Landing in Lisbon: 5 Portuguese Phrases to Know

Want to learn Portuguese that works on day one in Lisbon? Start with the phrases you'll actually say: a greeting, an espresso order, a metro question, a price check, and a polite "excuse me." European Portuguese has its own music — and a few Lisbon-specific words (like bica) that make you sound local fast.

Below are five landing-kit phrases with meaning, a short reply you're likely to hear, and a note on when to use each one.

1. Bom dia. — Good morning.

Use bom dia until early afternoon. Then switch to boa tarde. At night: boa noite (also used for "good night" when leaving).

Reply you may hear: Bom dia! Tudo bem? (Good morning! All good?) Easy answer: Tudo bem, obrigado/obrigada.

2. Uma bica, se faz favor. — An espresso, please.

In Lisbon, uma bica is the everyday word for an espresso. Se faz favor means please (you'll also hear por favor).

Dialogue

• You: Uma bica, se faz favor.
• Empregado: De seguida. (Coming right up.)

Extras: Um galão (milky coffee in a glass) · Uma meia de leite (coffee with milk).

3. Onde fica o metro? — Where is the metro?

Fica = is located. Soften it with desculpe (excuse me / sorry) when you stop someone.

Dialogue

• You: Desculpe, onde fica o metro?
• Local: Ao fundo da rua, à esquerda. (At the end of the street, on the left.)

Useful follow-up: É longe? (Is it far?)

4. Quanto custa? — How much does it cost?

Works for tickets, taxis, pastries, and shop items.

Dialogue

• You: Quanto custa um bilhete?
• Empregado: São dois euros.

Also: Quanto fica? (how much does it come to?) in some contexts.

5. Com licença. / Obrigado. — Excuse me. / Thank you.

Com licença = excuse me when you need to pass. Desculpe gets attention or apologises. Obrigado (said by men) / Obrigada (said by women).

Dialogue

• You: Com licença… obrigado!
• Local: De nada. (You're welcome.)

Quick practice quiz

Match the situation to the phrase:

A. Morning greeting at a bakery B. Ordering espresso at a Lisbon café C. Asking a stranger for the metro D. Checking a ticket price E. Squeezing past someone on a tram

1. Quanto custa?
2. Bom dia.
3. Com licença.
4. Uma bica, se faz favor.
5. Onde fica o metro?

Answers: A2 · B4 · C5 · D1 · E3

European Portuguese vs what you heard in Brazilian videos

If you learned Portuguese from Brazilian creators, Lisbon will still feel familiar — but a few words shift. Bica is the classic Lisbon espresso. You'll also notice different rhythm and some vowel reductions. Don't panic: locals appreciate the attempt, especially with bom dia and obrigado/obrigada.

Extra travel lines

• Fala inglês? (Do you speak English?)
• Não percebi. (I didn't catch that.)
• Pode repetir, se faz favor? (Can you repeat, please?)
• Onde fica a saída? (Where's the exit?)

Pair each with a smile and you'll get further than perfect grammar alone.

3-minute drill before your flight

Say the five phrases in order, then reverse order, then scramble them. If uma bica still feels sticky, order it in your kitchen tomorrow morning out loud — muscle memory counts.