You're lost in the city and need to find a bank. How do you ask "Where is the bank?" in Portuguese?
Onde fica is the go-to phrase for asking where something is located. Banco means bank. Together, Onde fica o banco? gets you pointed in the right direction! You can swap in any place: Onde fica o museu? (Where is the museum?)
You ask for directions and the person says "Vire à direita." What does this mean?
Vire means "turn," and à direita means "to the right." So vire à direita = turn right! The essential pair to remember: à direita (right) and à esquerda (left).
You've found the right street, but you're not sure how far the museum is. How do you ask "Is it far?" in Portuguese?
É comes from the verb ser and means "is it." Longe means "far." So É longe? is the perfect way to check if you have a long walk ahead! The opposite is É perto? (Is it nearby?)
You asked how far the train station is, and someone replies "É perto daqui." What does this mean?
Perto means "close" or "nearby," and daqui means "from here." So É perto daqui = "It's close to here." Great news when you're on foot! The opposite is É longe daqui (It's far from here).
You want to visit the art museum but don't know the way. How do you ask "How do I get to the museum?" in Portuguese?
Como chego means "how do I get to" (literally "how do I arrive"). Ao museu means "to the museum." You can swap in any destination: Como chego à estação de trem? (How do I get to the train station?)
A local gives you directions and says "Siga em frente." What should you do?
Siga comes from seguir (to continue), and em frente means "ahead." So siga em frente = keep going straight! You might also hear vai direto, which means the same thing.
You ask where the bank is, and the hotel receptionist says, "O banco fica à esquerda." Which way is the bank?
À esquerda means "to the left." The essential pair: à esquerda = left, à direita = right. And fica here means "is located," so O banco fica à esquerda = "The bank is on the left."
You need to catch a train. How do you ask "Where is the train station?" in Portuguese?
Estação de trem is "train station." Onde fica means "where is." Note that it's a estação with a feminine article because estação is a feminine noun in Portuguese. Bonus: estação also means "season," so estação do verão = "summer!"
A tourist approaches you and asks, "Tem um banco por aqui?" What are they looking for?
Tem here means "is there" (from ter, to have). Banco means bank, and por aqui means "around here." So Tem um banco por aqui? = "Is there a bank around here?" This is a very natural, casual way to ask!
Someone giving you directions says, "Vire à esquerda na esquina." What does na esquina mean?
Na esquina means "at the corner" (na = at/on the, esquina = corner). The full sentence Vire à esquerda na esquina means "Turn left at the corner." Don't confuse esquina (corner) with esquerda (left), even though they look similar at first!
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