Portuguese vocabulary: intermediate (B1)
The 168 words and phrases taught in the intermediate chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Stories and memories
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- contarto tell (a story); to count · : You've never told me
- a históriastory; history
- na épocaat the time, back then
- acontecerto happen · : What happened?
- o blocoCarnival street group · a group that parades through the streets with music, and anyone can follow
- a multidãocrowd · plural:
- perder-seto get lost · : I got lost; : I lost them (in a crowd)
- procurarto look for · no word for “for”:
- começar a…to start doing something · + infinitive: : we started talking
- de repentesuddenly
- duranteduring, for (a period) · : for hours
- no dia seguintethe next day, the following day
- casar-seto get married · : we got married; in speech also :
- dar certoto work out, to go well · : it all worked out
2. Opinions and reasons
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- a notíciapiece of news · : the news
- a prefeituracity council, town hall · the or is the mayor
- fecharto close · : to close the centre to cars
- venderto sell
- o comércioshops, local businesses; trade
- pelo contrárioon the contrary, quite the opposite
- a cicloviacycle lane, bike path
- suficienteenough · agrees in number:
- ter razãoto be right · : you're right about that
- antes debefore · + infinitive: : before closing the centre
- demaistoo, too much · after the word: (too cold), (too expensive)
- o trânsitotraffic
- concordarto agree · : to agree with someone
- discordarto disagree · : I disagree with you
3. News and current events
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- o jornalnewspaper; the news (on TV)
- Até que enfim!At last! Finally!
- reformarto renovate, to refurbish · not “to reform”: : to redo the kitchen; the noun is
- o mercadomarket · in Brazil also a small supermarket
- antigo / antigaold (buildings, things); former
- a obrabuilding work, construction; work (of art) · : to be under construction
- durarto last · : it will last a year
- segundoaccording to · : according to the paper; also “second”
- a empresacompany, firm
- construirto build · participle
- conservarto preserve, to keep
- o vizinho / a vizinhaneighbour
- o prédiobuilding; block of flats
- o lugarplace · : in its place, instead; : to move (somewhere else)
4. Feelings and relationships
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- Que cara é essa?Why the long face? What's wrong? · literally “What face is that?”
- mudar-seto move (house, city) · : she's moving to Lisbon
- receberto receive, to get · : she got an offer
- a propostaoffer, proposal · : a job offer
- ficar felizto be happy (about something) · : I'm happy for her
- sentir saudade deto miss (someone, something) · : I'll miss her
- chatear-seto get upset, to get annoyed · also /
- entenderto understand
- a amizadefriendship
- preocupar-seto worry · : don't worry
- a chamada de vídeovideo call
- as fériasholidays, vacation · always plural: : in the holidays
- acabarto end, to finish · : the friendship doesn't end like that
- com certezadefinitely, of course
5. Hopes and wishes
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- aposentar-seto retire · : he retires next month; : retired
- a aposentadoriaretirement; pension
- aprenderto learn · + infinitive:
- pintarto paint
- viajar pelo Brasilto travel around Brazil
- o sonhodream
- tomara queI hope, let's hope · always + subjunctive:
- passar tempo comto spend time with
- o neto / a netagrandson / granddaughter · : grandchildren
- aliásby the way; in fact
- buscarto pick up, to fetch (someone) · : to pick someone up from school
- trazerto bring · present ; subjunctive ; conditional
- eu, no seu lugarif I were you · literally “I, in your place”
- aproveitarto enjoy, to make the most of · : to enjoy life
6. Solving problems
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- Em que posso ajudar?How can I help? · said by shop staff
- o liquidificadorblender
- ligarto switch on; to call · : to switch off
- baterto blend, to whisk; to hit · : the blender doesn't blend anything
- quebrarto break · : it broke, it's broken
- a nota fiscalreceipt, invoice
- a garantiaguarantee, warranty · : a one-year guarantee
- a assistência técnicarepair service, service centre · where the maker repairs its products
- consertarto repair, to fix
- de graçafree of charge · also
- demorarto take (time); to take long · : how long does it take?
