Lesson nº 15 on Tomorrow Algarve https://www.facebook.com/TomorrowAlgarve?fref=ts
Useful expressions to remember in Portuguese
You know how people love to stand in the middle of the street, even in those typically narrow streets, chatting and ignoring other people who just want to keep walking? So, you wonder… how can I make them move without being rude?
It’s easy! First, you should smile, and then you only have to say “Com licença” (excuse me). Remember, in “com” you don’t pronounce the “m”, you just nasalize the “o” and in “licença”, both “c” and ç” are soft as in the English word “sun”. When they finally step aside and let you pass, say “Obrigado” if you’re a man or “Obrigada”, if you’re a woman.
And, what to say if, for example, someone steps on your foot or bumps into you in the street? You will probably hear a “Desculpe “(excuse me), and you should answer “Não faz mal!” (it’s ok).
And finally, how to say the magic word “please”? We have two possibilities, one is “por favor” and, the other one is “se faz favor”, they mean exactly se same.
As you see, it’s not hard to be polite in Portuguese; you only have to remember a few words:
➢ Com licença (excuse me), when someone is blocking
➢ Desculpe (excuse me) when you accidentally bump into
someone or step on someone’s foot;
➢ Não faz mal (it’s ok / no problem)
➢ Por favor / Se faz favor (please)
➢ Obrigado/a (thank you)
Answers from previous lesson:
Waiter EMPREGADO DE MESA