Getting around
Metrô
Próxima estação.
Next station.
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.
São Paulo
Brazil
São Paulo spreads inland in long avenues, concrete towers, and kitchens from many migrations.
How the language is used
Portuguese runs the offices, the metro, and the markets. Paulistano speech is Brazilian, and quicker than Rio’s.
In this city
- Language
- Portuguese
- Also heard
- Japanese, Italian and Arabic
- A local word
- Pão na chapa — Bread toasted with butter.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
Padaria
Um pão na chapa.
Bread toasted with butter.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The counter
Mercado
Me vê um suco.
A juice for me.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
Escritório
Bom dia.
Good morning.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Paulistano speech is Brazilian and quicker than Rio's. Offices, the metro, and the market run on Portuguese.
In Paulista, Liberdade, Vila Madalena, you also hear Japanese, Italian and Arabic.
A first day in São Paulo can run on four lines: “Próxima estação.”, “Um pão na chapa.”, “Me vê um suco.”, and “Bom dia.”. 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 São Paulo, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Pão na chapa. It means Bread toasted with butter..
Places you can see
- Paulista Avenue — A long avenue of museums, offices, and cultural centres.
- Ibirapuera — A large park of lawns and museums set among modernist buildings.
- Municipal Market — A covered hall known for fruit stalls and mortadella sandwiches.
Food
The market mortadella sandwich, pizza from Italian neighbourhoods, and juice bars.
Getting around
A large metro and a dense bus web cross very long avenues. Station names are Portuguese.
Daily life
You use Portuguese at counters and offices. Many kitchens come from Italian, Japanese, and Arab migration.
A few everyday phrases
Portuguese
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Olá | Hello |
| Obrigado | Thank you |
| Bom dia | Good morning |
| Chamo-me… | My name is… |
