Meaning
Asks if someone is able to speak English.
Cultural Background
Brazilians are often very shy about their English. Even if they speak well, they might say 'Não falo nada' (I speak nothing) or 'Só um pouquinho' (Just a little bit). In Portugal, English proficiency is generally high among younger generations because movies are not dubbed. You can expect a direct 'Yes' or 'No'. In Luanda, English is becoming more common due to the oil industry, but Portuguese remains the dominant lingua franca. Asking in Portuguese first is highly respected. Due to its proximity to South Africa, many Mozambicans in the south speak excellent English. It is common to hear a mix of Portuguese and English in business.
The 'Um Pouco' Rule
If someone says they speak 'um pouco' (a little), they usually speak more than they admit. Keep the English simple but don't give up!
Don't forget the greeting
Starting with 'Você fala inglês?' without saying 'Olá' or 'Com licença' can be seen as rude.
Meaning
Asks if someone is able to speak English.
The 'Um Pouco' Rule
If someone says they speak 'um pouco' (a little), they usually speak more than they admit. Keep the English simple but don't give up!
Don't forget the greeting
Starting with 'Você fala inglês?' without saying 'Olá' or 'Com licença' can be seen as rude.
The Portugal 'Tu'
In Portugal, use 'Tu falas' with people your age to sound more natural and less like a textbook.
Subtitles vs Dubbing
Remember that Portuguese people generally have better listening skills in English because they watch original versions of movies.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'falar'.
Você ____ inglês?
The pronoun 'você' requires the third-person singular form 'fala'.
Which is the most polite way to ask an elderly person if they speak English?
Choose the best option:
'O senhor' is the respectful form used for men, especially elders.
Complete the dialogue.
Tourist: Com licença, você fala inglês? Local: ______, mas falo um pouco.
This is a common modest response in Brazil.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are at a business meeting in Lisbon.
In a formal business setting in Portugal, using 'A senhora' (if female) is appropriate.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Brazil vs Portugal
Practice Bank
4 exercisesVocê ____ inglês?
The pronoun 'você' requires the third-person singular form 'fala'.
Choose the best option:
'O senhor' is the respectful form used for men, especially elders.
Tourist: Com licença, você fala inglês? Local: ______, mas falo um pouco.
This is a common modest response in Brazil.
Situation: You are at a business meeting in Lisbon.
In a formal business setting in Portugal, using 'A senhora' (if female) is appropriate.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is neutral. However, adding 'Com licença' (Excuse me) at the beginning makes it much more polite.
Only for much older people or in very formal settings like a court or a formal ceremony. For most people, 'Você' is fine.
'Fala' is used with 'você' (standard in Brazil). 'Falas' is used with 'tu' (standard informal in Portugal).
People will understand, but it's considered quite blunt. It's better to use the full phrase.
Use the plural: 'Vocês falam inglês?'
'Cê' is a common contraction of 'você' used in informal Brazilian speech.
In Portuguese, names of languages are generally not capitalized unless they start a sentence.
You can try 'Você entende um pouco?' (Do you understand a little?) or use a translation app.
In big cities and tourist areas, yes. In small towns, it is very rare.
You can say 'Eu falo um pouco de português'.
Related Phrases
Eu não falo português
similarI don't speak Portuguese
Você entende inglês?
similarDo you understand English?
Como se diz isso em inglês?
builds onHow do you say this in English?
Pode falar mais devagar?
builds onCan you speak more slowly?
Onde tem um tradutor?
specialized formWhere is there a translator?
