Brazilian Portuguese Vocabulary: Must Learn Words

Building a robust vocabulary is essential for mastering any language, and Portuguese is no exception. This article will introduce you to a wide array of Portuguese words grouped into common categories, complete with their English counterparts. We’ll explore everyday terms that are fundamental to communicating effectively in Portuguese.

Greetings and Basic Expressions

• Olá (Hello)
• Bom dia (Good morning)
• Boa tarde (Good afternoon)
• Boa noite (Good evening/Good night)
• Tchau (Goodbye)
• Por favor (Please)
• Obrigado/Obrigada (Thank you – masculine/feminine)
• De nada (You’re welcome)
• Sim (Yes)
• Não (No)
• Desculpe (Sorry)
• Com licença (Excuse me)

Numbers

• Zero (Zero)
• Um (One)
• Dois (Two)
• Três (Three)
• Quatro (Four)
• Cinco (Five)
• Seis (Six)
• Sete (Seven)
• Oito (Eight)
• Nove (Nine)
• Dez (Ten)
• Vinte (Twenty)
• Trinta (Thirty)
• Quarenta (Forty)
• Cinquenta (Fifty)
• Sessenta (Sixty)
• Setenta (Seventy)
• Oitenta (Eighty)
• Noventa (Ninety)
• Cem (One hundred)

Days of the Week

• Segunda-feira (Monday)
• Terça-feira (Tuesday)
• Quarta-feira (Wednesday)
• Quinta-feira (Thursday)
• Sexta-feira (Friday)
• Sábado (Saturday)
• Domingo (Sunday)

Months of the Year

• Janeiro (January)
• Fevereiro (February)
• Março (March)
• Abril (April)
• Maio (May)
• Junho (June)
• Julho (July)
• Agosto (August)
• Setembro (September)
• Outubro (October)
• Novembro (November)
• Dezembro (December)

Seasons

• Primavera (Spring)
• Verão (Summer)
• Outono (Autumn/Fall)
• Inverno (Winter)

Colors

• Branco (White)
• Preto (Black)
• Vermelho (Red)
• Azul (Blue)
• Amarelo (Yellow)
• Verde (Green)
• Laranja (Orange)
• Rosa (Pink)
• Roxo (Purple)
• Cinza (Gray)
• Marrom (Brown)

Family and Relationships

• Família (Family)
• Pai (Father)
• Mãe (Mother)
• Filho/Filha (Son/Daughter)
• Irmão/Irmã (Brother/Sister)
• Avô/Avó (Grandfather/Grandmother)
• Neto/Neta (Grandson/Granddaughter)
• Tio/Tia (Uncle/Aunt)
• Primo/Prima (Cousin – male/female)
• Sogro/Sogra (Father-in-law/Mother-in-law)
• Marido (Husband)
• Esposa (Wife)
• Namorado/Namorada (Boyfriend/Girlfriend)
• Amigo/Amiga (Friend – male/female)

Body Parts

• Cabeça (Head)
• Olho (Eye)
• Orelha (Ear)
• Nariz (Nose)
• Boca (Mouth)
• Dente (Tooth)
• Braço (Arm)
• Mão (Hand)
• Dedo (Finger)
• Peito (Chest)
• Estômago (Stomach)
• Perna (Leg)
• Pé (Foot)

Food and Drink

• Comida (Food)
• Bebida (Drink)
• Água (Water)
• Café (Coffee)
• Chá (Tea)
• Leite (Milk)
• Pão (Bread)
• Queijo (Cheese)
• Fruta (Fruit)
• Carne (Meat)
• Peixe (Fish)
• Frango (Chicken)
• Ovo (Egg)
• Arroz (Rice)
• Feijão (Beans)

Common Adjectives

• Grande (Big/Large)
• Pequeno (Small)
• Alto (Tall)
• Baixo (Short)
• Novo (New)
• Velho (Old)
• Bom/Boa (Good)
• Mau/Má (Bad)
• Feliz (Happy)
• Triste (Sad)
• Fácil (Easy)
• Difícil (Difficult)
• Quente (Hot)
• Frio (Cold)
• Rápido (Fast)
• Lento (Slow)

This list is a starting point for building a foundational vocabulary in Brazilian Portuguese. Each word is a stepping stone to forming sentences, engaging in conversations, and deepening your understanding of the language’s structure and beauty.

Continuing our journey to build a robust Portuguese vocabulary, we delve into more categories that are essential for everyday communication. We’ll cover a range of topics from animals and nature to occupations and technology, providing a comprehensive list of terms and phrases.

