Essential Commands - Do It Now!
Master the imperative mood through action
Commands are the easiest Portuguese to learn - just one word and you're communicating. No conjugation stress, no tense confusion. Say "Pare!" and people stop. Say "Vem!" and they come. Power in simplicity.
Basic Commands (15)
Vem!
Come!
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Pronunciation: vayn
Most useful command
Vai!
Go!
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Pronunciation: vigh
Direction + action
Para!
Stop!
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Pronunciation: PAH-rah
Universal safety word
Espera!
Wait!
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Pronunciation: esh-PEH-rah
Slow things down
Olha!
Look!
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Pronunciation: OH-lyah
Get attention
Escuta!
Listen!
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Pronunciation: esh-KOO-tah
Pay attention
Senta!
Sit!
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Pronunciation: SEN-tah
Physical command
Levanta!
Stand up!
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Pronunciation: leh-VAN-tah
Get up
Pega!
Grab/Take!
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Pronunciation: PEH-gah
Physical action
Solta!
Let go!
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Pronunciation: SOHL-tah
Release
Empurra!
Push!
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Pronunciation: em-POO-hah
Apply force
Puxa!
Pull!
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Pronunciation: POO-shah
Draw toward
Abre!
Open!
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Pronunciation: AH-bree
Doors, windows, apps
Fecha!
Close!
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Pronunciation: FEH-shah
Shut it
Corre!
Run!
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Pronunciation: KOH-hee
Speed up
Making Commands Polite
Casual: Vem! (Come!)
Polite: Vem aqui, por favor (Come here, please)
Super polite: Você pode vir? (Can you come?)
On the street, casual works. In offices, add "por favor."
Body Parts & Movement
Your body is your first Portuguese teacher
Touch your head and say "cabeça." Raise your arm and say "braço." Physical connection creates mental retention. Your body remembers what your brain forgets.
Essential Body Parts (12)
Cabeça
Head
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Pronunciation: kah-BEH-sah
Mexe a cabeça
Mão
Hand
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Pronunciation: mãw (nasal)
Levanta a mão
Braço
Arm
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Pronunciation: BRAH-soo
Dobra o braço
Perna
Leg
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Pronunciation: PEHR-nah
Estica a perna
Pé
Foot
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Pronunciation: peh
No pé
Joelho
Knee
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Pronunciation: zhoo-EH-lyo
Dobra o joelho
Ombro
Shoulder
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Pronunciation: OHM-broo
Gira o ombro
Costas
Back
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Pronunciation: KOHS-tahsh
Nas costas
Barriga
Belly
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Pronunciation: bah-HEE-gah
Contrai a barriga
Peito
Chest
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Pronunciation: PAY-too
No peito
Pescoço
Neck
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Pronunciation: pesh-KOH-soo
Gira o pescoço
Cotovelo
Elbow
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Pronunciation: koh-toh-VEH-loo
Dobra o cotovelo
Movement Memory:
When learning body parts, actually move them! Say "levanta o braço" and raise your arm. Physical action creates stronger neural pathways than just memorization.
Directions & Position
Navigate space in Portuguese
Directions are survival Portuguese. "Onde fica?" gets you anywhere. "À direita, à esquerda, reto" - three words that prevent getting lost. Master these and Rio opens up.
Essential Directions (15)
Direita
Right
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Pronunciation: jee-RAY-tah
Vira à direita
Esquerda
Left
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Pronunciation: esh-KEHR-dah
Vira à esquerda
Frente
Front/Forward
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Pronunciation: FREN-che
Em frente
Atrás
Behind/Back
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Pronunciation: ah-TRAHSH
Lá atrás
Cima
Up/Above
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Pronunciation: SEE-mah
Em cima, pra cima
Baixo
Down/Below
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Pronunciation: BAI-sho
Embaixo, pra baixo
Dentro
Inside
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Pronunciation: DEN-troo
Lá dentro
Fora
Outside
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Pronunciation: FOH-rah
Lá fora
Perto
Near/Close
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Pronunciation: PEHR-too
Bem perto
Longe
Far
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Pronunciation: LOHN-zhee
Muito longe
Aqui
Here
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Pronunciation: ah-KEE
Vem aqui
Ali
There
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Pronunciation: ah-LEE
Ali perto
Lá
Over there
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Pronunciation: lah
Lá longe
Reto
Straight
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Pronunciation: HEH-to
Sempre reto
Volta
Turn/Return
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Pronunciation: VOHL-tah
Volta aqui
Action Verbs - Movement is Language
Verbs that get things done
Every action has a word. Start with what you do every day: walk, eat, sleep, work. These verbs are your foundation. Act them out while saying them - movement creates memory.
