In Rio, many people in tourist areas understand some English, especially in the Zona Sul, but a few phrases in Portuguese change how you're treated and get you out of trouble when gestures aren't enough. Here are the ones you'll use most, organized by situation, with an approximate pronunciation for English speakers and the false friends that cause the most confusion.
At a glance
- The basics: Oi (hi), obrigado or obrigada (thank you, depending on who's speaking), por favor (please), com licença (excuse me).
- To order: Me vê um…, por favor? is the Carioca way to ask for something at a bar or beach kiosk.
- The check: A conta, por favor. If you see "10%" on the bill, it's the taxa de serviço (service charge).
- Emergencies: police 190, SAMU (ambulance) 192 and firefighters 193.
- Watch out for: esquisito (weird), pretender (to intend) and puxe (pull): they're false friends.
What Rio Portuguese sounds like
You don't need perfect pronunciation: people will understand you. A few tips on the Carioca accent:
- An s at the end of a syllable sounds like "sh": mais sounds like "mysh"; dois, "doysh".
- An r at the start of a word, or a double rr, sounds like an English "h": Rio sounds like "HEE-oo"; carro, "KAH-hoo".
- A t or d before an i sounds like "ch" and "j": noite sounds like "NOY-chee"; dia, "JEE-ah".
- A final o sounds almost like "oo": obrigado sounds like "oh-bree-GAH-doo".
- Nasal vowels (ão, ã, em): say them letting air out through your nose. Não sounds close to "nown".
Greetings and courtesy
| Portuguese | Approximate pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Oi / Olá | oy / oh-LAH | Hi / hello |
| Bom dia / Boa tarde / Boa noite | bohn JEE-ah / BOH-ah TAR-jee / BOH-ah NOY-chee | Good morning / good afternoon / good evening |
| Tudo bem? | TOO-doo bayn | How are you? (the reply is the same: tudo bem) |
| Obrigado / Obrigada | oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah | Thank you (said by a man / a woman) |
| Por favor | por fah-VOR | Please |
| Com licença | kohn lee-SEN-sah | Excuse me (to get past or interrupt) |
| Desculpa | desh-KOOL-pah | Sorry |
| Não falo português | nown FAH-loo por-too-GAYSH | I don't speak Portuguese |
| Fala inglês? | FAH-lah een-GLAYSH | Do you speak English? |
At a restaurant or bar
| Portuguese | Approximate pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Uma mesa para dois, por favor | OO-mah MAY-zah PAH-rah doysh | A table for two, please |
| O cardápio, por favor | oo kar-DAH-pee-oo | The menu, please |
| Me vê um chope, por favor? | mee VAY oom SHOH-pee | Can I get a draft beer? |
| Uma água sem gás / com gás | OO-mah AH-gwah sayn gahsh / kohn gahsh | A still / sparkling water |
| Sem gelo | sayn ZHAY-loo | No ice |
| Está ótimo | esh-TAH OH-chee-moo | It's great |
| A conta, por favor | ah KOHN-tah | The check, please |
| Pode dividir no cartão? | POH-jee jee-vee-JEER noo kar-TOWN | Can we split it on cards? |
Many restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill that isn't mandatory. We explain it in tipping and the 10% in Rio.
Transportation and directions
| Portuguese | Approximate pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Onde fica…? | OHN-jee FEE-kah | Where is…? |
| Como chego a…? | KOH-moo SHAY-goo ah | How do I get to…? |
| É perto / é longe? | eh PEHR-too / eh LOHN-zhee | Is it near / far? |
| Qual é a estação de metrô mais próxima? | kwow eh ah esh-tah-SOWN jee meh-TROH mysh PROH-see-mah | Where's the nearest subway station? |
| Esse ônibus vai para…? | EH-see OH-nee-boos vy PAH-rah | Does this bus go to…? |
| Pode parar aqui, por favor | POH-jee pah-RAR ah-KEE | Can you stop here, please? |
| À direita / à esquerda / em frente | ah jee-RAY-tah / ah esh-KEHR-dah / ayn FREN-chee | To the right / to the left / straight ahead |
At the beach
| Portuguese | Approximate pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Quanto custa o aluguel da cadeira? | KWAN-too KOOSH-tah oo ah-loo-GEW dah kah-DAY-rah | How much is it to rent the chair? |
| Uma cadeira e um guarda-sol | OO-mah kah-DAY-rah ee oom GWAR-dah sow | A chair and an umbrella |
| Pode olhar minhas coisas? | POH-jee oh-LYAR MEEN-yahsh KOY-zahs | Could you watch my things? |
| O mar está perigoso? | oo mar esh-TAH peh-ree-GOH-zoo | Is the sea dangerous? |
| Onde fica o banheiro? | OHN-jee FEE-kah oo bahn-YAY-roo | Where's the restroom? |
Before renting at a beach kiosk, ask the price. More details in a beach day in Rio.
Emergencies
| Portuguese | Approximate pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Socorro! | soh-KOH-hoo | Help! |
| Preciso de ajuda | preh-SEE-zoo jee ah-ZHOO-dah | I need help |
| Chame uma ambulância | SHAH-mee OO-mah ahm-boo-LAHN-see-ah | Call an ambulance |
| Fui roubado / roubada | fwee hoh-BAH-doo / hoh-BAH-dah | I was robbed (man / woman) |
| Perdi meu passaporte | pehr-JEE meh-oo pah-sah-POR-chee | I lost my passport |
| Estou passando mal | esh-TOH pah-SAHN-doo mow | I'm feeling sick |
The emergency numbers are 190 (Military Police), 192 (SAMU ↗, ambulance) and 193 (Fire Department ↗). The full list, including the tourist police station, is in safety in Rio.
False friends
Words that look like English but mean something else:
| Portuguese | What it means | It doesn't mean |
|---|---|---|
| Esquisito | weird, odd | exquisite (that's requintado) |
| Pretender | to intend | to pretend (that's fingir) |
| Puxe | pull (on doors) | push (that's empurre) |
| Parentes | relatives | parents (that's pais) |
| Livraria | bookstore | library (that's biblioteca) |
| Constipado | having a cold | constipated |
| Pasta | folder or paste | pasta (that's massa) |
| Assistir | to watch (a show or game) | to assist (that's ajudar) |
| Batom | lipstick | baton |
Frequently asked questions
Will people understand me in English?
In tourist areas, often yes, especially if you speak slowly. Away from the Zona Sul it's harder; that's where having phrases on hand or a translation app helps.
Should I download an offline translator?
Yes: if you run out of data, an offline dictionary gets you by. For connectivity, see SIM, eSIM or roaming.
Where can I keep planning my trip?
Plan your trip to Rio has the step-by-step guide.
Sources: Ministry of Health: SAMU 192 ↗ and Rio de Janeiro State Fire Department ↗, accessed October 27, 2026.