Image by Auluz Auluz from Pixabay
In this post we’re going to look at some basic Portuguese vocabulary that you can use to talk about your town or city.
O Prédio, A Rua: A Building, A Street
Let’s start with some basic general vocabulary: o prédio / o edifício building; o prédio de apartamentos apartment building o prédio de escritórios office building; a rua street; a estrada / a auto-estrada highway; a calçada sidewalk; o parque park; o estacionamento parking lot; a vaga (para estacionar) parking space; o hotel hotel.
- Onde é o hotel?
Where’s the hotel? - Há um parque aqui perto.
There’s a park near here. - Quantos apartamentos há neste prédio?
How many apartments are in this building?
Uma Loja: A Store
Now let’s look at how to say various kinds of stores: a loja store; o supermercado supermarket; a loja de roupas clothing store; a loja de sapatos / de calçados shoe store; a joalheria jewelry store; a padaria bakery; a confeitaria pastry shop; o açougue butcher; a loja de ferragens hardware store; a livraria bookstore; a loja de eletrônicos electronics store; a farmácia pharmacy.
- Há muitas lojas nesta rua.
There are a lot of stores on this street. - Há um supermercado grande na minha cidade.
There is a big supermarket in my town. - Há uma loja de sapatos / uma loja de roupas / uma livraria aqui perto?
Is there a shoe store/ clothing store/ bookstore nearby?
A Escola: School
Now let’s look at vocabulary for other places around town: a escola school; a biblioteca library; a universidade university; o quartel de bombeiros firehouse; o correio post office; a estação de polícia police station; o hospital hospital; o posto de gasolina gas station; a igreja church; a sinagoga synagogue; o templo temple; a mesquita mosque.
- As crianças estão na escola.
The kids are at school. - Há uma universidade na minha cidade.
There’s a university in my city. - Vou à biblioteca.
I’m going to the post office. - Vou à biblioteca.
I’m going to the library.
Um Bom Restaurante: A Good Restaurant
Now let’s look at vocabulary related to fun and entertainment: o restaurante restaurant; o bar bar o museu museum; o cinema cinema/movie theater; o teatro theater; a galeria de arte art gallery.
- Há um bom restaurante?
Is there a good restaurant? - Vamos ao cinema.
Let’s go to the movies. - Gostaríamos de visitar uma galeria de artes.
We would like to visit an art gallery.
A Ferroviária: The Train Station
Now let’s look at some vocabulary related to getting around town: a ferroviária / a estação de trens train station; a rodoviária / a estação de ônibus bus station; a parada de ônibus bus stop; o aeroporto airport; a estação de metrô subway station.
- A estação de trem fica no centro.
The train station is downtown. - Eu pego o trem para ir à cidade.
I take the train to the city. - Eu pego o ônibus para ir ao aeroporto.
I take the bus to the airport.
Onde fica o metrô? Where is the subway?
Let’s end with a few expressions related to asking directions: aqui here; alí there, à direita to the right; à esquerda to the left; perto daqui nearby; longe far away.
- Onde fica o metrô?
Where is the subway? - Fica aqui.
It’s here. - Fica alí.
It’s there. - Fica à direita.
It’s to the right. - Fica à esquerda.
It’s to the left. - Fica perto daqui.
It’s nearby. - Fica longe.
It’s far away. - Fica ao lado do hotel.
It’s next to the hotel. - Fica do outro lado da rua.
It’s across the street. - Vá reto / Vá em frente.
Go straight. - Vire à esquerda
Turn left. - Vire à direita.
Turn right.
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