Essential Action Verbs (15)
Andar
To walk
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Pronunciation: ahn-DAR
Vamos andar
Correr
To run
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Pronunciation: koh-HEHR
Preciso correr
Pular
To jump
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Pronunciation: poo-LAR
Pula alto
Sentar
To sit
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Pronunciation: sen-TAR
Vou sentar
Levantar
To stand/lift
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Pronunciation: leh-vahn-TAR
Levanta cedo
Deitar
To lie down
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Pronunciation: day-TAR
Vou deitar
Virar
To turn
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Pronunciation: vee-RAR
Vira aqui
Parar
To stop
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Pronunciation: pah-RAR
Não para
Começar
To start
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Pronunciation: koh-meh-SAR
Vamos começar
Mexer
To move
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Pronunciation: meh-SHEHR
Não mexe
Girar
To spin/rotate
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Pronunciation: zhee-RAR
Gira o corpo
Dobrar
To bend/fold
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Pronunciation: doh-BRAR
Dobra o joelho
Esticar
To stretch
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Pronunciation: esh-chee-KAR
Estica o braço
Balançar
To swing/shake
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Pronunciation: bah-lahn-SAR
Balança a cabeça
Respirar
To breathe
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Pronunciation: hes-pee-RAR
Respira fundo
Daily Activities - Everyday Portuguese
Commands you'll use every single day
These are your daily survival phrases. Wake up saying "acorda," eat saying "come," sleep saying "dorme." When Portuguese becomes part of your routine, it becomes automatic.
Daily Routine Commands (12)
Acorda!
Wake up!
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Pronunciation: ah-KOR-dah
Morning essential
Dorme!
Sleep!
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Pronunciation: DOR-mee
Bedtime command
Come!
Eat!
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Pronunciation: KOH-mee
Mealtime essential
Bebe!
Drink!
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Pronunciation: BEH-bee
Stay hydrated
Toma!
Take!/Have!
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Pronunciation: TOH-mah
Offering things
Usa!
Use!
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Pronunciation: OO-zah
Practical command
Liga!
Turn on/Call!
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Pronunciation: LEE-gah
Electronics/phone
Desliga!
Turn off/Hang up!
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Pronunciation: dez-LEE-gah
End things
Entra!
Enter/Come in!
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Pronunciation: EN-trah
Welcome command
Sai!
Leave/Get out!
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Pronunciation: sigh
Exit command
Trabalha!
Work!
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Pronunciation: trah-BAH-lyah
Get busy
Descansa!
Rest!
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Pronunciation: dess-KAHN-sah
Take a break
Command Variations
Everyday você (spoken): Fala! Vem! Come!
Formal (written/signage): Fale! Venha! Coma!
Plural vocês: Falem! Venham! Comam!
Start with everyday você commands - they're friendlier and what you'll hear on the street!
Practice Phrases - Put It Together
Complete commands for real situations
Now combine everything. Direction + action = communication. "Vira à esquerda e para" - turn left and stop. Simple combinations that work everywhere.
Practical Combinations
Vem aqui, por favor
Come here, please
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Polite request
Universal phrase
Vai reto e vira à direita
Go straight and turn right
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Giving directions
Navigation essential
Para aí!
Stop right there!
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Urgent command
Safety phrase
Levanta a mão
Raise your hand
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Classroom/meeting
Getting attention
Senta aqui do lado
Sit here beside me
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Invitation
Friendly gesture
Espera um pouco
Wait a bit
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Patience request
Very common
Lucas's Final Tip:
Practice commands with your hands. Point right when saying "direita," gesture forward with "vai," hold up your palm for "pare." Your body teaches your brain Portuguese faster than any textbook.
Ready to Get Your Body Speaking Portuguese?
"Pronto! You've learned the commands that make Portuguese physical. Now use them - point, gesture, move while speaking. When your body knows Portuguese, your mind follows naturally. Movement is the shortcut to fluency. Vamos lá, get moving!" - Lucas