First Phrases

Post office and parcels · Português

Post office and parcels in Portuguese: 12 survival phrases

Collect a parcel with your delivery notice, send a letter or parcel abroad, ask for tracking and a receipt, and find the nearest post office. Short phrases for the counter.

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: Polite (formal is safer). In Portugal avoid "tu" at the counter; use the verb alone ("Pode ajudar-me?") or "o senhor / a senhora". At a CTT shop you often take a ticket ("senha") from a machine and wait to be called. Bring your passport or residence card to collect a parcel.

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.

Your recording stays on your device.

Official names used

On this card: CTT, loja CTT, encomenda, aviso. Operator website checked on 2026-10-24:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Bom dia. Venho levantar uma encomenda.
    Say it like: bom DEE-uh. VEN-yoo luh-van-TAR OO-muh ayn-koo-MEN-duh
    Good morning. I've come to pick up a parcel.
    Register: Polite; "levantar" is the usual word for collecting.
  2. 02Polite
    Tenho um aviso. Aqui está.
    Say it like: TEN-yoo oon uh-VEE-zoo. uh-KEE shTAH
    I have a delivery notice. Here it is.
    Register: "Aviso" is the slip left in your mailbox.
  3. 03Neutral
    Não estava em casa quando vieram. Onde posso levantar a encomenda?
    Say it like: nowng shTAH-vuh ayn KAH-zuh KWAN-doo vee-AY-rowng. ON-duh POH-soo luh-van-TAR uh ayn-koo-MEN-duh
    I wasn't home when they came. Where can I collect the parcel?
    Register: Neutral; works for any courier.
  4. 04Polite
    Aqui está o meu passaporte. Serve?
    Say it like: uh-KEE shTAH oo MAY-oo pah-suh-POR-tuh. SEHR-vuh
    Here is my passport. Will that do?
    Register: Polite; ask if you have no Portuguese ID card.
  5. 05Neutral
    Preciso de tirar senha?
    Say it like: pruh-SEE-zoo duh tee-RAR SEN-yuh
    Do I need to take a ticket?
    Register: "Senha" is the numbered ticket.
  6. 06Polite
    Queria enviar esta encomenda para …
    Say it like: kuh-REE-uh ayn-vee-AR ESH-tuh ayn-koo-MEN-duh PAH-ruh
    I'd like to send this parcel to …
    Register: "Queria" is the polite "I would like".
  7. 07Neutral
    Quanto custa enviar para …?
    Say it like: KWAN-too KOOSH-tuh ayn-vee-AR PAH-ruh
    How much does it cost to send it to …?
    Register: Neutral question.
  8. 08Neutral
    Um selo para uma carta, por favor.
    Say it like: oon SAY-loo PAH-ruh OO-muh KAR-tuh, poor fuh-VOR
    One stamp for a letter, please.
    Register: "Selo" is the stamp.
  9. 09Neutral
    Com registo, por favor.
    Say it like: kong rruh-ZHEESH-too, poor fuh-VOR
    Registered, please.
    Register: "Registo" means registered, so you get a tracking number.
  10. 10Neutral
    Quantos dias demora a chegar?
    Say it like: KWAN-toosh DEE-uhsh duh-MOH-ruh uh shuh-GAR
    How many days does it take to arrive?
    Register: Neutral question.
  11. 11Polite
    Pode dar-me um recibo, por favor?
    Say it like: pod DAR-muh oon rruh-SEE-boo, poor fuh-VOR
    Could you give me a receipt, please?
    Register: Polite; keep it as proof of sending.
  12. 12Neutral
    Onde fica a loja CTT mais próxima?
    Say it like: ON-duh FEE-kuh uh LOH-zhuh SEH-tuh-TEH-tuh-TEH mighsh PRO-see-muh
    Where is the nearest CTT shop?
    Register: Neutral; CTT is the national post.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the post office in Portuguese?

Start with: "Bom dia. Venho levantar uma encomenda." (Good morning. I've come to pick up a parcel.)

Should I use informal or formal Portuguese at the post office?

In Portugal avoid "tu" at the counter; use the verb alone ("Pode ajudar-me?") or "o senhor / a senhora". At a CTT shop you often take a ticket ("senha") from a machine and wait to be called. Bring your passport or residence card to collect a parcel.

How do I say I have a delivery notice in Portuguese?

Try: "Tenho um aviso. Aqui está." (I have a delivery notice. Here it is.)

Same errand, another language

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Portuguese, another errand

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How it works

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  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
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