Animals

• Animal (Animal)
• Cão/Cachorro (Dog)
• Gato (Cat)
• Pássaro (Bird)
• Peixe (Fish)
• Cavalo (Horse)
• Vaca (Cow)
• Porco (Pig)
• Ovelha (Sheep)
• Galinha (Chicken)
• Rato (Mouse)
• Elefante (Elephant)
• Leão (Lion)
• Tigre (Tiger)
• Urso (Bear)
• Coelho (Rabbit)

Nature and Environment

• Natureza (Nature)
• Árvore (Tree)
• Flor (Flower)
• Planta (Plant)
• Rio (River)
• Mar (Sea)
• Montanha (Mountain)
• Praia (Beach)
• Sol (Sun)
• Lua (Moon)
• Estrela (Star)
• Céu (Sky)
• Terra (Earth)
• Fogo (Fire)
• Pedra (Stone)
• Areia (Sand)

Occupations

• Profissão (Occupation)
• Médico/Médica (Doctor – male/female)
• Enfermeiro/Enfermeira (Nurse – male/female)
• Professor/Professora (Teacher – male/female)
• Engenheiro/Engenheira (Engineer – male/female)
• Advogado/Advogada (Lawyer – male/female)
• Policial (Police officer)
• Bombeiro (Firefighter)
• Cozinheiro/Cozinheira (Cook – male/female)
• Motorista (Driver)
• Agricultor/Agricultora (Farmer – male/female)
• Artista (Artist)
• Músico/Música (Musician – male/female)
• Ator/Atriz (Actor/Actress)
• Arquiteto/Arquiteta (Architect – male/female)
• Empresário/Empresária (Businessman/Businesswoman)

School and Education

• Escola (School)
• Universidade (University)
• Estudante (Student)
• Professor/Professora (Teacher – male/female)
• Sala de aula (Classroom)
• Livro (Book)
• Caderno (Notebook)
• Caneta (Pen)
• Lápis (Pencil)
• Exame (Exam)
• Lição de casa (Homework)
• Curso (Course)
• Grau (Degree)
• Biblioteca (Library)
• Estudo (Study)

Food and Cooking

• Cozinha (Kitchen)
• Receita (Recipe)
• Fogão (Stove)
• Forno (Oven)
• Panela (Pan)
• Prato (Dish)
• Colher (Spoon)
• Faca (Knife)
• Garfo (Fork)
• Tigela (Bowl)
• Xícara (Cup)
• Assar (To bake)
• Cozinhar (To cook)
• Ferver (To boil)
• Cortar (To cut)
• Misturar (To mix)

Technology and Media

• Tecnologia (Technology)
• Computador (Computer)
• Celular (Cell phone)
• Televisão (Television)
• Câmera (Camera)
• Internet (Internet)
• E-mail (Email)
• Rede social (Social network)
• Aplicativo (App)
• Jogo (Game)
• Software (Software)
• Hardware (Hardware)
• Site (Website)
• Blog (Blog)
• Digital (Digital)
• Online (Online)

Travel and Transportation

• Viagem (Travel)
• Carro (Car)
• Ônibus (Bus)
• Trem (Train)
• Avião (Airplane)
• Aeroporto (Airport)
• Estação (Station)
• Passagem (Ticket)
• Bagagem (Luggage)
• Hotel (Hotel)
• Mapa (Map)
• Turista (Tourist)
• Guia (Guide)
• Destino (Destination)
• Rota (Route)
• Passaporte (Passport)

By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you’ll be well-equipped to engage in diverse conversations and deepen your understanding of the language and culture.

As we continue to expand our Portuguese vocabulary, we’ll focus on more specialized categories. These terms will enrich your language skills, allowing you to discuss a wider range of topics in more detail.

Health and Medicine

• Saúde (Health)
• Médico (Doctor)
• Hospital (Hospital)
• Farmácia (Pharmacy)
• Remédio (Medicine)
• Dor (Pain)
• Febre (Fever)
• Doença (Illness)
• Tratamento (Treatment)
• Cirurgia (Surgery)
• Consulta (Appointment)
• Enfermeiro (Nurse)
• Paciente (Patient)
• Emergência (Emergency)
• Vacina (Vaccine)
• Receita médica (Prescription)

Sports and Recreation

• Esporte (Sport)
• Futebol (Soccer/Football)
• Basquete (Basketball)
• Vôlei (Volleyball)
• Natação (Swimming)
• Corrida (Running)
• Ginástica (Gymnastics)
• Ciclismo (Cycling)
• Treinador (Coach)
• Jogador (Player)
• Competição (Competition)
• Partida (Game/Match)
• Campo (Field)
• Pista (Track)
• Gol (Goal)
• Medalha (Medal)

Business and Finance

• Negócio (Business)
• Empresa (Company)
• Dinheiro (Money)
• Banco (Bank)
• Investimento (Investment)
• Mercado (Market)
• Economia (Economy)
• Lucro (Profit)
• Despesa (Expense)
• Contabilidade (Accounting)
• Contrato (Contract)
• Cliente (Client)
• Venda (Sale)
• Marketing (Marketing)
• Ações (Stocks)
• Orçamento (Budget)

Emotions and Feelings

• Emoção (Emotion)
• Felicidade (Happiness)
• Tristeza (Sadness)
• Raiva (Anger)
• Medo (Fear)
• Surpresa (Surprise)
• Ansiedade (Anxiety)
• Amor (Love)
• Paixão (Passion)
• Esperança (Hope)
• Ciúme (Jealousy)
• Orgulho (Pride)
• Vergonha (Shame)
• Alívio (Relief)
• Entusiasmo (Excitement)
• Desapontamento (Disappointment)

