The first time I tried to buy a bus ticket in a Brazilian town, I confidently said what I thought was "one ticket to the beach" and the driver answered with a rapid-fire sentence, a shrug and a laugh. I paid too much, got off two stops early and ended up eating the best pastel of my life at a stall nobody had recommended. That small mess taught me more than any phrasebook: you do not need fluent Portuguese in Brazil, but you do need a handful of the right words, said with a smile and a bit of nerve.
This guide is the one I wish I had been handed at Changi before boarding. It gathers more than 80 Brazilian Portuguese phrases for travel, sorted by the situations you will actually face: saying hello, getting around, ordering food, paying, asking for help, and chatting with people once the day is done. Between the phrase tables you will find the context a list cannot give you, such as when to use você, why a waiter may say "já vai" and not come back for ten minutes, and what the pronunciation traps are for a speaker of English, Mandarin or Malay.
Most readers of HolidaySG are based in Singapore, so I have written it with that in mind. A flight to Brazil from here is long, usually with one or two stops, which is exactly why the preparation is worth doing on the way. Sections near the end cover the practical side of leaving Singapore for such a trip: staying connected, getting to the airport, using a layover well, and practising your new words on home soil.
Why a few words of Portuguese change your whole trip
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the only one where Portuguese is the national language. Everything around it speaks Spanish, so your Spanish-speaking friends will tell you they will "figure it out". They will, partly. But Brazilian Portuguese has its own sounds, its own rhythm and a great many words that look nothing like their Spanish cousins. Treat it as a separate language and you will be happier.
English is not unheard of. You will find it at international hotels, at the bigger attractions, with young people in the large cities and with many tour guides. Step outside that bubble and it thins out quickly. A taxi driver in Salvador, a pharmacist in Curitiba, a woman selling tapioca crepes in Recife: these are the people who make a trip memorable, and most of them will answer you in Portuguese only. When you try even a sentence, the mood shifts. People slow down, point, gesture, sometimes walk you half a block to the right door.
There is also a safety angle that I will not skip. Knowing how to say "I do not understand", "where is the police station" or "I need a doctor" before you need them takes the panic out of a bad moment. You will use them rarely, if ever, but you will be glad you rehearsed them.
Brazilian, not European, Portuguese
If you pick up a general Portuguese course online, check which variety it teaches. European Portuguese, spoken in Lisbon, swallows many vowels and sounds almost Slavic to an untrained ear. Brazilian Portuguese is more open, more sing-song and easier for beginners to hear. Vocabulary differs too. A bus is an ônibus in Brazil, an autocarro in Portugal. Breakfast is café da manhã in Brazil, pequeno-almoço in Portugal. Learn the Brazilian forms and you will be understood the first time.
Three habits that matter more than vocabulary
- Greet first. Walk into a shop, a lift or a small restaurant and say bom dia or boa tarde before you ask anything. Skipping it comes across as abrupt.
- Smile and gesture. Brazilians talk with their hands. Pointing at a menu item while saying the first word of it is completely normal.
- Say it, even badly. Brazilians are generous listeners. A mispronounced word will be corrected kindly or simply understood from context.
How Brazilian Portuguese sounds: a pronunciation cheat sheet
You will not master the sounds in a week, but a few rules fix about eighty percent of the mistakes beginners make. Read the table below out loud twice, then move on. The respelling uses English-style syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals.
| Spelling | Sounds like | Example | Respelling |
|---|---|---|---|
| r at the start of a word or rr | A breathy "h", like clearing your throat softly | Rio, carro (car) | HEE-oo, KAH-hoo |
| lh | Like "lli" in "million" | olho (eye) | OH-lyoo |
| nh | Like "ny" in "canyon" | amanhã (tomorrow) | ah-mah-NYAH |
| ão | A nasal "ow", as if you said "own" through your nose | não (no), pão (bread) | nowng, powng |
| ç | Always a soft "s" | obrigado, açaí | oh-bree-GAH-doo, ah-sah-EE |
| t or d before "i" | Becomes "ch" or "j" | tia (aunt), dia (day) | CHEE-ah, JEE-ah |
| final -s in Rio | Often sounds like "sh" | dois (two) | doysh |
| -m / -n at the end | Nasalises the vowel; you barely say the consonant | bom (good) | bohng |
The "t becomes ch" rule is the one that surprises people most. The word for "good" in "good day" is bom, and "day" is dia, said almost like "JEE-ah". If you say a hard "dee-ah", they will still get you, but you will sound foreign in the way a tourist does. Once you start hearing it, you will notice it everywhere: cidade (city) becomes "see-DAH-jee", noite (night) becomes "NOY-chee".
