Getting around
Elevador
Sobe.
Going up.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Salvador
Brazil
Salvador, in Bahia, splits into an upper colonial city and a lower port on the bay.
How the language is used
Portuguese is the city language, with a Bahian rhythm and words tied to Afro-Brazilian cooking.
In this city
- Language
- Portuguese
- Also heard
- Mostly Portuguese
- A local word
- Acarajé — One acarajé.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
Baiana
Um acarajé, por favor.
One acarajé.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The counter
Mercado
Bom dia.
Good morning.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
Rua
Axé.
A blessing, a greeting.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Portuguese here has a Bahian rhythm, and some food words keep Yoruba roots. The city language is still Portuguese.
Around Pelourinho, Rio Vermelho, Barra, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Salvador can run on four lines: “Sobe.”, “Um acarajé, por favor.”, “Bom dia.”, and “Axé.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- Você is the ordinary you. In casual talk, tu shows up as well.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Salvador, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Acarajé. It means One acarajé..
Places you can see
- Pelourinho — The cobbled colonial centre of coloured houses, churches, and drumming squares.
- Lacerda Elevator — A public elevator that links the upper city to the lower trade streets.
- Rio Vermelho — A seaside neighbourhood of bars and offerings for Iemanjá.
Food
Acarajé fried in dendê oil, moqueca, and coconut sweets from the baianas.
Getting around
The Lacerda elevator joins the two levels, and buses and boats serve the bay shore.
Daily life
You hear Bahian Portuguese in the market, and many dish names keep Yoruba roots.
A few everyday phrases
Portuguese
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Olá | Hello |
| Obrigado | Thank you |
| Bom dia | Good morning |
| Chamo-me… | My name is… |
