

He is my friend.

(He is my friend.)

(I will out with my friend.)

I will go out with my friend.

(I will go out with my friend.)

Don't forget to repeat after me.

Second word.

(Love) AMOR means love.

(Love is beautiful.)

Love is beautiful.

(Love is beautiful.)

(Good morning my love.)

Good morning, my love.

(Good morning my love.)

Next word.

(Animal) In Brazilian Portuguese, words ending in –l have a -u sound.

Don't forget to repeat.

(What is your favorite animal?)

What's your favorite animal?

(What is your favorite animal?)

(I have a pet.)

I have a pet.

(I have a pet.)

Next.

(Year) ANO means year.

(This year I'm going to Brazil.)

This year I'm going to Brazil.

(This year I'm going to Brazil.)

(I'm going to spend New Year's Eve in Rio.)

I’m going to spend New Year’s Eve in Rio.

(I'm going to spend New Year's Eve in Rio.)

Next.

(Coffee) CAFÉ means both coffee and café, the place (Is there a café near here?)

Is there a café near here?

(Is there a café near here?)

(A coffee, please.)

A coffee, please.

(A coffee, please.)

(Car) In Brazilian Portuguese, the stardardized way to pronounce the double R sequence, is in the back of your throat.

(Car) CARRO means car.

(Is that car yours?)

Is this car yours?

(Is that car yours?)

(Where can I rent a car?)

Where can I rent a car?

(Where can I rent a car?)

(House) Whenever the letter –s is between two vowels, it will have a –z sound.

Repeat.

CASA means both house and home, in some contexts.

(I'm home.)

I'm home.

(I'm home.)

(What a beautiful house you have!)

What a beautiful house you have!

(What a beautiful house you have!)

Repeat.

(City) CIDADE means city.

(In what city do you live?)

In what city do you live?

(In what city do you live?)

(I like this city very much.)

I like this city very much.

(I like this city very much.)

(Thing) COISA has a few different meanings and uses, but it is often translated into thing.

For example.

(What's that thing?)

What's that thing?

(What's that thing?)

(I need to tell you something.)

I need to tell you something.

(I need to tell you something.)

(Food) COMIDA means food.

Examples.

(Where can I try typical food?)

Where can I try some local food, local cuisine?

Repeat (Where can I try typical food?)

(This food is delicious.)

This food is delicious.

(This food is delicious.)

(Computer) COMPUTADOR means computer.

(I need my computer to work.)

I need my computer to work.

(I need my computer to work.)

(My computer crashed.)

My computer crashed.

(My computer crashed.)

(Heart) CORAÇÃO means heart.

(My heart is racing.)

My heart is racing.

(My heart is racing.)

Repeat.

(You won my heart.)

You won my heart.

(You won my heart.)

Next.

(Child) CRIANÇA means child.

The opposite of adult, not the opposite of parent.

(I was a child when I came to Brazil.)

I was a child when I came to Brazil.

(I was a child when I came to Brazil.)

(He is still a child.)

He is still a child.

(He is still a child.)

(Day) DIA means day.

DIA is a masculine noun.

That's why we say...

(The day is beautiful today!)

The day is beautiful today!

(The day is beautiful today!)

Louder.

(Have a good day!)

Have a good day!

(Have a good day!)

(Money) DINHEIRO means both money and cash.

(I need to exchange money.)

I need to exchange money.

(I need to exchange money.)

(Cash or card?)

Cash or card?

(Cash or card?)

(Family) FAMÍLIA means family.

(My family doesn't live here.)

My family doesn't live here.

(My family doesn't live here.)

(I have a big family.)

I have a big family.

(I have a big family.)

Repeat.

(Son) FILHO means son.

FILHA means daughter.

(My son is eight years old.)

My son is eight years old.

(My son is eight years old.)

(My daughter is called Laura.)

My daughter is called Laura.

(My daughter is called Laura.)

By the way, if you want to ask someone if the person has children, use the word FILHOS, don't say CRIANÇAS.

(Do you have children?)

Do you have children?

