10 Brazilian Portuguese phrases you’ll use every day

If you’re learning Brazilian Portuguese, you don’t need to memorize hundreds of phrases before you can start having real conversations.

There are a few expressions you’ll hear constantly in Brazil at a café, on the street, with friends, in shops, or just chatting with someone.

Here are 10 Brazilian Portuguese phrases that are genuinely useful in everyday life.

1. Tudo bem?

Meaning: How are you? / Is everything okay?

Tudo bem? is one of the most common ways to greet someone in Brazil.

You can use it with friends, colleagues, shop assistants, teachers, or someone you’ve just met.

Example:

— Oi! Tudo bem?

— Tudo bem! E você?

Hi! How are you?

I’m good! And you?

You can also simply say Tudo bem! to mean “I’m good” or “Everything’s okay.”

2. Pode deixar!

Meaning: Sure! / Leave it to me! / I’ll take care of it.

This is a very Brazilian expression.

Someone might ask you to do something, and instead of simply saying okay, you can say:

Pode deixar!

It basically communicates: “Don’t worry, I’ve got it.”

Example:

— Você pode mandar o documento depois?

— Pode deixar!

Can you send the document later?

Sure, I’ll take care of it!

3. Já volto.

Meaning: I’ll be right back.

You’ll hear this one all the time.

If you need to leave for a moment, you can say:

Já volto.

Literally, it means “I already return,” but naturally it means “I’ll be right back.”

Example:

— Vou pegar uma água. Já volto.

I’m going to get some water. I’ll be right back.

4. Só um pouquinho.

Meaning: Just a little bit / Just a moment.

Só means “only” or “just,” and um pouquinho means “a little bit.”

It can be used in several situations.

Example:

— Você pode esperar?

— Só um pouquinho.

Can you wait?

Just a moment.

You can also use it when talking about quantities:

Quero só um pouquinho.

I only want a little bit.

5. Fica tranquilo! / Fica tranquila!

Meaning: Don’t worry! / Relax!

Brazilian Portuguese often uses ficar (“to stay”) in expressions where English would use a different verb.

Fica tranquilo! is said to a man.

Fica tranquila! is said to a woman.

Example:

— Desculpa, eu esqueci de te avisar.

— Fica tranquila!

Sorry, I forgot to tell you.

Don’t worry!

6. Não tem problema.

Meaning: No problem.

This is another extremely useful everyday phrase.

Someone apologizes, asks for something, or explains a small mistake, and you can simply say:

Não tem problema.

Literally: “There isn’t a problem.”

Naturally: “No problem.”

You may also hear the shorter:

Sem problema!

7. Pode ser.

Meaning: That works / Sure / Could be.

This phrase is especially useful when making plans.

Example:

— A gente pode se encontrar às sete.

— Pode ser!

We can meet at seven.

That works!

Depending on the context and tone, pode ser can also mean something like “maybe” or “could be.”

8. Estou chegando.

Meaning: I’m on my way / I’m almost there.

This is a very useful phrase in Brazil, especially when you're meeting someone.

Example:

— Onde você está?

— Estou chegando!

Where are you?

I’m on my way!

And yes, sometimes estou chegando can mean “I’m almost there” even when you still have a little way to go.

9. Deixa eu ver.

Meaning: Let me see.

This is one of those expressions you’ll hear constantly in natural Brazilian Portuguese.

Example:

— Você sabe que horas abre?

— Deixa eu ver.

Do you know what time it opens?

Let me see.

You can also use it when someone shows you something:

Deixa eu ver!

Let me see!

10. Pois é.

Meaning: Yeah… / Exactly / I know / That’s how it is.

This one is harder to translate because its meaning depends heavily on context and intonation.

A Brazilian might say pois é when agreeing with someone, acknowledging an unfortunate situation, or simply reacting to something.

Example:

— Hoje está muito quente.

— Pois é!

It’s really hot today.

Yeah, it really is!

It's one of those expressions you understand better after hearing it in real conversations.

A little Brazilian Portuguese goes a long way

You don't need perfect Portuguese to start communicating in Brazil.

Learning a few expressions like these can make your conversations sound much more natural and help you understand what Brazilians are actually saying.

If you're learning Brazilian Portuguese, try choosing two or three expressions from this list and using them this week instead of trying to memorize everything at once.

Want to practice Brazilian Portuguese with a real Brazilian teacher? You can book a trial class with me and start practicing natural Brazilian Portuguese through real conversations!

Melissa Oliveira - Carioca teacher