Numbers 1-20 - Count Like a Carioca
Your foundation for every beach transaction
Start with 1 to 20 and you can already order drinks, count money, and look like you belong here. Say it slow: oom, doysh, trehsh. The nasal sounds will feel weird - that's normal. Just keep practicing.
Numbers 1-20
Um / Uma
One (m/f)
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Pronunciation: oom / oo-mah
Uma água, um açaí
Dois / Duas
Two (m/f)
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Pronunciation: doysh / doo-ahsh
Duas águas, dois açaís
Três
Three
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Pronunciation: trehsh
Três reais
Quatro
Four
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Pronunciation: KWAH-troo
Quatro cervejas
Cinco
Five
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Pronunciation: SEEN-koo
Cinco reais
Seis
Six
↻
Pronunciation: saysh
Seis açaís
Sete
Seven
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Pronunciation: SEH-chee
Sete reais
Oito
Eight
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Pronunciation: OY-too
Oito reais (coconut price!)
Nove
Nine
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Pronunciation: NOH-vee
Nove e cinquenta
Dez
Ten
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Pronunciation: dez (nasal ending)
Dez reais
Onze
Eleven
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Pronunciation: OHN-zee
Onze reais
Doze
Twelve
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Pronunciation: DOH-zee
Doze cervejas
Quinze
Fifteen
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Pronunciation: KEEN-zee
Quinze reais (açaí price!)
Dezesseis
Sixteen
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Pronunciation: deh-zeh-SAYSH
Dezesseis reais
Dezoito
Eighteen
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Pronunciation: deh-ZOY-too
Dezoito reais
Vinte
Twenty
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Pronunciation: VEEN-chee
Vinte reais
Gender with 1 & 2
Numbers 1 and 2 change based on what you're counting:
• Um açaí (masculine) vs Uma água (feminine)
• Dois açaís (masculine) vs Duas águas (feminine)
Every other number stays the same. Just master these two and you're golden.
Nasal Sound Tip:
Words ending in -m or nasal vowels (ã, õ) like "um," "dez," "quinze" require your nose to vibrate slightly. Think of it like you have a slight cold. Sounds weird at first, but that's authentic Brazilian Portuguese!
Money & Prices - Reais Reality
How to talk about money like a Carioca
On Copacabana, we say "Quanto tá?" not "Quanto custa?" Shorter, faster, more natural. You'll hear locals say "dois real" instead of "dois reais" - that's colloquial, but I'll teach you the correct form. And always "confere o troco" - check your change.
Essential Money Vocabulary
Real / Reais
Brazilian currency
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Pronunciation: heh-AHL / heh-AYSH
R$1 = um real, R$2+ = reais
Centavos
Cents
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Pronunciation: sen-TAH-voosh
50 centavos = R$0.50
Quanto tá?
How much is it?
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Pronunciation: KWAN-too tah
Most common on beach
CASUAL
Quanto custa?
How much does it cost?
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Pronunciation: KWAN-too KOOSH-tah
More formal
STANDARD
Nota
Bill (paper money)
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Pronunciation: NOH-tah
Uma nota de vinte
Moeda
Coin
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Pronunciation: moh-EH-dah
Moedas de um real
Troco
Change (money back)
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Pronunciation: TROH-koo
Tem troco?
Tem troco pra cinquenta?
Have change for fifty?
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Pronunciation: tayn TROH-koo prah seen-KWEN-tah
Essential phrase
Cartão?
Card?
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Pronunciation: kar-TOW
Vendor will ask
Débito ou crédito?
Debit or credit?
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Pronunciation: DEH-bee-too oo KREH-jee-too
After you say card
Só cartão, por favor
Card only, please
↻
Pronunciation: soh kar-TOW poor fah-VOR
Most tourists use this
Confere o troco
Check the change
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Pronunciation: kohn-FEH-ree oo TROH-koo
Always do this!
Real vs Reais
Standard: R$1 = um real, R$2+ = dois reais, três reais
Street: "Dois real" (locals drop the plural)
Both work in real life, but I teach you the correct form.
About PIX (FYI):
You'll see vendors ask "Aceita PIX?" - that's Brazil's instant payment system. Most tourists can't use it (requires Brazilian bank account + CPF tax ID). Just say "Só cartão, por favor" (card only) or pay cash. Vendors are used to this - no problem!
Beach Products & Ordering
Rio-specific vocabulary you'll use daily
Say "Me vê um mate" like a local. Want extra polite? "Queria uma água de coco." Both work - know when to use each. Casual wins on the beach, but polite never hurts.
