Imagine you’re in a new city—Lisbon, Porto, São Paulo—and the streets all look the same. You need help fast! In this lesson, you’ll learn simple, polite Portuguese phrases to ask for directions, the most common location words, and easy grammar you can use right away. We’ll practice as we go so you remember it under pressure.

Polite openers you can use anywhere

Start friendly and clear. These openers make people more willing to help:

• Com licença… (Excuse me…)
• Por favor… (Please…)
• Você pode me ajudar? (Can you help me?)
• Eu estou perdido/perdida. (I’m lost.)

Then ask your question:

• Onde fica…? (Where is…?)
• Como eu chego a/ao/à…? (How do I get to…?)

Examples:

Eu estou .

Direction words you’ll hear

Here are the core words you’ll hear when someone guides you:

Other helpful words:

• perto (near/close)
• longe (far)
• ao lado (next to)
• entre (between)
• semáforo (traffic light)
• atravessar (to cross)
• virar (to turn)
• seguir (to follow/go along)

Quick practice:

Easy grammar: small words that change

Two super-common prepositions:

• a (to)
• em (in/on/at)

In Portuguese, these often combine with articles (o, a) to make contractions:

• a + o = ao (to the, masculine)
• a + a = à (to the, feminine)
• em + o = no (in/on/at the, masculine)
• em + a = na (in/on/at the, feminine)

Use “a/ao/à” with destinations after “chegar”: “Como eu chego ao supermercado?” Use “em/no/na” with locations: “O supermercado fica na próxima rua.”

Como eu chego no museu? → Como eu chego ao museu? Standard usage after “chegar” is “a”: a + o = ao. You may hear “chegar no” in Brazil, but “chegar a” is safer for learners.

Por favor, onde o hospital?

Mini-dialogue to reorder

Practice putting a short conversation in order.

Common commands you’ll hear

Don’t worry about the grammar label—just learn these set phrases:

• Vá/Siga em frente. (Go straight.)
• Vire à direita/esquerda. (Turn right/left.)
• Atravessa/atravesse a rua. (Cross the street.)

Now build a sentence:

Useful verb: ir (to go)

You’ll often hear or use forms of “ir” in directions (vou, vamos). Here’s the present tense:

Supermercado = “big market” (super + mercado). That’s why “Como eu chego ao supermercado?” is so common in directions.

Quick check on contractions:

Cultural notes

• Politeness pays: Start with “Com licença” and add “por favor”. A smile helps!
• Pace and gestures: Many people will point and use hands. Listen for “direita” and “esquerda”.
• Ask to repeat: “Pode repetir, por favor?” is totally okay.
• Time vs. distance: You might hear minutes instead of blocks (cinco minutos). Both are common.

Put it all together

Here’s a full, simple exchange you can model:

Turista: Com licença, você pode me ajudar? Eu estou perdido.

Morador: Claro! O metrô fica na próxima rua.

Turista: Como eu chego ao metrô?

Morador: Siga em frente dois quarteirões. Depois, vire à direita na esquina. É perto.

Turista: Obrigado!

Try these quick variations:

• Onde fica o banco?
• Como eu chego à estação?
• É longe?

Final practice

• Start polite, ask “Onde fica…?” or “Como eu chego…?”
• Listen for right/left/straight: direita, esquerda, em frente.
• Remember contractions: ao, à, no, na.

You’ve got this! Keep these phrases handy, and the next time you’re wandering a beautiful Portuguese-speaking city, you won’t stay lost for long.