For a Singapore speaker, two tips. Your ear for tones helps with rhythm, since Brazilian speech rises and falls in a melodic way. And the nasal vowels will feel familiar if you grew up with Hokkien or Cantonese. Lean into the nasal, do not fight it.
One practical note on stress. Words ending in a vowel, -s, -m or -em are stressed on the second-to-last syllable. Words ending in other consonants are stressed on the last. Accent marks override those rules, so when you see ônibus or café, stress the marked syllable. You do not have to memorise the rule, only to remember that the accent is a stress map.
Greetings and courtesies: the words that open every door
If you learn only one section of this guide, make it this one. These are the words that get you through the first ten seconds of every interaction, and those ten seconds decide the rest.
| Portuguese | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oi / Olá | Hi / Hello | Oi is everyday; olá is slightly more formal. |
| Bom dia | Good morning | Until about noon. |
| Boa tarde | Good afternoon | Noon until dusk. |
| Boa noite | Good evening / good night | Used both for arriving and leaving after dark. |
| Tudo bem? | How are you? / All good? | Reply tudo bem or tudo bom. |
| Obrigado / Obrigada | Thank you | Men say -o, women say -a, whoever they are talking to. |
| De nada | You are welcome | Also imagina ("don't mention it"). |
| Por favor | Please | Use it generously. |
| Com licença | Excuse me (to pass) | On a packed bus or metro. |
| Desculpa / Desculpe | Sorry | Desculpe is a touch more polite. |
| Meu nome é... | My name is... | Or simply Eu sou o/a... |
| Prazer | Pleased to meet you | Short, friendly, universal. |
| Sou de Singapura | I am from Singapore | Note: it is Singapura in Portuguese. |
| Não entendo | I do not understand | Add mais devagar, por favor for "slower, please". |
| Você fala inglês? | Do you speak English? | Ask this after you try Portuguese, not before. |
| Pode repetir? | Can you repeat that? | A lifesaver. |
A word on você and o senhor / a senhora. Brazilians use você for "you" with nearly everyone, including strangers your own age. When speaking to someone clearly older, or a person in a position of respect, o senhor (to a man) and a senhora (to a woman) show courtesy. Most visitors can ignore this and use você, but you will win a smile when you say "Obrigado, senhora" to an older shopkeeper.
And the physical side: in Brazil people often greet with a light cheek kiss (once, twice or even three times depending on the region) between a woman and anyone, and men shake hands or share a half-hug. You do not have to initiate, but do not recoil when it happens. A step back is the only way to cause offence here.
Our itineraries often start with a brisk Singapore morning anyway, so a nice habit is to practise greeting hawker uncles in Portuguese for a laugh. They will not understand you, but the muscle memory is real.
Getting around: taxis, ride apps, buses and the metro
Transport is where the language gap costs the most money. A mispronounced destination, a driver who does not turn the meter on, a bus that skips your stop: these are the small frictions that add up. Learn the set below and you will be well ahead.
| Portuguese | English | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Onde fica...? | Where is...? | The best all-purpose direction question. |
| Onde fica o banheiro? | Where is the bathroom? | Say banheiro, not "toilet". |
| Como eu chego em...? | How do I get to...? | Follow with a place name. |
| Pode me levar para...? | Can you take me to...? | To a taxi driver. |
| O taxímetro está ligado? | Is the meter on? | Say it before you get in. |
| Quanto vai custar? | How much will it cost? | For fixed-price rides or airport trips. |
| Pare aqui, por favor | Stop here, please | At your drop-off point. |
| Vire à direita / à esquerda | Turn right / left | Both to hear and to say. |
| Siga em frente | Go straight ahead | Heard in every set of directions. |
| Perto / longe | Near / far | Is it close enough to walk? |
| Esse ônibus vai para...? | Does this bus go to...? | Ask before boarding. |
| Onde fica o ponto de ônibus? | Where is the bus stop? | The stop is ponto. |
| Uma passagem para... | One ticket to... | Metro, coach or ferry counters. |
| Qual é a próxima estação? | What is the next station? | On the metro. |
| Preciso descer aqui | I need to get off here | A polite warning on a crowded bus. |
Taxis, meters and apps
In most large Brazilian cities, ride-hailing apps are the sensible default for visitors, because the fare is shown up front and no conversation about the route is required. When you do take a street taxi, always ask whether the meter is running before you get in. The phrase O taxímetro está ligado? costs you three seconds and can save you a lot. At the airport, many cities offer a prepaid taxi counter where you pay a fixed price at a desk before you walk out; there you only need to say the neighbourhood and your hotel name.