Essential Beach Items (12)
Água de coco
Coconut water
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Pronunciation: AH-gwah jee KOH-koo
R$8-10 on beach
Açaí
Açaí bowl
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Pronunciation: ah-sah-EE
R$15-20 typical
Mate gelado
Iced mate tea
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Pronunciation: MAH-chee zheh-LAH-doo
From the galão
Biscoito Globo
Globo cookie
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Pronunciation: bees-KOY-too GLOH-boo
Iconic Rio snack
Queijo coalho
Grilled cheese stick
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Pronunciation: KAY-zhoo koh-AH-lyoo
Salty beach favorite
Água com/sem gás
Sparkling/still water
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Pronunciation: AH-gwah kohm/sayn GAHS
Always specify!
Latinha
Small can (beer/soda)
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Pronunciation: lah-CHEEN-yah
Cerveja em latinha
Picolé
Popsicle
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Pronunciation: pee-koh-LEH
Fruit flavors
Guarda-sol
Beach umbrella
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Pronunciation: GWAR-dah-sohl
Rent for the day
Cadeira
Beach chair
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Pronunciation: kah-DAY-rah
Quanto tá a cadeira?
Protetor solar
Sunscreen
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Pronunciation: proh-teh-TOR soh-LAR
Don't forget it!
Canga
Beach wrap/sarong
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Pronunciation: KAHN-gah
Essential beach gear
Ordering Phrases
Me vê um...
Give me a...
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Pronunciation: mee VEH oom
Me vê um mate gelado
CASUAL
Queria um...
I'd like a...
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Pronunciation: keh-REE-ah oom
Queria uma água de coco
POLITE
Queria esse aqui
I'd like this one
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Pronunciation: keh-REE-ah EH-see ah-KEE
Point at what you want
Sem gelo
Without ice
↻
Pronunciation: sayn ZHEH-loo
Common preference
Marcos's Ordering Strategy:
"Me vê" is what locals say - direct, fast, friendly. "Queria" is softer, works everywhere. Nervous? Point and say "Queria esse aqui." Nobody judges!
Numbers 30-100 & Change
Bigger numbers and handling troco
No one carries a hundred reais to the beach. Learn "Tem troco pra cinquenta?" and you'll survive any transaction. Pattern: trinta (30), quarenta (40)... then add "e" plus the number. Trinta e cinco.
Numbers 30-100
Trinta
Thirty
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Pronunciation: TREEN-tah
Trinta e cinco (35)
Quarenta
Forty
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Pronunciation: kwah-REN-tah
Quarenta e oito (48)
Cinquenta
Fifty
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Pronunciation: seen-KWEN-tah
The tricky one!
Sessenta
Sixty
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Pronunciation: seh-SEN-tah
Sessenta reais
Setenta
Seventy
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Pronunciation: seh-TEN-tah
Setenta e dois (72)
Oitenta
Eighty
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Pronunciation: oy-TEN-tah
Oitenta reais
Noventa
Ninety
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Pronunciation: noh-VEN-tah
Noventa e nove (99)
Cem
One hundred
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Pronunciation: sayn (nasal)
Exactly R$100
Cento e...
One hundred and...
↻
Pronunciation: SEN-too ee
Cento e vinte (120)
Building Numbers 21-99
Pattern: [tens] e [ones]
• Vinte e um (21) • Trinta e cinco (35) • Setenta e dois (72)
100 vs 101+: Exactly 100 = cem, but 101+ = cento e...
Real Beach Dialogue:
You: "Quanto tá a cadeira?" Vendor: "Vinte." You: "Tem troco pra cinquenta?" Vendor: "Tem." Hands you 30 reais back. You: Confere o troco.
Polite Beach Phrases
Manners matter, even on the beach
Beach Portuguese is casual, but "por favor" and "obrigado" still matter. If someone's talking too fast? "Pode falar mais devagar?" works every time. We're friendly people - just ask.
Essential Polite Expressions
Por favor
Please
↻
Pronunciation: poor fah-VOR
Never hurts
Obrigado/Obrigada
Thank you (m/f)
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Pronunciation: oh-bree-GAH-doo/dah
Match YOUR gender
Valeu!
Thanks! (casual)
↻
Pronunciation: vah-LEH-oo
Very Carioca
CASUAL
Com licença
Excuse me
↻
Pronunciation: kohm lee-SEN-sah
Getting attention
Pode falar mais devagar?
Can you speak slower?
↻
Pronunciation: POH-jee fah-LAR mighsh deh-vah-GAR
Don't be shy!
Fala de novo?
Say again?
↻
Pronunciation: FAH-lah jee NOH-voo
Quick, casual
CASUAL
Obrigado vs Obrigada:
This matches YOUR gender as the speaker, not who you're talking to. Men say "obrigado," women say "obrigada."
Ready to Count Reais with Marcos?
"Pronto! You've learned everything you need to buy, sell, and survive on Copacabana beach. Numbers, money, ordering phrases - it's all here. Now come practice with me. We'll count coconuts, negotiate prices, and get you speaking Portuguese the way we actually talk. Vamos lá!" - Marcos