In this phrasebook, the Portuguese has been written in a system of imitated pronunciation so that it can be read as though it were English, bearing in mind the notes on pronunciation given here:
In words such as não nowng and bem bayng, the final ‘g’ in the pronunciation signifies a nasal sound and should barely be sounded. Letters given in bold type indicate the part of the word to be stressed.
There are two verbs that translate ‘to be’ – ser and estar – depending on whether the verb is describing a permanent or temporary state. For example, sou inglês I am English; estou cansado I am tired.
Where two words are given as a translation, as in our nosso/nossa, the first is used with masculine nouns, the second with feminine nouns.
The word the before a masculine noun is o; before a feminine noun it is a. In the case of plurals it is os and as respectively. For example, o livro the book; os livros the books; a garrafa the bottle; as garrafas the bottles.
Use the numbers to express the date.
um is used with masculine nouns, uma with feminine nouns:
With multiples of a hundred, the -os ending is used with masculine nouns, the -as ending with feminine nouns:
Portuguese derives from the language of the common Roman soldier and, over the centuries, was influenced, particularly in the south of the country, by the Arabic-speaking Moors. Modern Standard Portuguese is the urban cultured Portuguese of Lisbon and surrounding areas, and this is the pronunciation that is given in this guide and which will stand you in good stead wherever you travel in Portugal.