A1 level

Introducing yourself in Portuguese

Last updated 28 October 2026

Meeting someone is the first conversation most learners want to have. Portuguese is spoken a little differently in Portugal and in Brazil, and an introduction is a good place to hear it. Most of the phrases below are the same everywhere. Where the two varieties diverge, you will find a European version (pt-PT) and a Brazilian version (pt-BR) next to each other, each with its own voice.

Greeting and giving your name

These phrases work in both countries.

Olá! Hello!
Bom dia. Good morning.
Boa tarde. Good afternoon.
Boa noite. Good evening, or good night.
Muito prazer. Pleased to meet you.

Giving your name is where the first difference appears. Europeans like the reflexive verb chamar-se, with the pronoun attached to the verb. Brazilians usually put it in front, or use a different sentence altogether.

Portugal

Chamo-me Ana. My name is Ana.
Como se chama? What is your name? (formal)
Como te chamas? What is your name? (informal)
Prazer em conhecê-lo. Nice to meet you. (to a man, formal)

Brazil

Meu nome é Ana. My name is Ana.
Eu me chamo Ana. My name is Ana.
Qual é o seu nome? What is your name?
Como você se chama? What is your name?
Prazer em te conhecer. Nice to meet you.

Tu, você and the polite forms

This is the biggest practical difference for a beginner, so it is worth knowing before you speak.

Portugal uses tu with friends, family and people your age, and the third person (o senhor, a senhora, or just the verb without a pronoun) with older people and in formal settings. Você exists, but it can sound cold or even rude, so learners are usually told to avoid it.
Brazil uses você for almost everyone. It is neutral and friendly. Tu is used in some regions, such as the far south and parts of the north-east, but often with the verb forms of você. O senhor and a senhora are kept for respect towards older people.

If you are unsure, copy the form the other person uses with you. See the European and Brazilian Portuguese overview for more on this.

Where you are from

Country names take an article in Portuguese, and the article joins with de (of, from): a Finlândia becomes da Finlândia.

Portugal

De onde és? Where are you from? (informal)
De onde é? Where are you from? (formal)
Sou da Finlândia. I am from Finland.
Sou de Inglaterra. I am from England.

Brazil

De onde você é? Where are you from?
Eu sou da Finlândia. I am from Finland.
Sou da Inglaterra. I am from England.

Notice de Inglaterra in Portugal and da Inglaterra in Brazil. Europeans often drop the article before country names, while Brazilians keep it. Both are understood in both places.

Where you live and what you do

Portugal

Moro em Lisboa. I live in Lisbon.
Vivo no Porto. I live in Porto.
Sou estudante. I am a student.
Trabalho num hospital. I work in a hospital.

Brazil

Moro em São Paulo. I live in São Paulo.
Eu moro no Rio de Janeiro. I live in Rio de Janeiro.
Sou estudante. I am a student.
Trabalho em um hospital. I work in a hospital.

Num is the contraction of em and um. You will see it in writing everywhere and hear it all the time in Portugal. Brazilians use it too, but in speech em um is just as common.

Languages you speak

Portugal

Falo um pouco de português. I speak a little Portuguese.
Estou a aprender português. I am learning Portuguese.
Falo inglês e finlandês. I speak English and Finnish.

Brazil

Falo um pouco de português. I speak a little Portuguese.
Estou aprendendo português. I am learning Portuguese.
Falo inglês e finlandês. I speak English and Finnish.

The ongoing action is built differently. Portugal uses estar a with an infinitive (estou a aprender). Brazil uses the gerund (estou aprendendo).