by Galilee

on January 18, 2024

Portuguese for Business: Key Vocabulary and Expressions

The ability to navigate different languages is a critical skill in the modern global economy. For English-speaking Americans engaging with the Brazilian market, learning Portuguese is not just beneficial but essential. This article aims to provide a guide to key vocabulary and expressions in Brazilian Portuguese, with a special focus on business environments. Understanding these terms and phrases will empower you to communicate more effectively in diverse business scenarios.

Basic Introductions:

Greetings

Hello/Hi: Olá/Oi
Good morning: Bom dia

Good afternoon: Boa tarde
Good evening/night: Boa noite
How are you?: Como você está?

I’m fine, thank you: Estou bem, obrigado(a)

Introducing Yourself

My name is…: Meu nome é…
I am a/an… (profession): Eu sou um/uma… (profissão)

I work with…: Eu trabalho com…
I am from…: Eu sou de…

Making Small Talk

How’s the weather?: Como está o tempo?

It’s a pleasure to be here: É um prazer estar aqui
I’m looking forward to our meeting: Estou ansioso(a) para nossa reunião

Examples

Introducing oneself in a meeting: “Olá, meu nome é Michael, eu sou o diretor financeiro da empresa X. Estou ansioso para nossa colaboração.” (Hello, my name is Michael, I am the financial director of company X. I am looking forward to our collaboration.)

Making small talk: “Como está o tempo em São Paulo? Ouvi dizer que é muito diferente do Rio.” (How’s the weather in São Paulo? I heard it’s quite different from Rio.)

Business Vocabulary:

Basic Business Terms

Business: Negócio
Company/Corporation: Empresa/Corporação

Market: Mercado
Client/Customer: Cliente
Meeting: Reunião

Project/Assignment: Projeto/Tarefa
Strategy/Plan: Estratégia/Plano
Sales/Revenue: Vendas/Receita

Marketing/Advertising: Marketing/Publicidade
Profit/Gain: Lucro/Ganho
Investment/Capital: Investimento/Capital

Partnership/Collaboration: Parceria/Colaboração

Examples Sentences

Discussing a strategy: “Nossa estratégia de mercado para o próximo ano focará em aumentar a base de clientes.” (Our market strategy for next year will focus on increasing the customer base.)
Talking about a project: “Este projeto é crucial para nossa expansão internacional.” (This project is crucial for our international expansion.)

Additional Business Phrases

To negotiate: Negociar
To invest: Investir
To collaborate: Colaborar

To achieve a goal: Alcançar um objetivo
To lead a team: Liderar uma equipe

Examples

In a negotiation: “Estamos dispostos a negociar os termos do contrato para atender às nossas necessidades mútuas.” (We are willing to negotiate the terms of the contract to meet our mutual needs.)

Discussing collaboration: “A colaboração entre nossas empresas pode resultar em grandes avanços no setor.” (The collaboration between our companies can result in significant advancements in the sector.)

Networking and Building Relationships

In the Brazilian business culture, personal relationships and networking play a crucial role. It’s important to establish a rapport before diving into business matters.

Networking Vocabulary

Networking: Rede de contatos

Relationship: Relacionamento
Connection/Contact: Conexão/Contato
Partnership: Parceria

Trust: Confiança

Examples Sentences

Building a connection: “Estou interessado em expandir minha rede de contatos no Brasil.” (I am interested in expanding my network in Brazil.)
Discussing a potential partnership: “Acredito que uma parceria entre nossas empresas pode ser muito benéfica.” (I believe a partnership between our companies could be very beneficial.)

Understanding Business Etiquette

Brazilian business etiquette can be more informal compared to American standards, but it still values politeness and professionalism.

Etiquette Phrases

Please: Por favor
Thank you: Obrigado(a)

Excuse me/Sorry: Com licença/Desculpe
It’s nice to meet you: É um prazer conhecê-lo(a)
I appreciate your consideration: Agradeço sua consideração

Examples

During a meeting: “Desculpe interromper, mas gostaria de adicionar um ponto importante.” (Excuse me for interrupting, but I would like to add an important point.)
Expressing gratitude: “Obrigado pela sua apresentação detalhada, foi muito informativa.” (Thank you for your detailed presentation, it was very informative.)

Cultural Tips for Business Interactions

Understanding the cultural nuances can make a significant difference in how business is conducted and perceived.

