At the Mercado

Portugal's traditional markets are one of the best places to practice real European Portuguese. The interactions are short, the context is clear, and the vocabulary repeats. But knowing what to say when you're actually standing at a stall is a different thing from knowing the language in the abstract. This post walks you through the words and phrases you'll genuinely need: how to greet a vendor, ask for what you want, handle quantities and prices, and navigate those moments when the numbers come a little too fast. Practical, grounded, and ready to use before your next visit to a mercado.