If your child will soon be attending school in Portugal, making friends can feel challenging—especially when they don’t speak the language yet. However, don’t worry! A few simple phrases can go a long way in helping your child connect with other kids.

Here are 5 fun phrases to make friends in Portuguese. These short phrases will help your child introduce themselves, talk about their likes and hobbies, and ask others about theirs. This will make it easier for your child to start conversations, make friends, and feel more confident in their new environment.

 1. Saying Hello

One great first step to making friends is learning to say hello. It’s simple:

“Olá!” (Hello!)

Saying “Olá” is a great icebreaker, and children who greet others with a smile are more likely to be seen as friendly.

 2. Asking and Saying Names

To ask someone’s name, your child can say:

“Como te chamas?” (What’s your name?)

When someone asks, your child can respond with either:

– “O meu nome é [your name].” (My name is [your name].)  

– “Chamo-me [your name].” (I’m called [your name].)

 3. Talking About Likes and Hobbies

One of the best ways to start a conversation is by talking about things you enjoy. Your child can ask others about their interests and share their own.

To ask someone if they like something:

“Gostas de futebol?” (Do you like football?)

To share something they enjoy:

“Eu gosto de [hobby].” (I like [hobby].)

For example:

– “Eu gosto de jogar futebol. Gostas de futebol?” (I like to play football. Do you like football?)

– “Eu gosto de desenhar. Também gostas?” (I like to draw. Do you like it too?)

Below are some hobbies your child can use to swap out the bold words and create new sentences:

– Cantar (to sing)

– Jogar jogos online (to play online games)

– Natação (swimming)

– Ciência (science)

Maybe they like music and have a favorite singer, like Taylor Swift!

If they want to express dislikes, simply add “não” before “gosto”:

– “Eu não gosto de futebol. Eu gosto de natação.” (I don’t like football. I like swimming.)

– “Eu não gosto de natação.” (I don’t like swimming.)

To ask others about their preferences:

“Gostas de jogar futebol?” (Do you like to play football?)

They can even talk about favorite foods (chocolate is always a popular choice!):

“Gostas de chocolate?” (Do you like chocolate?)

If they do like it, they can respond with:

– “Gosto.” (I like it.)  

– “Gosto muito!” (I like it a lot!)

 4. Where Are You From?

Children are often curious about where their new friends are from. This is an easy phrase to learn!

To ask someone where they are from:

“De onde és?” (Where are you from?)

To say where they are from:

“Eu sou de  [country].” (I am from [country].)

For example:

– “Eu sou da Inglaterra. De onde és?” (I am from England. Where are you from?)

Some examples of countries: )

– da Inglaterra (from England)

– da França (from France)

– da Irlanda (from Ireland)

– da Escócia (from Scotland)

– de Espanha (from Spain)

 5. How Old Are You?

Kids love talking about their age! To ask someone’s age:

“Quantos anos tens?” (How old are you?)

To answer, they can say:

“Tenho [your age] anos.” (I am [your age] years old.)

For example:

“Tenho 7 anos.” (I am seven years old.)

And there you have it—5 key phrases to help your child break the ice and make new friends at school in Portugal! These simple expressions will help your child navigate conversations about introductions, hobbies, likes, and more.

Another good lesson to start with is the vowel sounds! Take a look here

You can also check out the YouTube Channel

If you’d like to learn more about Portuguese Lessons for children, feel free to email: coursesportuguese@gmail.com (subject: Kid’s Lessons).