How to prepare for your trip to Brazil
The language you will hear, the phrases to learn first, money, plugs, emergency numbers and a few local habits, and a way to plan the trip and keep your phrases offline.
Try it free for 14 days.
Photo credit
Photo of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro by Effie Kimble (opens in a new tab) on Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License (opens in a new tab).
What you will hear in Brazil.
Portuguese is spoken across Brazil. English is less common than in many tourist countries, so a few phrases make everyday things easier: a padaria breakfast, the metro, a feira, the pharmacy.
Accents change across the country. In Rio many people pronounce a final s like "sh", and in the south "tu" is common in many places. Brazil is also very large, so a trip often means a flight between places.
Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, Recife, Fernando de Noronha, Manaus and Fortaleza are all in Brazil.
Phrases for your first day.
They come from the first lessons. In the app each has audio and a note on when to use it, and you can save it to your phrasebook.
Boa tarde, senhor.
Good afternoon, sir.
Desculpa, senhora.
Excuse me, madam.
Onde fica o banheiro?
Where is the toilet?
Você fala inglês?
Do you speak English?
Pode repetir, por favor?
Can you repeat that, please?
A conta, por favor.
The bill, please.
Eu queria um café, por favor.
I'd like a coffee, please.
Brazil at a glance.
These are usually right but not always. For anything that matters, check the official advice before you go.
- Brazilian real (R$)
- +55
- On the right
- Type C, N · 127 or 220 V
- 188, 190, 192, 193
Entry rules, health advice and safety change, so they are not on this page. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office keeps them up to date for UK travellers: UK government travel advice for Brazil (opens in a new tab).
Habits worth knowing before you arrive.
Habits, not rules: places and people vary, so each note says where it applies.
Carnival falls in February or early March, and the date changes each year. Some cities close or keep shorter hours around it, so book early and check what is open.
Many restaurants offer a por quilo buffet at lunch: you serve yourself, then pay by the weight of your plate.
In many restaurants a service charge of around ten per cent is added to the bill. It is often optional, so check whether it is already included before you tip.
Brazilian Portuguese differs from the Portuguese of Portugal in some sounds and words. Most people are happy to help with a few words of either.
Plan the trip to Brazil in one place.
Put it on days
Add Brazil to a trip, then put places on days with a time and a note. Directions open in your maps app.
Save the videos
Paste the TikTok, Instagram or YouTube link that gave you the idea and attach it to the stop it belongs to.
Take your phrases offline
Download the travel guide on Wi-Fi. The phrasebook, packs, notes and audio work with no signal.
Share the plan
Send a link to the people you are going with. They can read it without an account, and you can invite them to edit.
About a trip to Brazil.
Do I need Portuguese in Brazil?
Outside big hotels and tourist places English is less common. A few phrases help with transport, food and getting help.
Is it the same as Portugal's Portuguese?
They are the same language with differences in pronunciation, some everyday words and the "you" forms. The Brazilian guide has the notes.
Is there a full Brazilian Portuguese course?
Not yet. The travel guide has First Steps and a travel track, and you can request a full course.
Other trip guides
Be ready to speak when you land in Brazil.
Create a free account, add the trip, and start with the phrases for your first hour.
Try it free for 14 days.