Shopping in a foreign country can be an exciting yet daunting experience, especially if you are not familiar with the local language. For English speakers traveling to or living in Portuguese-speaking countries, knowing some common Portuguese words related to shopping can make the experience much more enjoyable and less stressful. This article aims to equip you with essential vocabulary and phrases to help you navigate through markets, supermarkets, and stores in Portugal or Brazil.
Basic Vocabulary for Shopping
Before diving into specific scenarios, let’s start with some basic vocabulary that you will find useful in almost any shopping situation.
– **Loja** – Store/Shop
– **Mercado** – Market
– **Supermercado** – Supermarket
– **Feira** – Fair (often used for open-air markets)
– **Preço** – Price
– **Dinheiro** – Money
– **Cartão de crédito** – Credit card
– **Caixa** – Cashier/Checkout
– **Sacola** – Bag
– **Troco** – Change
– **Desconto** – Discount
– **Promoção** – Promotion/Sale
Types of Stores
Different types of stores require different kinds of vocabulary. Here are some common types of stores you might encounter:
– **Padaria** – Bakery
– **Açougue** – Butcher shop
– **Farmácia** – Pharmacy
– **Livraria** – Bookstore
– **Lanchonete** – Snack bar/Café
– **Loja de roupas** – Clothing store
– **Lojas de departamento** – Department stores
– **Mercearia** – Grocery store
Common Phrases for Shopping
Knowing some key phrases can be incredibly helpful. Here are a few that you might find useful:
– **Quanto custa?** – How much does it cost?
– **Posso ajudar?** – Can I help you?
– **Estou só olhando.** – I’m just looking.
– **Tem em outro tamanho?** – Do you have it in another size?
– **Aceita cartão de crédito?** – Do you accept credit cards?
– **Onde está o provador?** – Where is the fitting room?
– **Posso experimentar?** – Can I try it on?
– **Tem desconto?** – Is there a discount?
– **Está em promoção?** – Is it on sale?
– **Onde está a seção de…?** – Where is the … section?
Food and Grocery Shopping
Food shopping is an essential part of everyday life. Here are some common words and phrases you will find useful in supermarkets and markets.
– **Frutas** – Fruits
– **Verduras/Legumes** – Vegetables
– **Carne** – Meat
– **Peixe** – Fish
– **Pão** – Bread
– **Leite** – Milk
– **Queijo** – Cheese
– **Ovos** – Eggs
– **Açúcar** – Sugar
– **Sal** – Salt
– **Arroz** – Rice
– **Feijão** – Beans
– **Café** – Coffee
– **Chá** – Tea
At the Supermarket
Here are some phrases you might find useful when shopping for groceries:
– **Onde estão os carrinhos de compras?** – Where are the shopping carts?
– **Preciso de um saco plástico.** – I need a plastic bag.
– **Qual é o preço por quilo?** – What is the price per kilogram?
– **Onde está a seção de produtos orgânicos?** – Where is the organic products section?
– **Pode me dar uma amostra?** – Can you give me a sample?
– **Onde fica o caixa?** – Where is the checkout?
– **Você pode embrulhar para presente?** – Can you gift-wrap it?
Clothing and Apparel Shopping
Shopping for clothes can be particularly challenging if you don’t know the right vocabulary. Here are some common words and phrases:
– **Camisa** – Shirt
– **Calças** – Pants
– **Vestido** – Dress
– **Saia** – Skirt
– **Sapatos** – Shoes
– **Tamanho** – Size
– **Grande** – Large
– **Médio** – Medium
– **Pequeno** – Small
– **Cor** – Color
– **Estilo** – Style
– **Marca** – Brand
At the Clothing Store
Here are some useful phrases when shopping for clothes:
– **Posso ver essa camisa?** – Can I see that shirt?
– **Tem em outro tamanho?** – Do you have it in another size?
– **Tem em outra cor?** – Do you have it in another color?
– **Onde está o provador?** – Where is the fitting room?
– **Como ficou?** – How does it look?
– **É muito caro.** – It’s very expensive.
– **Pode fazer um desconto?** – Can you give a discount?
– **Vou levar.** – I’ll take it.
Shopping for Electronics
Electronics are another category where specific vocabulary can come in handy. Here are some common words and phrases:
– **Computador** – Computer
– **Celular** – Cell phone
– **Tablet** – Tablet
– **Televisão** – Television
– **Fone de ouvido** – Headphones
– **Carregador** – Charger
– **Bateria** – Battery
– **Garantia** – Warranty
– **Manual de instruções** – Instruction manual
– **Voltagem** – Voltage
At the Electronics Store
Here are some phrases you might find useful when shopping for electronics:
– **Estou procurando um celular novo.** – I’m looking for a new cell phone.
– **Qual é a capacidade da bateria?** – What is the battery capacity?
– **Tem garantia?** – Does it have a warranty?
– **Pode me mostrar como funciona?** – Can you show me how it works?
– **Aceita trocas?** – Do you accept exchanges?
– **Qual é a voltagem?** – What is the voltage?
– **Preciso de um carregador.** – I need a charger.
– **Tem desconto para pagamento à vista?** – Is there a discount for cash payment?
Bargaining and Negotiation
In many markets, especially open-air markets, bargaining is not only common but expected. Here are some phrases to help you negotiate better prices:
– **Pode fazer um desconto?** – Can you give a discount?
– **Qual é o preço final?** – What is the final price?
– **Está muito caro.** – It’s too expensive.
– **Posso pagar em dinheiro?** – Can I pay in cash?
– **Se eu levar dois, você faz um desconto?** – If I take two, will you give a discount?
– **Qual é o seu melhor preço?** – What is your best price?
Polite Phrases and Courtesies
Being polite can go a long way, especially when you’re in a foreign country. Here are some phrases to help you be courteous while shopping:
– **Por favor** – Please
– **Obrigado/Obrigada** – Thank you (male/female)
– **Desculpe** – Excuse me/Sorry
– **Com licença** – Excuse me (to get someone’s attention)
– **Bom dia** – Good morning
– **Boa tarde** – Good afternoon
– **Boa noite** – Good evening
– **Até logo** – See you later
Conclusion
Shopping in a Portuguese-speaking country can be a delightful experience when you are armed with the right vocabulary and phrases. Whether you are navigating a bustling market, exploring a supermarket, or browsing through a chic boutique, these words and phrases will help you communicate more effectively and make your shopping experience more enjoyable.
Familiarize yourself with these common Portuguese words and phrases, and don’t hesitate to practice them. The more you use them, the more confident you will become. Happy shopping, or as they say in Portuguese, **boas compras**!
