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Having been to Portugal a few times, I'm going again in September.
I've decided to do that 1970's trick of trying to learn a bit more than Obrigardo. I've got the CD and can be heard asking the dog for Spicey Chicken, or medium rare steak with two beers. In Portuguese of course. Hope the Neighbours cant hear!

Alan

Alan,

I can offer some assistance here...

When it gets to mid-afternoon and you are hot and becoming tired of free crap ruby port you should walk into the nearest bar, point at the big silver tap, make a drinking motion with a fictional glass, hold two fingers [palm first] towards the barman and say [loudly and slowly] 2 beers, please - if the barman looks at you bemused, just say it again louder and slower until he understands what you are saying

Unfortunately, foreign barmen often don't make the effort to understand their customers properly

Derek

PS: Once you get your beers make sure you say "Obrigado" - they like that

With a Scottish accent, living in England, you've had decades of being misunderstood, haven't you?

Unfortunately, you are absolutely correct - I have yet to find someone in the north of England who can actually speak English

Derek

Dont know what this wassock is on about.
I do know I'm fair klempt and parched wi'it!
Soon be havin a split and fish, wit scraps.
Once av finished tinternet.

Conky wrote:Dont know what this wassock is on about.
I do know I'm fair klempt and parched wi'it!
Soon be havin a split and fish, wit scraps.
Once av finished tinternet.

Traduction obrigado !!

Luc

Its 'tradução obligardo'

That passage was Northern English for...

Dont know what this fool is on about.
I do know I'm very hungry and thirsty as well.
I'll soon have Fish,chips and mushy peas, as well as a portion of small scraps of batter.
Thats once I've finished here, on the Internet.

Simple.

Alan

I should have known , merci pour l'explication . . .
( I'm probably tired of the Warre's Warrior )

As you know, I tried to go native in Oporto.

I learned all sorts of phrases, and we actually went to a few local restaurants off the beaten track, and with difficulty, I made myself understood. I was having a ball, and I was all chuffed with myself. Once your out of the Tourist area, English Speakers are rare, but the Potuguese are so gracious and patient when they see your trying to converse with them in their own tongue.

The only fly in the ointment, was when i tried to explain I didn't speak Portuguese. To say this phonetically, I constantly asked..

'Non Fado Portu-gaze'

But this was only having limited success. I often found I ended up talking about Mariza, and other famous local singers. Luckily, I liked her soulful music, but couldn't understand why she had suddenly popped up in conversation.
Much to Debs amusement it transpired I should have been saying..

'Non Fallo Portu-gaze'

So I had happily been engaging Taxi drivers, Waiters and Passers-by in conversations about Fado, which is Traditional Portuguese music.

Good Fun though.

Alan

I've been wrestling through Portuguese courses for about a year, and still most of the times when I try to order a couple of beers, I end up with coffee...

Funny story , Alan .
Did you get an insight into Portuguese humour ?

So, Alan, you can talk b+ll+cks in Portugues as well as English

Derek