Buses, which are the real test
Buses are cheap and go everywhere, but they are a real test of nerves, because stops are often unmarked and announcements rare. In some cities you board at the back, pay at a turnstile and exit at the front; in others a conductor sits near the turnstile. The simplest trick is to ask the driver or a fellow passenger. Say Esse ônibus vai para...?, name your destination, and then add Pode me avisar? ("Can you tell me when?"). I have never met anyone who refused that last sentence.
For the metro in São Paulo and Rio, signs are clear and bilingual in stations that matter to tourists, so you can mostly ignore the language. It is above ground, on the bus and in the taxi that Portuguese carries your trip.
Eating and drinking: from the boteco to the por quilo buffet
Food is one of the great reasons to visit Brazil, and the vocabulary comes with a particular warmth. Menus in smaller places are Portuguese-only, and waiters often speak no English, but pointing plus a few key phrases goes a long way.
| Portuguese | English | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Uma mesa para dois, por favor | A table for two, please | Change dois to um, três, quatro. |
| O cardápio, por favor | The menu, please | Also menu in tourist areas. |
| O que você recomenda? | What do you recommend? | The single best question to ask a waiter. |
| Eu queria... | I would like... | A soft, polite way to order. |
| Para mim, isso | For me, this one | While pointing at the menu. |
| Sem gelo, por favor | No ice, please | Useful if you are cautious about tap water. |
| Água com gás / sem gás | Sparkling / still water | Ordered at nearly every meal. |
| Um suco de laranja | An orange juice | Fresh juices are a Brazilian highlight. |
| Sou vegetariano / vegetariana | I am vegetarian | Add Não como carne ("I do not eat meat"). |
| Tenho alergia a... | I am allergic to... | Follow with amendoim (peanuts), camarão (shrimp). |
| É muito picante? | Is it very spicy? | Most dishes are mild; the sauce is separate. |
| Mais uma, por favor | One more, please | For a second drink or portion. |
| A conta, por favor | The bill, please | You usually need to ask; it will not appear on its own. |
| O serviço está incluído? | Is service included? | A 10 percent charge is often added automatically. |
| Pode embrulhar? | Can you wrap this up? | For leftovers to take away. |
The por quilo buffet
The comida por quilo restaurant is the thing I miss most. You take a plate, walk along a long counter of salads, rice, beans, grilled meats and hot dishes, and fill it as you like. At the end your plate is weighed, and you pay by the kilogram. Your receipt is a card you carry the whole meal, so do not lose it. The phrases are few: Pode pesar, por favor ("Please weigh it") and, if you need guidance, Como funciona? ("How does it work?"). At lunch these places are packed with office workers and are some of the most honest value for money you will find.
Coffee, bakeries and the all-day snack
Brazilians drink small, strong coffee called cafezinho, often free in homes and offices and cheap in cafés. For a milkier cup ask for um café com leite, or um pingado for a coffee with a splash of milk. In a padaria (bakery) you will find pão de queijo, the chewy cheese bread that is sold nearly everywhere and eaten with everything. At a beach kiosk the staple is a coconut: Um coco gelado, por favor.
In a boteco, the casual neighbourhood bar, beer comes in large bottles shared between friends, poured into small glasses so it stays cold. Say Uma cerveja bem gelada, "a very cold beer", and expect the bottle to arrive with a ring of foam. Snacks arrive too: petiscos are small plates that go with drinks. Say Quais petiscos vocês têm? ("Which snacks do you have?") and be ready to be handed something fried and delicious.
A tip on timing. Brazilian lunch is often between noon and 2 pm and dinner rarely begins before 8 pm, with weekend meals running late. If you ask for dinner at 6 pm in a traditional place, you may be eating alone. The phrase A que horas vocês abrem? ("What time do you open?") is worth keeping in your pocket.