Cultural Insights

Punctuality: Being on time is appreciated, but there’s often a more relaxed attitude towards time in Brazil compared to the U.S.
Business Lunches/Dinners: These are common and are seen as an opportunity to build relationships.
Conversation Topics: Brazilians often enjoy discussing sports, especially football (soccer), as well as family and cultural events.

Examples

Arriving for a meeting: “Peço desculpas pelo meu atraso, o trânsito estava complicado.” (I apologize for my delay, the traffic was complicated.)
At a business dinner: “Você assistiu ao último jogo do Brasil? Foi uma partida incrível!” (Did you watch the last game of Brazil? It was an amazing match!)

Advanced Communication in Business Settings:

Negotiation Vocabulary

Proposal/Plan: Proposta/Plano

Offer/Suggestion: Oferta/Sugestão
Agreement/Contract: Acordo/Contrato
Terms and conditions: Termos e condições

Bargain/Negotiate: Negociar/Regatear
Deadline/Time limit: Prazo/Limite de tempo
Compromise/Concession: Compromisso/Concessão

Examples in Sentences

Discussing a proposal: “Sua proposta é interessante, mas gostaríamos de discutir alguns termos adicionais.” (Your proposal is interesting, but we would like to discuss some additional terms.)
Negotiating a deadline: “Seria possível estender o prazo de entrega por mais uma semana?” (Would it be possible to extend the delivery deadline by another week?)

Advanced Phrases for Negotiations

What is your position on…?: Qual é a sua posição sobre…?

Our priority is…: Nossa prioridade é…
We need to find a middle ground: Precisamos encontrar um meio-termo
This is non-negotiable: Isso não é negociável

Let’s consider a different approach: Vamos considerar uma abordagem diferente

Examples

Discussing priorities: “Nossa prioridade é garantir a qualidade do produto, por isso precisamos de mais tempo.” (Our priority is to ensure the quality of the product, therefore we need more time.)

Complex Business Terms

Market Analysis: Análise de mercado

Return on Investment: Retorno sobre o Investimento
Key Performance Indicator: Indicador-chave de Desempenho
Supply Chain: Cadeia de suprimentos

Stakeholder: Parte interessada

Examples Sentences

Talking about KPIs: “Nossos indicadores-chave de desempenho mostram uma melhora significativa no último trimestre.” (Our key performance indicators show significant improvement in the last quarter.)
Discussing ROI: “O retorno sobre o investimento neste projeto é projetado para ser alto.” (The return on investment in this project is projected to be high.)

Cultural Aspects of Business in Brazil:

Building Trust and Rapport

In Brazil, trust and personal rapport are crucial in business relationships. It’s common to spend time getting to know each other before discussing business.

Cultural Vocabulary

Trust/Confidence: Confiança
Respect: Respeito

Ethics/Values: Ética/Valores
Commitment/Dedication: Comprometimento/Dedicação
Loyalty: Lealdade

Examples

Emphasizing trust: “A confiança entre nossas empresas é fundamental para o sucesso desta parceria.” (Trust between our companies is fundamental for the success of this partnership.)
Discussing ethics: “Nós valorizamos a ética e a transparência em todas as nossas negociações.” (We value ethics and transparency in all our dealings.)

Scenarios

Scenario 1: Launching a New Product

Discussion: “Estamos planejando lançar um novo produto no mercado brasileiro e gostaríamos de sua expertise.” (We are planning to launch a new product in the Brazilian market and would like your expertise.)

Scenario 2: Resolving a Conflict

Conflict Resolution: “Parece que houve um mal-entendido. Vamos trabalhar juntos para resolver isso.” (It seems there was a misunderstanding. Let’s work together to resolve this.)

Scenario 3: Expanding to a New Market

Market Expansion: “A expansão para o mercado brasileiro é um passo importante para nossa empresa. Quais são suas sugestões?” (Expanding to the Brazilian market is an important step for our company. What are your suggestions?)

As you venture into the colorful and diverse landscapes of Brazil, these handy phrases and cultural insights will serve you well. Embrace the warmth of Brazilian hospitality, savor the flavors of local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of Portuguese language and culture. Obviously, this is only a tiny fraction of everything there is to learn on this topic!

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

Share With Others

Categories:

Portuguese Article