Sauna · Português

Sauna in Portuguese: 10 phrases for tonight

A sauna social is quiet and relaxed: short sentences, low voices. The one practical question is the dress rule, which differs by country and venue, so ask before you go in.

Register: Informal (friendly). "Tu" is normal. Ask about the dress code: in Portugal swimwear is common in most public saunas, but not everywhere. Say "sauna" (SOW-nuh).

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

01 · Arriving
Olá, tudo bem?
Say it like: oh-LAH, TOO-doo bayn
Hi, how are you?
02 · Saying you're new
É a primeira vez que venho, e vim sozinho/sozinha.
Say it like: eh ah pree-MAY-rah vaysh kuh VAY-nyoo, ee veem soo-ZEE-nyoo/soo-ZEE-nyah
It's my first time here, and I came alone.
03 · Asking how it works
Como é que funciona? Há regras que devo saber?
Say it like: KOH-moo eh kuh foon-SYOH-nah? ah RREH-grahsh kuh DAY-voo sah-BEHR
How does it work? Are there rules I should know?
04 · Small talk
Que bem que se está aqui, não é?
Say it like: kuh bayn kuh suh ish-TAH ah-KEE, now(n) eh
It's lovely in here, isn't it?
05 · Small talk
Já cá estiveste antes?
Say it like: zhah kah ish-tee-VAYSH-tuh AHN-tezh
Have you been here before?
06 · Small talk
Onde posso deixar as minhas coisas?
Say it like: OHN-duh POH-soo day-SHAR ahsh MEE-nyahsh KOY-zahsh
Where can I leave my things?
07 · Dress code
Entra-se de fato de banho ou sem?
Say it like: EN-truh-suh duh FAH-too duh BAH-nyoo oh sayn
Do you go in wearing swimwear, or without?
08 · Water on the stones
Posso deitar mais um pouco de água nas pedras?
Say it like: POH-soo day-TAR mysh oom POH-koo duh AH-gwah nahsh PEH-drahsh
May I put a bit more water on the stones?
09 · Cooling off
Vou lá fora refrescar-me um pouco.
Say it like: voh lah FOH-ruh ruh-fresh-KAR-muh oom POH-koo
I'm going outside to cool off a bit.
10 · Leaving & keeping in touch
Soube mesmo bem. Até à próxima!
Say it like: SOH-buh MEZH-moo bayn. ah-TEH ah PROH-see-mah
That felt really good. Until next time!

3 things you will probably hear

H1 · You may hear
Não te esqueças de beber água.
Say it like: now(n) tuh ish-KEH-sahsh duh buh-BEHR AH-gwah
Don't forget to drink water.
H2 · You may hear
Põe a toalha por baixo de ti, no banco.
Say it like: poyn ah too-AH-lyah poor BY-shoo duh tee, noo BAHN-koo
Put your towel under you on the bench.
H3 · You may hear
Importas-te que deite água?
Say it like: eem-POR-tahsh-tuh kuh DAY-tuh AH-gwah
Do you mind if I pour water?

Go and try it

Find sauna socials on Come Alone

Quick answers

What do I say when I arrive alone at a sauna social in Portuguese?

Start with: "Olá, tudo bem?" (Hi, how are you?). Then say you are new: "É a primeira vez que venho, e vim sozinho/sozinha." (It's my first time here, and I came alone.)

Should I use informal or formal Portuguese at a sauna social?

"Tu" is normal. Ask about the dress code: in Portugal swimwear is common in most public saunas, but not everywhere. Say "sauna" (SOW-nuh).

How do I ask to meet again after a sauna social in Portuguese?

Try: "Soube mesmo bem. Até à próxima!" (That felt really good. Until next time!)

Same evening, another language

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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

Pick the evening and the language people will speak.
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.
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.
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/sauna/pt/ · Meet & Mint