Money, shopping and bargaining
The currency is the real (plural reais), written R$. Cards are widely accepted in cities, but small stalls, markets and many bus fares still prefer cash. Counting in Portuguese is the foundation for all the phrases in this section, so here is the shortest possible number list: um (1), dois (2), três (3), quatro (4), cinco (5), seis (6), sete (7), oito (8), nove (9), dez (10), vinte (20), cinquenta (50), cem (100). You do not need much more to read a price tag.
| Portuguese | English | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Quanto custa isso? | How much is this? | Point and ask. |
| Quanto é? | How much is it? | Shorter, very common. |
| É muito caro | That is very expensive | Say it with a smile, not a frown. |
| Tem desconto? | Is there a discount? | Ask politely in markets, not in fixed-price shops. |
| Posso pagar com cartão? | Can I pay by card? | Before you order at small places. |
| Aceita dinheiro? | Do you accept cash? | The reverse question. |
| Tem troco? | Do you have change? | When paying with a large note. |
| Quero este, por favor | I would like this one, please | Clear and polite. |
| Só estou olhando | I am just looking | To politely turn away a shop assistant. |
| Pode embrulhar para presente? | Can you gift-wrap it? | For souvenirs. |
| Pode me dar o recibo? | Can I have the receipt? | For tax or customs purposes. |
| Onde fica o caixa eletrônico? | Where is the ATM? | Prefer ATMs inside banks or shopping centres. |
Bargaining is not as universal as many visitors expect. In craft markets and beach stalls a friendly counter-offer is part of the game. In shops with printed price tags, it is not. If you are unsure, ask Esse preço é fixo? ("Is that price fixed?") and watch the reaction. A laugh usually means yes, you can ask.
On tipping: restaurants often add a 10 percent serviço to the bill, which is customary and mostly optional but usually paid. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip, though rounding up is kind. For small services say Fica com o troco, "keep the change". Hotel porters and tour guides are happy with a few reais.
Emergencies, health and safety
I hope you never use these. Learn them anyway, and save the numbers in your phone before you land: 190 for the police, 192 for an ambulance (SAMU) and 193 for the fire brigade. Your hotel front desk is also a first stop for non-urgent trouble.
| Portuguese | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Socorro! / Ajuda! | Help! | Said loudly in any emergency. |
| Chame a polícia! | Call the police! | Theft, assault, immediate danger. |
| Preciso de um médico | I need a doctor | Feeling unwell, injury. |
| Chame uma ambulância | Call an ambulance | Serious injury or sudden illness. |
| Estou passando mal | I feel very ill | A common way to describe sudden sickness. |
| Onde fica o hospital / a farmácia? | Where is the hospital / the pharmacy? | Pharmacists can advise on minor problems. |
| Fui roubado / roubada | I have been robbed | Male / female speaker. |
| Perdi meu passaporte | I lost my passport | Go to the police, then the embassy. |
| Perdi minha bolsa / carteira | I lost my bag / wallet | Hotels and shops will help. |
| Estou perdido / perdida | I am lost | Male / female speaker. |
| Preciso de um tradutor | I need a translator | At a police station or clinic. |
| Tenho seguro de viagem | I have travel insurance | Show your policy details. |
| É seguro andar aqui à noite? | Is it safe to walk here at night? | Ask at your hotel before heading out. |
A word on common-sense safety, from someone who has been careful rather than scared. Large Brazilian cities have areas where phone-snatching is a real problem. Keep your phone out of sight on crowded streets and beaches, carry a small amount of cash in an easy pocket, and do not wear anything you would mind losing. Use ride apps late at night rather than walking. Ask your accommodation which blocks to avoid, in Portuguese if you can: Quais áreas devo evitar? The answer is almost always generous and specific.
Keep a photo of your passport page on your phone and a paper copy in a separate bag. If you lose the original, the nearest Singapore embassy or consulate is your next call after the police report, so note down its details before you leave. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore also lets citizens register their travel online, which is worth doing for a trip this far from home.