(Do you have children?)

Next.

(Weekend) FIM DE SEMANA means the weekend.

(I love the weekend.)

I love the weekend.

(I love the weekend.)

(I'm going away for the weekend.)

I'm going to travel on the weekend.

(I'm going away for the weekend.)

(People) ...as in television.

...as in television.

(People) GENTE is an informal way to refer to people, as in...

(There is a lot of people here.)

There is a lot of people here.

(There is a lot of people here.)

Now, when GENTE is preceded by the article A - A GENTE - is an informal way to refer to NÓS – we.

(May we come in?)

May we come in?

(May we come in?)

Below is the link to a lesson where you will find more explanations and examples with the words GENTE - A GENTE.

It is important that you watch that lesson over and over to get accustomed to that because Brazilians prefer more informal language.

Next.

(Man) HOMEM means man.

(Who is that man?)

Who is that man?

(Who is that man?)

(What a handsome man!)

What a handsome man!

(What a handsome man!)

(Hour) HORA means hour, time.

(What time is it?)

What time is it?

(What time is it?)

(I've been here for two hours.)

I've been here for two hours.

(I've been here for two hours.)

Repeat.

Next word.

(Internet) Any guesses?

INTERNET means internet.

(I need to use the Internet.)

I need to use the Internet.

(I need to use the Internet.)

(Is the Internet down?)

Is the Internet down?

(Is the Internet down?)

Next.

(Way) JEITO is often translated into way, manner, style.

Below is the link to a great lesson on the subject.

Watch it!

Examples.

(I like your style.)

I like your style.

(I like your style.)

(You speak in a beautiful way.)

You speak in a beautiful way.

(You speak in a beautiful way.)

(Game) JOGO means game, match.

(I'm going to the match tonight.)

I'm going to the match tonight.

(I'm going to the match tonight.)

(Did you see the match yesterday?)

Did you see the match yesterday?

(Did you see the match yesterday?)

(Book) LIVRO means book.

(I would like to buy a book.)

I would like to buy a book.

(I would like to buy a book.)

(Do you have a favorite book?)

Do you have a favorite book?

(Do you have a favorite book?)

Next word.

(Place) LUGAR means place.

(I like this place very much.)

I like this place very much.

(I like this place very much.)

(I need a place to stay.)

I need a place to stay.

(I need a place to stay.)

(Mother) MÃE means mother.

(This is my mother.)

This is my mother.

(This is my mother.)

(Do you live with your mother?)

Do you live with your mother?

(Do you live with your mother?)

(Sea) MAR means sea.

(My room has a sea view.)

My room has a sea view.

I wish.

Repeat.

(My room has a sea view.)

(The sea is calm.)

The sea is calm.

(The sea is calm.)

(Month) MÊS means month.

(I'm going away for a month.)

I'm going away for a month.

Repeat.

(I'm going away for a month.)

(I went to Lisbon last month.)

I went to Lisbon last month.

(I went to Lisbon last month.)

(Woman) MULHER means woman.

(Who is that woman?)

Who is that woman?

(Who is that woman?)

(What an elegant woman!)

What an elegant woman!

(What an elegant woman!)

Next.

(Music) MÚSICA means music, but it is also used in the sense of song.

(I listen to Brazilian music.)

I listen to Brazilian music.

(I listen to Brazilian music.)

(I don't have a favorite song.)

I don't have a favorite song.

(I don't have a favorite song.)

(Night) NOITE means both evening and night.

(I'm going to a party tonight.)

I'm going to a party tonight.

(I'm going to a party tonight.)

(Have a good night!)

Have a good night!

(Have a good night!)

(Name) NOME means name.

(What is your name?)

What's your name?

(What is your name?)

(My name is Beatrice.)

My name is Beatrice.

(My name is Beatrice.)

(News) NOVIDADE means news.

(Do you have any news?)

Do you have any news?

(Do you have any news?)

(I have some news to tell you.)

I have some news to tell you.

(I have some news to tell you.)

(Father) PAI means father.

(This is my father.)

