First Phrases

Train and bus phrases · Português

Train and bus phrases in Portuguese: 15 phrases

Buy a ticket, ask which platform or stop, check the next departure, ask about delays and changes, pay by card, find your seat, get off at your stop, find the exit or taxi rank, deal with a missed train and say thank you. Short, polite phrases for trains and buses in a new country. Pair them with Meet & Mint once you are settled.

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: Neutral. In Portugal, with ticket staff and drivers use the polite form without "tu": "pode dizer-me...?", "queria...". Add "se faz favor" or "por favor". This card uses European Portuguese ("comboio", "autocarro"). Ticket rules differ between CP long-distance, urban trains and city buses, so check your operator's rules before you travel. 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. 01Neutral
    Um bilhete para ..., por favor.
    Say it like: oong bee-LYEH-tuh PUH-ruh ..., poor fuh-VOR
    One ticket to [place], please.
    Register: Put the place name where the dots are.
  2. 02Neutral
    Um bilhete de ida e volta, por favor.
    Say it like: oong bee-LYEH-tuh deh EE-duh ee VOL-tuh, poor fuh-VOR
    A return ticket, please.
    Register: "Ida e volta" = there and back.
  3. 03Neutral
    De que cais sai?
    Say it like: deh kuh KYSH sy
    Which platform does it leave from?
    Register: "Cais" = platform; "linha" is the track.
  4. 04Neutral
    Este é o comboio para ...?
    Say it like: ESH-tuh eh oo kom-BOY-oo PUH-ruh ...
    Is this the train to ...?
    Register: Say the destination after "para".
  5. 05Neutral
    Este autocarro pára em ...?
    Say it like: ESH-tuh ow-toh-KAH-rroo PAH-ruh eng ...
    Does this bus stop at ...?
    Register: "Autocarro" = bus in Portugal.
  6. 06Neutral
    Quando é o próximo?
    Say it like: KWAN-doo eh oo PROH-see-moo
    When is the next one?
    Register: Works for a train or a bus.
  7. 07Neutral
    O comboio está atrasado. Quanto tempo?
    Say it like: oo kom-BOY-oo esh-TAH uh-truh-ZAH-doo. KWAN-too TEM-poo
    The train is delayed. How long?
    Register: "Atraso" = a delay.
  8. 08Neutral
    Onde posso validar o bilhete?
    Say it like: ON-deh POH-soo vuh-lee-DAR oo bee-LYEH-tuh
    Where do I validate my ticket?
    Register: Some tickets do not need validating; if in doubt, ask.
  9. 09Neutral
    Posso pagar com cartão?
    Say it like: POH-soo puh-GAR kom kar-TOWNG
    Can I pay by card?
    Register: Useful at ticket desks.
  10. 10Neutral
    Este lugar está livre?
    Say it like: ESH-tuh loo-GAR esh-TAH LEE-vruh
    Is this seat free?
    Register: "Lugar" or "assento" both work.
  11. 11Neutral
    Com licença, esta é a minha paragem.
    Say it like: kom lee-SEN-suh, ESH-tuh eh uh MEE-nyuh puh-RAH-zhem
    Excuse me, this is my stop.
    Register: "Paragem" = bus stop; at a train station say "estação".
  12. 12Neutral
    Tenho de mudar de comboio?
    Say it like: TEH-nyoo deh moo-DAR deh kom-BOY-oo
    Do I need to change trains?
    Register: "Mudar" = to change.
  13. 13Neutral
    Onde é a saída / a praça de táxis?
    Say it like: ON-deh eh uh suh-EE-duh / uh PRAH-suh deh TAK-seesh
    Where is the exit / the taxi rank?
    Register: Choose one: "a saída" or "a praça de táxis".
  14. 14Neutral
    Perdi o meu comboio. O que posso fazer?
    Say it like: per-DEE oo MEH-oo kom-BOY-oo. oo kuh POH-soo fuh-ZER
    I missed my train. What can I do?
    Register: Say it at the ticket desk or to staff.
  15. 15Neutral
    Obrigado, boa viagem.
    Say it like: oh-bree-GAH-doo, BOH-uh vee-AH-zhem
    Thank you, have a good trip.
    Register: Women say "obrigada".

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Quick answers

How do you ask for a train ticket in Portuguese?

Say: "Um bilhete para ..., por favor." (One ticket to [place], please.)

Should I use formal or informal Portuguese with ticket staff and drivers?

In Portugal, with ticket staff and drivers use the polite form without "tu": "pode dizer-me...?", "queria...". Add "se faz favor" or "por favor". This card uses European Portuguese ("comboio", "autocarro"). Ticket rules differ between CP long-distance, urban trains and city buses, so check your operator's rules before you travel. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How do I ask which platform a train leaves from in Portuguese?

Say: "De que cais sai?" (Which platform does it leave from?)

How do I say I missed my train in Portuguese?

Say: "Perdi o meu comboio. O que posso fazer?" (I missed my train. What can I do?)

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