Food and Cuisine

• Cozinha (Cuisine)
• Receita (Recipe)
• Restaurante (Restaurant)
• Prato (Dish)
• Ingredientes (Ingredients)
• Sabor (Flavor)
• Doce (Sweet)
• Salgado (Salty)
• Amargo (Bitter)
• Ácido (Sour)
• Picante (Spicy)
• Sobremesa (Dessert)
• Entrada (Appetizer)
• Refeição (Meal)
• Lanche (Snack)
• Bebida (Drink)

Clothing and Fashion

• Roupa (Clothing)
• Camisa (Shirt)
• Calça (Pants/Trousers)
• Vestido (Dress)
• Saia (Skirt)
• Jaqueta (Jacket)
• Casaco (Coat)
• Sapato (Shoe)
• Tênis (Sneakers)
• Chapéu (Hat)
• Cinto (Belt)
• Moda (Fashion)
• Estilo (Style)
• Acessório (Accessory)
• Joia (Jewelry)
• Bolsa (Bag)

Music and Art

• Música (Music)
• Canção (Song)
• Instrumento (Instrument)
• Guitarra (Guitar)
• Piano (Piano)
• Bateria (Drums)
• Arte (Art)
• Pintura (Painting)
• Escultura (Sculpture)
• Galeria (Gallery)
• Museu (Museum)
• Exposição (Exhibition)
• Artista (Artist)
• Performance (Performance)
• Cultura (Culture)
• Teatro (Theater)

Let’s focus on advanced vocabulary that encompasses a range of complex and specific subjects. These words will help you fine-tune your Portuguese skills and engage in more detailed and sophisticated conversations.

Legal and Law Enforcement

• Lei (Law)
• Advogado (Lawyer)
• Juiz (Judge)
• Tribunal (Court)
• Processo (Case)
• Direito (Right)
• Contrato (Contract)
• Crime (Crime)
• Pena (Sentence)
• Acusação (Accusation)
• Defesa (Defense)
• Testemunha (Witness)
• Polícia (Police)
• Investigação (Investigation)
• Prisão (Prison)
• Regulamento (Regulation)

Politics and Government

• Política (Politics)
• Governo (Government)
• Partido (Party)
• Eleição (Election)
• Presidente (President)
• Ministro (Minister)
• Parlamento (Parliament)
• Democracia (Democracy)
• Estado (State)
• Político (Politician)
• Campanha (Campaign)
• Voto (Vote)
• Direito (Right)
• Lei (Law)
• Constituição (Constitution)
• Cidadão (Citizen)

Science and Technology

• Ciência (Science)
• Tecnologia (Technology)
• Pesquisa (Research)
• Experimento (Experiment)
• Teoria (Theory)
• Dados (Data)
• Inovação (Innovation)
• Computador (Computer)
• Internet (Internet)
• Software (Software)
• Hardware (Hardware)
• Engenharia (Engineering)
• Biologia (Biology)
• Química (Chemistry)
• Física (Physics)
• Matemática (Mathematics)

Environment and Sustainability

• Ambiente (Environment)
• Sustentabilidade (Sustainability)
• Ecologia (Ecology)
• Natureza (Nature)
• Poluição (Pollution)
• Reciclagem (Recycling)
• Energia (Energy)
• Renovável (Renewable)
• Clima (Climate)
• Conservação (Conservation)
• Biodiversidade (Biodiversity)
• Ecosistema (Ecosystem)
• Desenvolvimento (Development)
• Proteção (Protection)
• Recursos (Resources)
• Sustentável (Sustainable)

Literature and Writing

• Literatura (Literature)
• Livro (Book)
• Autor (Author)
• Romance (Novel)
• Poesia (Poetry)
• Conto (Story)
• Artigo (Article)
• Escrita (Writing)
• Editora (Publisher)
• Leitura (Reading)
• Personagem (Character)
• Enredo (Plot)
• Capítulo (Chapter)
• Resenha (Review)
• Narrativa (Narrative)
• Estilo (Style)

Philosophy and Religion

• Filosofia (Philosophy)
• Religião (Religion)
• Deus (God)
• Espiritualidade (Spirituality)
• Igreja (Church)
• Ética (Ethics)
• Moral (Morals)
• Crença (Belief)
• Pensamento (Thought)
• Teologia (Theology)
• Filósofo (Philosopher)
• Alma (Soul)
• Fé (Faith)
• Prática (Practice)
• Meditação (Meditation)
• Cultura (Culture)

This article, spanning various categories and topics, is a great resource for anyone learning Portuguese. By familiarizing yourself with these words, you not only enhance your language skills but also deepen your understanding of Portuguese-speaking cultures.

Remember, language learning is a continuous journey, and this is by no means all the words there are to learn. Regular practice, exposure to native speakers, and immersion in the language will greatly aid in your quest to master Brazilian Portuguese. Keep exploring, practicing, and enjoying the richness of this beautiful language!

To further support your language-learning journey, check out my comprehensive Portuguese Resources Page for a curated list of tools and programs that will accelerate your progress.

-Galilee Berman