First Phrases

Book club · Português

Book club in Portuguese: 10 phrases for tonight

One book, one evening, a table of people who like talking about it. You do not need perfect language: an opinion, a question and a polite request for no spoilers will carry you.

Register: Informal (friendly). "Tu" is used among adults in Portuguese book clubs, but with much older members, avoid pronouns or use their name. Don't use "você" as a casual "you".

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.

10 phrases, door to goodbye

  1. 01 · Arriving
    Boa noite, é aqui o clube de leitura?
    Say it like: BOH-ah NOY-tuh, eh ah-KEE oo KLOO-buh duh lay-TOO-rah
    Good evening, is this the book club?
  2. 02 · Saying you're new
    Sou novo/nova na cidade e ainda não conheço ninguém.
    Say it like: soh NOH-voo/NOH-vah nah see-DAH-duh ee ah-EEN-dah now(n) koo-NYEH-soo neen-GAYN
    I'm new in the city and I don't know anyone yet.
  3. 03 · Asking how it works
    Como escolhem o livro de cada mês?
    Say it like: KOH-moo ish-KOH-lyayn oo LEE-vroo duh KAH-dah maysh
    How do you choose the book each month?
  4. 04 · Small talk
    O que achaste do livro?
    Say it like: oo kuh ah-SHASH-tuh doo LEE-vroo
    What did you think of the book?
  5. 05 · Small talk
    Já leste mais alguma coisa deste autor?
    Say it like: zhah LESH-tuh mysh ahl-GOO-mah KOY-zah DAYSH-tuh ow-TOR
    Have you read anything else by this author?
  6. 06 · Small talk
    O que tens andado a ler?
    Say it like: oo kuh taynsh ahn-DAH-doo ah layr
    What have you been reading lately?
  7. 07 · No spoilers
    Ainda não acabei o livro, sem spoilers, por favor!
    Say it like: ah-EEN-dah now(n) ah-kah-BAY oo LEE-vroo, sayn SPOY-lersh, poor fah-VOR
    I haven't finished the book yet, no spoilers please!
  8. 08 · The ending
    O que achaste do final?
    Say it like: oo kuh ah-SHASH-tuh doo fee-NAHL
    What did you think of the ending?
  9. 09 · Next book
    Que livro vamos ler no próximo mês?
    Say it like: kuh LEE-vroo VAH-moosh layr noo PROH-see-moo maysh
    Which book are we reading next month?
  10. 10 · Leaving & keeping in touch
    Gostei muito de vos conhecer. Há um grupo de WhatsApp?
    Say it like: goosh-TAY MOOEEN-too duh voosh koo-nyuh-SEHR. ah oom GROO-poo duh WAHTS-ahp
    I really enjoyed meeting you. Is there a WhatsApp group?

3 things you will probably hear

  1. H1 · You may hear
    Hoje falamos dos primeiros capítulos.
    Say it like: OH-zhuh fah-LAH-moosh doosh pree-MAY-roosh kah-PEE-too-loosh
    Today we're talking about the first chapters.
  2. H2 · You may hear
    Quem quer começar?
    Say it like: kayn kehr koo-muh-SAR
    Who wants to start?
  3. H3 · You may hear
    Posso emprestar-te o livro deste mês.
    Say it like: POH-soo em-prish-TAR-tuh oo LEE-vroo DAYSH-tuh maysh
    I can lend you this month's book.

Go and try it

Find book clubs on Come Alone

Quick answers

What do I say when I arrive alone at a book club in Portuguese?

Start with: "Boa noite, é aqui o clube de leitura?" (Good evening, is this the book club?). Then say you are new: "Sou novo/nova na cidade e ainda não conheço ninguém." (I'm new in the city and I don't know anyone yet.)

Should I use informal or formal Portuguese at a book club?

"Tu" is used among adults in Portuguese book clubs, but with much older members, avoid pronouns or use their name. Don't use "você" as a casual "you".

How do I ask to meet again after a book club in Portuguese?

Try: "Gostei muito de vos conhecer. Há um grupo de WhatsApp?" (I really enjoyed meeting you. Is there a WhatsApp group?)

Same evening, another language

Español Français Deutsch Português Italiano Suomi

Portuguese, another evening

Pub quiz Padel & pickleball Run club Sauna Book club Dinner with strangers Language café

All 7 × 6 cards · Phrases for a specific event near you

How it works

  1. Pick the evening and the language people will speak.
  2. Read the ten phrases in order: they follow the evening from the door to goodbye. Tap the speaker to hear each one in your device's voice.
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending; a "check" mark flags a phrase we are least sure of.
  4. Find the event on Come Alone, open it in Meet & Mint to see who else is going, and say the first phrase for real.

firstphrases.app/tonight/book/pt/ · Meet & Mint