First Phrases

Making plans with new friends · Português

Making plans with new friends in Portuguese: 15 phrases

Invite someone for a coffee or an event, suggest a time and a place, swap numbers, say you are new in town, decline politely, follow up after meeting at an event, and say nice to meet you and see you next time. Short, natural phrases for making friends in a new town. Pair them with Meet & Mint: find an event to go to together.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Informal (friendly). Between people of a similar age "tu" is natural in Portugal, also with someone new. With an older person or in a formal setting, drop the pronoun and use the verb in the polite third person, or use the name ("A Ana quer um café?"). "Combinar" is the everyday verb for making plans. This card uses European Portuguese. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How to read the sounds: European Portuguese swallows unstressed vowels, so syllables sound shorter than they look. (n) = nasal vowel, don't sound the n. sh = the 'sh' of 'ship' for final s and x. Stress is in CAPITALS.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Informal
    Queres tomar um café esta semana?
    Say it like: KEH-rush too-MAR oong kuh-FEH ESH-tuh suh-MAH-nuh
    Do you want to have a coffee this week?
    Register: Also "Vamos tomar um café?".
  2. 02Informal
    Vais ao evento de sábado? Podemos ir juntos.
    Say it like: vysh ow ee-VEN-too deh SAH-buh-doo. poo-DEH-moosh eer ZHOON-toosh
    Are you going to the event on Saturday? We could go together.
    Register: Say "juntas" if you are both women.
  3. 03Informal
    Combinamos às nove para jantar?
    Say it like: kom-bee-NAH-moosh ash NOH-vuh PUH-ruh zhan-TAR
    Shall we arrange to meet at nine for dinner?
    Register: "Combinar" = to arrange, to agree on a plan.
  4. 04Informal
    Que tal no centro? Conheço um sítio simpático.
    Say it like: kuh tal noo SEN-troo. koo-NYEH-soo oong SEE-tyoo seem-PA-tee-koo
    How about the centre? I know a nice place.
    Register: "Que tal...?" = how about...?
  5. 05Informal
    Que dia te dá mais jeito?
    Say it like: kuh DEE-uh tuh da mysh ZHAY-too
    Which day suits you best?
    Register: "Dar jeito" = to be convenient.
  6. 06Informal
    Podes dar-me o teu número? Mando-te mensagem.
    Say it like: POH-dush DAR-muh oo TEH-oo NOO-muh-roo. MAN-doo-tuh men-SAH-zhaym
    Can you give me your number? I'll message you.
    Register: People often swap WhatsApp: "Tens WhatsApp?".
  7. 07Neutral
    Sou novo na cidade e estou a conhecer pessoas.
    Say it like: soh NOH-voo nuh see-DAD ee shtoh uh koo-nyuh-SER puh-SOH-ush
    I'm new in town and I'm meeting people.
    Register: Women say "nova".
  8. 08Neutral
    Obrigado pelo convite, mas desta vez não posso.
    Say it like: oh-bree-GAH-doo PEH-loo kon-VEE-tuh, mash DESH-tuh vesh now POH-soo
    Thanks for the invitation, but I can't this time.
    Register: Women say "obrigada". No need to give a reason.
  9. 09Informal
    Hoje não dá, mas podemos combinar outro dia?
    Say it like: OH-zhuh now da, mash poo-DEH-moosh kom-bee-NAR OH-troo DEE-uh
    Today doesn't work, but can we arrange another day?
    Register: "Não dá" = it doesn't work, I can't.
  10. 10Informal
    Parece-me ótimo! Lá estarei.
    Say it like: puh-RESS-suh-muh OH-tee-moo. la shtuh-RAY
    Sounds great! I'll be there.
    Register: "Boa!" alone is a casual yes.
  11. 11Neutral
    Foi um prazer conhecer-te ontem no evento.
    Say it like: foy oong pruh-ZER koo-nyuh-SER-tuh ON-tayn noo ee-VEN-too
    It was a pleasure meeting you yesterday at the event.
    Register: "Conhecer-te" is the tu form.
  12. 12Informal
    Mando-te os detalhes por mensagem.
    Say it like: MAN-doo-tuh oosh duh-TAH-lyush poor men-SAH-zhaym
    I'll send you the details by message.
    Register: The pronoun "te" comes after the verb here.
  13. 13Informal
    Vamos repetir? Gostei muito.
    Say it like: VAH-moosh ruh-puh-TEER? goosh-TAY MWEEN-too
    Shall we do it again? I really enjoyed it.
    Register: "Gostar" = to like, to enjoy.
  14. 14Neutral
    Muito prazer em conhecer-te.
    Say it like: MWEEN-too pruh-ZER ayn koo-nyuh-SER-tuh
    Nice to meet you.
    Register: "Prazer!" alone is also very common.
  15. 15Informal
    Até à próxima! Vemo-nos em breve.
    Say it like: uh-TEH ah PRO-see-muh. VEH-moo-noosh ayn BREH-vuh
    Until next time! See you soon.
    Register: "Até já" means see you in a moment, not next time.

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Quick answers

How do you invite someone for a coffee in Portuguese?

Say: "Queres tomar um café esta semana?" (Do you want to have a coffee this week?)

Should I use informal or formal Portuguese with new friends?

Between people of a similar age "tu" is natural in Portugal, also with someone new. With an older person or in a formal setting, drop the pronoun and use the verb in the polite third person, or use the name ("A Ana quer um café?"). "Combinar" is the everyday verb for making plans. This card uses European Portuguese. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How do I say I'm new in town in Portuguese?

Say: "Sou novo na cidade e estou a conhecer pessoas." (I'm new in town and I'm meeting people.)

How do I decline an invitation politely in Portuguese?

Say: "Obrigado pelo convite, mas desta vez não posso." (Thanks for the invitation, but I can't this time.)

Making plans phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

Portuguese, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

All survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you live in.
  2. Read the phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Then open Meet & Mint to find an event to go to together: see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group before you meet. Or try a phrase card for tonight first.

firstphrases.app/survival/making-plans-with-new-friends/pt/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint