The Essential Portuguese Handbook for Moçambique

If you’re planning a visit to Moçambique (which you all should) or just want to have a bit of Portuguese in your back pocket in case of emergencies, this is the cabula (cheatsheet) you want to bring along (plus I've included pictures from recent adventures!):

My first safari!

Sim – Yes

Não- No

Olá – Hello

Bom dia/boa tarde/boa noite – Good morning/good afternoon/good evening

Como está? – How are you?

Estou bem – I’m good

Tudo bem – (both a question and an answer) How is everything?/Everything is fine

Por favor – Please

Obrigado/a – Thank you (changes with gender of speaker)

De nada – Your welcome

Licensa – Pardon me

Desculpa – Excuse me

Como se chama? – What is your name?

Chamo-me _________  - My name is _________

Coming down the mountains to Dombe

Onde está a casa de banho? – Where is the bathroom?

Estou a pedir _______ - I would like _______

Tem agua/refrescos gelados? – Do you can cold water/sodas?

Tem coke light? – Do you have diet Coke?

Quanto? – How much? (you can simply point to something and ask)

Onde está o parragem? – Where is the bus stop?

Tenho fome/sede – I’m hungry/thirsty

Estou com sono – I’m sleepy

Pode ajudar me? – Can you help me?

Estou a vir – I’m on my way (this could mean ‘I am right around the corner’ or ‘I’ll be there in two hours’ and should be taken with a grain of salt)

The river in Dombe

Quero uma Manica grande – I want a big Manica (type of beer)

Quero um meio frango com salada e batatas – I want half a chicken with salad and french fries

Tem piri-piri? – Do you have hot sauce?

Estes vegetais são limpos? Não quero cólera – Are these vegetables clean? I don’t want cholera

Onde posso encontrar chocolate? – Where can I find chocolate?

Há espacio para meu cabrito em baixo da cadera? – Is there room for my goat under the seat?

Por que há uma galinha aqui? – Why is there a chicken here?

Esta galinha é de quem? – Who’s chicken is this?

Não sou muzungu. Chamo-me _________ - I’m not “muzungu” (a dialect term for white person or foreigner). My name is ________

A que hora é o jogo de futbol? – What time is the soccer game?



a bushbuck in Gorongosa National Park

Deixa-me! – Leave me alone!

Barulho! – Quiet down!

Sai! – Leave!

Liga-me! – Call me!

the floodplain in GNP

Obrigado, mas tenho um(a) namorado(a). Não quero um outro. – Thanks but I have a boy/girlfriend. I don’t want another.

Mas precisa um namorado Moçambicano – But you need a Moçambiquen boyfriend

Um é bom para mim – One is good for me

Voce é casado? – Are you married?

Sim, tenho um marido e dois filhos em casa – Yes, I have a husband and two kids at home

Warthog!

And now you are ready to tackle traveling in Moz. Let me know when you've bought your tickets!


P.S. I got a puppy this weekend in case you need more motivation to visit. She's ridiculously adorable.

The puppies! Panda is the lighter one in the middle
with her head on mom's side