Slang, small talk and making friends
Brazilians love conversation, and the fastest way into one is to ask about food, football or music. The expressions below are informal; use them with people your own age or in relaxed settings, and keep the formal versions for officials and older people.
| Portuguese | English | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Beleza? | All good? | Reply Beleza! |
| Valeu | Thanks, cheers | Casual thanks to a waiter or friend. |
| Legal | Cool, nice | The all-purpose approval word. |
| Que legal! | How cool! | A warm reaction to a story. |
| Demais | Amazing (literally "too much") | Esse lugar é demais, this place is amazing. |
| Saudade | A deep, sweet longing | The word everyone tells you is untranslatable. |
| Saúde! | Cheers! | When toasting; also to someone who sneezes. |
| Bora! | Let's go! | Short for vamos embora. |
| Fechou | Deal / agreed | Settling a plan with friends. |
| Tranquilo | Relaxed, no worries | Reassurance in a hurry. |
| Jeitinho | A creative workaround | You will hear it explained as a national trait. |
| Você gosta de futebol? | Do you like football? | A safe, enthusiastic topic. |
| Qual é o seu time? | Which team do you support? | Expect a long, happy answer. |
| Que horas são? | What time is it? | Also a decent icebreaker. |
| Foi um prazer! | It was a pleasure! | To say goodbye warmly. |
| Até logo / Tchau | See you later / Bye | Tchau is universal. |
A practical caution. Slang changes by region, and some words that are friendly in one city read as rude in another. Cara and mano mean "dude" in São Paulo, for example, and sound cheeky from a stranger. If you are unsure, use the polite forms and let your hosts set the tone. They will usually relax first.
Brazil also has a rich calendar of festivals, and your vocabulary will widen if you time your visit around one. During Carnival in February or March, expect blocos, the neighbourhood street parties that follow a sound truck. In June, festas juninas bring corn-based sweets, bonfires and country-style dances. At New Year in Rio, wearing white is traditional for luck and peace. In each case, one simple sentence opens a conversation: É a minha primeira vez aqui ("This is my first time here"). It nearly guarantees an invitation, a recommendation or a free taste of something.
Before you fly from Singapore: connection, transfers and a smart layover
Learning phrases is one half of the preparation. The other half is logistics at home, and a few of them genuinely affect how you use your Portuguese when you land.
Stay connected so your translation tools work
Offline phrasebooks are good, but live translation, maps and ride apps are better, and all of them need data. The simplest way to land connected is a travel eSIM installed before you leave. Some HolidaySG eSIM plans cover dozens of countries, such as the Eskimo Global E-SIM, which is listed for 80+ countries; check the plan details to confirm Brazil is covered for your dates before you buy. For your home leg, a local option like Changi Mobile keeps you connected at the Singapore end. Whatever you choose, download the Brazilian Portuguese language pack in your translation app while you still have strong airport Wi-Fi.
Getting to Changi without stress
Flights to Brazil from Singapore often leave late at night or early in the morning, and a flat, tired start makes the first day of a trip harder. A pre-booked private transfer between Changi Airport and downtown removes the worry of finding a taxi at an odd hour, and it is a good moment to rehearse your obrigado with a friendly driver. Ticket and transfer details, including what the price covers, are on the product page.
Use the layover well
There is no direct Singapore to Brazil flight, so you will likely connect through the Middle East, Europe or elsewhere. If you have a long wait, a rest area helps. A transit space such as the Ambassador Transit Lounge at Terminal 2 in Changi is useful before the first leg, when you want a quiet place for a shower, a meal and a last-minute vocabulary review. Check the opening times and what is included on the page, since terminal access depends on your flight.
Practise on home turf
Singapore is a surprisingly good classroom for travel Portuguese, because the situations repeat: ordering food, asking prices, getting on buses. Treat a weekend as a rehearsal. Order your coffee entirely in Portuguese in your head, even if you say it in English. Ride a bus and narrate the stops. A food-focused outing is the most fun, and the Food Discovery Pass is one way to eat your way through a few local dishes while you practise phrases like "what do you recommend" and "one more, please".
If you prefer a guided plan, a hands-on session like the Premium Hawker Experience with Chef's Table gives you a story, a table and a reason to talk about food, which is exactly the vocabulary you will need in Brazil. And if you want to see the island before you leave for months of Portuguese practice, Big Bus Singapore is a relaxed way to get your bearings, with the bus-stop phrases already in your head.
One honest note: none of these experiences is a Brazil product. They are things you might do at home, in Singapore, that make the journey calmer or the practice more fun. When you book on HolidaySG, e-tickets are emailed after our team confirms your booking, so leave some buffer before your departure date.
