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Portuguese Glossary

Portugal Glossary

Read a glossary of Portuguese words and phrases. Find useful Portuguese for traveling in Portugal and Madeira.

Further information on many of the listed terms is available via accompanying links, plus information on related products.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Adegas - wineries or wine cellars.

Alameda - promenade.

Albufeira - lagooon, resevoir.

Anta - pre-historic tomb.

Armazem - warehouse.

Arrayal - street party.

Avenida - Avenue.

Azulejos - hand-painted ceramic tile and a cultural icon of Portugal. Read more on azulejos

Azeitonas - olives.

B

Bacalhau - dried salt cod. Read more on Portuguese food

Bairro - district, city area.

Baixa - lower, downtown commercial district.

Balneario - spa, health resort.

Barcos rabelos - boats used to transport port wine on the River Duoro.

Barragem - dam.

Beco - cul-de-sac.

Benfica - Lisbon football team. Read more on Portuguese football

Biblioteca - library.

Bilhete - ticket.

Bilhete diario - day pass.

Borrego - lamb.

C

Cabines - phone boxes.

Cabrito - goat

Caderneta - book of tickets (usually 10) for public transport.

Camara Municipal - city hall.

Caldas - hot spring, spa.

Capela - chapel.

Carnaval - carnival

Casa de pasto - cheap lodgings.

Caseiro - home-made.

Cerveja - beer.

Chafariz - public fountain

Cidade - city.

Claustro - cloisters.

Correios - post office.

Cruzeiro - cross.

D

Distriti - district.

Dobrada - tripe.

Dom - honorific "Sir".

Dona - honorific "Madam".

Dormida - room.

Dourada - bream.

E

Elevador - funicular.

Enguia - eel.

Esplanada - promenade.

Estaçao - station.

Estrada - road/highway.

Espressos - express buses. Read more on Portuguese buses

F

Fado - traditional Portuguese singing style.

Feira - fair

Festa - festival. Read more on Portuguese festivals

Fonte - fountain.

Fortaleza - fort.

Freguesia - local parish.

Frito - fried.

G

Gambas - king prawns.

Garfo - fork.

GNR - Guarda Nacional Republicana (National Guard/gendarmerie).

Gruta - cave.

Grao - chickpeas.

Grelhado - grilled.

H

Horario - timetable.

Hospedaria - hostel/cheap pension. Read more on Portuguese hostels

I

IC - intercidade - inter-city trains. Read more on Portuguese trains

Ilha - island.

Iscas - liver.

IVA - Imposto sobre Valor Acrescentado (VAT).

J

Jardim - Garden.

K

L

Lago - lake.

Lagosta - lobster.

Largo - square.

Linguado - sole.

Litoral - coastal area.

Lisboetas - people from Lisbon.

Lulas - squid.

M

Maçã - apple

Manueline - early 16th style of architecture named after the earlier reign of Dom Manuel (1495-1521).

Mercado - market.

Mesa - table.

Miradouro - viewing point.

Moliceiro - shallow boats.

Mosteiro - monastery.

Museu - museum.

N

Nossa Senhora - "Our Lady" (Virgin Mary).

No forno - baked.

O

Ostras - oysters.

P

Paço - palace/country house.

Palacio - palace.

Paragem - bus stop.

Parque - park.

Partida - departure.

Peixe - fish.

Pensão - pension, B&B.

Polvo - octopus.

Ponte - bridge.

Portagem - toll road.

Pousada - upmarket guesthouses. Read more on Portuguese pousadas

Pousada de juventude - youth hostels.

Portagem - toll road.

Praça - square.

Praia - beach.

PSP - Policia de Segurança Publica - the police.

Q

Quinta - country estate/villa.

Quarto de casal - room with double bed.

Queijo - cheese.

R

Raia - skate (fish).

Rapidas - regional buses.

Residencial - guesthouse.

Ria - lagoon.

Ribeiro - stream.

Rio - river.

Romaria - pilgrimage.

Rua - street.

S

Sanitarios - public toilets.

Salmão - salmon.

Salmonete - red mullet.

Sapateira - crab.

Sardinhas - sardines.

Sé - cathedral.

Selos - stamps.

Senhor - man.

Senhora - woman.

Serra - mountain/mountain range.

Solar - manor house.

Supermercado - supermarket.

T

Tabacaria - tobacconist.

Tasca - tavern.

Termas - hot springs.

Torre de menagem - castle keep.

Tourada - bull fight.

Tripas - tripe.

Truta - trout.

Turismo - tourist office. Read more on Portuguese turismo

U

Uvas - grapes.

V

Vaca - beef.

Vila - town.

Vinho tinto - red wine. Read more on Portuguese wine

Vincente Gil - (1465-1537) playwright and poet. Read more about Gil Vicente

Vinho branco - white wine.

Vitela - veal.

W

Wellington - British general.

X

Xabregas - district in Lisbon.

Y

Z

Portuguese Food Glossary