- o consertorepair
- o reembolsorefund
- enquanto issoin the meantime
7. Culture and traditions
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- a bandeirinhalittle paper flag · strings of them decorate the streets in June
- o São Joãothe June festival (Saint John's Day) · 24 June; : the June festivals
- comemorarto celebrate
- o arraialplace where a June festival is held
- o milhocorn, maize
- a pamonhasweet or savoury corn paste cooked in the husk
- a canjicasweet corn dessert · in the Northeast a creamy corn pudding; in the Southeast a sweet of white corn with milk
- a fogueirabonfire
- a quadrilhathe June festival square dance
- o interiorthe countryside, small towns inland · : in the countryside
- a roupa xadrezchecked clothes · also means “chess”
- o chapéu de palhastraw hat
- ensinarto teach · + infinitive:
- o quentãohot drink of cachaça, ginger and spices · typical of June festivals in the South and Southeast
8. Work and careers
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- o currículoCV, résumé
- coordenarto coordinate, to manage · / : coordinator
- a feiratrade fair; street market · : trade fairs and conferences
- a vagavacancy, position; parking space
- liderarto lead
- a equipeteam · Portugal:
- o cargopost, position (job title)
- o prazodeadline; period of time · : tight deadlines
- o fornecedorsupplier
- atrasarto be late; to delay · : suppliers are late; : late
- resolverto solve, to sort out, to deal with
- a dúvidaquestion; doubt · : Do you have any questions?; a question you ask is also
- os benefícios(job) benefits · e.g. (health insurance), (meal vouchers)
- entrar em contatoto get in touch · : we'll be in touch
9. Health and lifestyle
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- o resultadoresult
- o exame(medical) test; exam
- a pressãoblood pressure; pressure · : high blood pressure
- a friturafried food
- por causa debecause of · : because of work
- dormir malto sleep badly · : I've been sleeping badly
- o salsalt
- de vez em quandonow and then, from time to time
- o açúcarsugar · : quite a lot of sugar
- fazer exercícioto exercise, to do exercise
- a escadastairs; ladder · : to take the stairs; : the lift
- o escritóriooffice
- tentarto try · : I'll try
- o hábitohabit
10. Money and everyday services
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- abrir uma contato open an account
- acabar de…to have just done something · + infinitive: : I've just arrived
- o CPFBrazilian tax number · needed for almost everything: a bank account, a phone, a receipt
- o comprovante de residênciaproof of address · usually a recent bill: (electricity bill)
- Seria possível…?Would it be possible…? · a possible answer: : The contract will do.
- a tarifafee, charge; fare
- o cartão de crédito / de débitocredit / debit card
- a senhapassword, PIN
- o boletopayment slip (a bill with a barcode) · paid at a bank, a lottery shop or in an app
- a transferência(bank) transfer
- o PixBrazil's instant payment system · : to send money by Pix
- preencherto fill in (a form)
- o formulárioform
- assinarto sign · : signature; also subscription
11. Travel stories
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- mau / mábad · : bad weather
- a ilhaisland
- o vooflight · no accent since the 2009 spelling reform; : to cancel a flight
- Nossa!Wow! Goodness! · short for (Our Lady); very common for surprise
- a companhia aéreaairline
- o azarbad luck · : what bad luck!
- ao chegaron arriving, when (I) arrived · + infinitive
- descobrirto find out, to discover · : I found out that…
- a malasuitcase
- extraviarto lose, to mislay (luggage, post) · : my suitcase was lost
- a sorteluck · : to be lucky
- mergulharto dive, to go diving
- a paisagemscenery, landscape
- Que inveja!I'm so jealous! · friendly, not negative
12. Review: telling your story
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- o ouvinte / a ouvintelistener
- o convidado / a convidadaguest · from : to invite
- o livro de receitasrecipe book, cookbook · : recipe; also a doctor's prescription
- nascerto be born · : I was born in Minas
- a fazendafarm · : in the countryside of Minas Gerais
- vir pararto end up (somewhere) · : how did you end up here?
- o empregojob
- a usinasugar mill; power plant
- ninguémnobody, anybody (after não) · : I didn't know anybody
- o cheirosmell · : to smell
- a pensãosmall home-style restaurant; guesthouse; pension
- desde entãosince then, ever since
- criar os filhosto bring up the children
- cuidar deto look after, to take care of · : to look after the children
Other levels: Beginner (A1) · Elementary (A2) · Upper intermediate (B2)