Visas, documents and a few rules to check
Entry rules change, so I will not quote them as fact. At the time of writing, Singapore passport holders have generally been able to enter Brazil for short tourist stays without a visa, but you must check the current position with the Brazilian embassy or the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you book, since policies can shift. Other nationalities need to check their own situation. Your passport should also have enough validity left for the length of your stay.
For travel health, some regions of Brazil have recommended vaccinations, notably yellow fever for certain areas, and a few airlines or border officials may ask for a certificate. Speak to a doctor or travel clinic at least six to eight weeks before departure. Travel insurance with medical cover is a good idea, and carry the insurer's emergency number alongside your policy details.
| Item | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Check validity and blank pages | 3 months before |
| Entry rules | Confirm with official sources | Before booking, and again a week before |
| Vaccinations | Ask a travel clinic about requirements | 6 to 8 weeks before |
| Insurance | Buy a policy with medical cover | At booking |
| Phone data | Install an eSIM or arrange roaming | A few days before |
| Offline language pack | Download Brazilian Portuguese | On airport or home Wi-Fi |
| Emergency numbers | Save 190, 192, 193 in your phone | Before you fly |
A seven-day plan to learn these phrases
Eighty phrases sounds like a lot until you break them up. You do not need to learn them all at once, and you will not use them all. Here is the plan I give friends who ask. Twenty minutes a day is plenty.
| Day | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sounds | Read the pronunciation table aloud. Record yourself saying obrigado, bom dia, pão de queijo. |
| 2 | Greetings | Learn the first six rows of the greetings table. Greet one imaginary person per hour. |
| 3 | Directions | Master Onde fica...? and Como eu chego em...? with five place names. |
| 4 | Food | Practise ordering a three-course meal out loud, including A conta, por favor. |
| 5 | Money | Count from one to ten and say twenty, fifty and one hundred. Ask three imaginary prices. |
| 6 | Emergencies | Memorise Ajuda!, Preciso de um médico and Perdi meu passaporte. |
| 7 | Mix it up | Have a five-minute conversation with yourself that uses ten phrases from different days. |
Spaced repetition beats cramming, so repeat day one on day eight and keep going until you leave. Short audio lessons, music and subtitled television are all useful, but the most valuable practice is speaking out loud. Walk around the flat and narrate what you are doing. It feels silly, and it works.
When you arrive, set yourself one small mission every day: buy a bottle of water in Portuguese, ask one stranger for directions, order your dinner without pointing. By day three the nerves fade, and by day five you will catch yourself using valeu without thinking about it. That moment is the best souvenir a language can give you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need Portuguese to travel in Brazil?
You can get by with English in international hotels and the busiest attractions, but outside those places Portuguese is essential. Learning the greetings, a few direction questions and the emergency phrases will make the trip smoother and safer.
Is Spanish enough?
It helps you read signs and some menus, but the spoken languages are quite different, and Brazilians will often answer a Spanish question in Portuguese. Try Portuguese phrases first, even if they are rough.
How many phrases should I learn before I go?
Twenty well-learned phrases beat eighty half-remembered ones. Start with greetings, por favor and obrigado, Quanto custa?, Onde fica...?, A conta, por favor and the three emergency phrases. Add the rest as you have time.
What is the difference between obrigado and obrigada?
It depends on the speaker, not the listener. A man says obrigado and a woman says obrigada, whoever they are thanking. The same pattern applies to perdido / perdida for "lost".
Should I tip in Brazil?
Many restaurants add a 10 percent service charge, which you normally pay. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, though rounding up is appreciated. For small services, Fica com o troco ("keep the change") is a warm way to say thanks.
When is the best time to visit Brazil?
It depends on the region. The drier months from roughly May to October suit much of the country, especially the Amazon and the Pantanal. Carnival in February or March is lively but expensive and crowded. Check regional weather before you choose dates.
Is the tap water safe to drink?
Practice varies by city and building. Many visitors stick to bottled or filtered water to be safe. The phrase A água da torneira é potável? ("Is the tap water drinkable?") is a good question for your host.
What is the single most useful phrase to learn?
My vote goes to Pode me ajudar? ("Can you help me?"). It is polite, it works anywhere, and Brazilians nearly always say yes.
Featured experiences in this guide
Ready to start your preparation?
Sort out your data, your airport transfer and a little practice at home, then go and say bom dia to Brazil. Browse tickets, tours and activities on HolidaySG; e-tickets are emailed after our team confirms your booking.
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