This is my father.

(This is my father.)

Repeat.

(Do you live with your father?)

Do you live with your father?

(Do you live with your father?)

Next.

(Person) PESSOA means person.

(This person is very nice.)

This person is very nice.

(This person is very nice.)

(I'm a happy person.)

I'm a happy person.

(I'm a happy person.)

You are repeating after me, aren't you?

(Problem) PROBLEMA means problem.

PROBLEMA is a masculine noun.

(I have a problem.)

I have a problem.

(I have a problem.)

(What is the problem?)

What is the problem?

(What is the problem?)

Next.

(Street) Whenever a word starts with the letter R in Brazilian Portuguese, we make it a -h sound, in the back of our throat.

RUA means street.

(I live on Rua da Paz.)

I live on Peace Street.

(I live on Rua da Paz.)

(The street is full of people.)

The street is full of people.

(The street is full of people.)

(Health) SAÚDE means health.

(I have health problems.) I have health problems. (I have health problems.) In Brazil, when someone sneezes, we say...

we say...

(Bless you!)

We also say ‘SAÚDE!’ when making a toast.

(Cheers!)

Next.

(Week) SEMANA means week.

(I'm going away for two weeks.)

I'm going away for two weeks.

Repeat after me.

(I'm going away for two weeks.)

(I went to Natal last week.)

I went to Natal last week.

(I went to Natal last week.)

(Sir - Mister) SENHOR means both sir and mister.

SENHORA means both madam and missus.

(Excuse me, sir.)

Excuse me, sir.

(Excuse me, sir.)

(Could you help me, madam?)

Could you help me, madam?

(Could you help me, madam?)

Next.

(Dream) SONHO means dream.

(I have a dream.)

I have a dream.

(I have a dream.)

(My dream is to live in Brazil.)

My dream is to live in Brazil.

(My dream is to live in Brazil.)

(Smile) SORRISO means smile.

(You have a beautiful smile.)

You have a beautiful smile.

(You have a beautiful smile.)

Now, if you want someone to smile, you are taking someone's photo, use the imperative form of the verb SORRIR, which is...

(Smile!)

Smile!

(Smile!)

Next.

(Telephone) TELEFONE means telephone.

(Can you give me your phone number?)

Can you give me your phone number?

(Can you give me your phone number?)

(My phone number is...)

My phone number is...

(My phone number is...)

If you need to review numbers in Portuguese below are the links to a few lessons on numbers.

Watch them!

Moving on.

(Time - Weather) TEMPO means time, but it is also used in the sense of weather.

(I have been a teacher for a long time.)

I have been a teacher for a long time.

(I have been a teacher for a long time.)

(Did you see the weather forecast?)

Did you see the weather forecast?

(Did you see the weather forecast?)

When in Brazil, I recommend you see it every day.

Next word.

(Work - Job) TRABALHO means work.

(I like my job.)

I like my job.

(I like my job.)

(I'm traveling for work.)

I'm traveling for work.

(I'm traveling for work.)

(Truth) VERDADE means truth.

(What's the truth?)

What's the truth?

(What's the truth?)

(Tell the truth.)

Tell the truth.

(Tell the truth.)

Next word.

(Times) VEZ means time, times.

(I've been to Brazil once.)

I've been to Brazil once.

(I've been to Brazil once.)

(I eat fish three times a week.)

I eat fish three times a week.

(I eat fish three times a week.)

VEZ again?

Yes!

VEZ also means turn.

When, like, taking turns.

(It's my turn.)

It's my turn.

(It's my turn.)

(It's your turn to pay.)

It's your turn to pay.

(It's your turn to pay.)

(Life) VIDA means life.

(Life is short.)

Life is short.

(Life is short.)

(Enjoy life.)

Enjoy life.

(Enjoy life.)

Now, if you want to learn some of the most commonly used verbs in Brazilian Portuguese, watch that lesson and write a few examples using them.

Share your examples with me so I can give you feedback and help you improve.

I would love that!

Thank you for watching another lesson.

See you next time.

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Tchau!