First Phrases

Christmas market · Português

Christmas market in Portuguese: 16 phrases

Order mulled wine or an alcohol-free punch, sort out the mug deposit, ask the price, pay by card, find the lantern walk or the concert, and start a chat at a standing table. Natural phrases for a winter market evening.

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.

Review pending: native-speaker review of this card has not happened yet, and the phrases marked "check" are the ones we are least sure of. Use them as a starting point and let the person you speak to correct you.

Register: Neutral. Christmas markets in Portugal (for example in Lisbon, Porto, Óbidos) are informal; "se faz favor" or "por favor" is enough. Mulled wine is "vinho quente"; "ponche" or "gluhwein" also appear at German-style stalls. There is no standard cup deposit, so ask whether it is returnable.

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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16 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Um vinho quente, por favor.
    Say it like: oom VEE-nyoo KEN-tuh, poor fuh-VOR
    One mulled wine, please.
    Register: Neutral.
  2. 02Neutral
    Um chocolate quente, por favor.
    Say it like: oom shoh-koo-LAH-tuh KEN-tuh, poor fuh-VOR
    One hot chocolate, please.
    Register: Neutral.
  3. 03Neutral
    Têm alguma versão sem álcool?
    Say it like: taym al-GOO-muh ver-ZOW sem AL-kool
    Do you have a version without alcohol?
    Register: "Têm" = plural "you", natural at a stall.
  4. 04Neutral
    Há depósito pelo copo?
    Say it like: ah duh-POH-zee-too PAY-loo KOH-poo
    Is there a deposit on the cup?
    Register: Deposits are not standard in Portugal, so ask.
  5. 05Neutral
    Posso devolver o copo e receber o dinheiro de volta?
    Say it like: POH-soo duh-vol-VER oo KOH-poo ee ruh-suh-BER oo dee-NYAY-roo duh VOL-tuh
    Can I return the cup and get my money back?
    Register: Neutral way to ask about a returnable cup.
  6. 06Neutral
    Posso ficar com o copo?
    Say it like: POH-soo fee-KAR kom oo KOH-poo
    Can I keep the cup?
    Register: Neutral.
  7. 07Neutral
    Quanto é?
    Say it like: KWAN-too eh
    How much is it?
    Register: Neutral and short.
  8. 08Neutral
    Posso pagar com cartão?
    Say it like: POH-soo puh-GAR kom kar-TOW
    Can I pay by card?
    Register: Neutral.
  9. 09Neutral
    Mais um, por favor.
    Say it like: mysh oom, poor fuh-VOR
    One more, please.
    Register: Neutral.
  10. 10Neutralcheck
    Onde começa o desfile das lanternas?
    Say it like: ON-duh koo-MEH-suh oo dush-FEE-luh dush lan-TER-nush
    Where does the lantern parade start?
    Register: For a concert say "o concerto": "Onde é o concerto?"
  11. 11Neutral
    Este lugar está livre?
    Say it like: AYSH-tuh loo-GAR shta LEE-vruh
    Is this spot free?
    Register: Works for a seat or a place at a table.
  12. 12Neutral
    Importam-se que me ponha aqui? Está muita gente hoje, não está?
    Say it like: eem-POR-tow-suh kuh muh POH-nyuh uh-KEE? shta MWEE-tuh JEN-tuh ohzh, now shta
    Do you mind if I stand here? Lots of people today, isn't there?
    Register: Polite opener at a standing table.
  13. 13Neutral
    Feliz Natal!
    Say it like: fuh-LEESH nuh-TAL
    Merry Christmas!
    Register: "Boas festas!" (happy holidays) works for everyone.
  14. 14Neutral
    Há alguma coisa vegetariana para comer?
    Say it like: ah al-GOO-muh KOY-zuh vuh-zhuh-tuh-ree-AH-nuh PUH-ruh koo-MER
    Is there anything vegetarian to eat?
    Register: Neutral.
  15. 15Neutral
    Onde ficam as casas de banho?
    Say it like: ON-duh FEE-kow ush KAH-zush duh BAH-nyoo
    Where are the toilets?
    Register: "Casa de banho" is the Portugal word (Brazil says "banheiro").
  16. 16Polite
    Pode tirar-nos uma fotografia, por favor?
    Say it like: POH-duh tee-RAR-noosh OO-muh foo-too-gruh-FEE-uh, poor fuh-VOR
    Could you take a photo of us, please?
    Register: Polite; verb alone.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the Christmas market in Portuguese?

Start with: "Um vinho quente, por favor." (One mulled wine, please.)

Should I use informal or formal Portuguese at the Christmas market?

Christmas markets in Portugal (for example in Lisbon, Porto, Óbidos) are informal; "se faz favor" or "por favor" is enough. Mulled wine is "vinho quente"; "ponche" or "gluhwein" also appear at German-style stalls. There is no standard cup deposit, so ask whether it is returnable.

How do I order mulled wine in Portuguese?

Try: "Um vinho quente, por favor." (One mulled wine, please.)

Same errand, another language

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Portuguese, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market

Also: New Year phrases in Portuguese

All 6 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

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