Small talk at work in Portugal: coffee, lunch and Friday plans
The short conversations that make you part of the team, and the phrases to join them from your first week.
The coffee break
Vamos tomar um café?
Shall we get a coffee?
Um café e um pastel de nata, por favor.
An espresso and a custard tart, please.
Hoje pago eu.
It's on me today.
Lunch
Onde é que vocês costumam almoçar?
Where do you usually have lunch?
Qual é o prato do dia?
What's the dish of the day?
Small talk
Então, como correu o fim de semana?
So, how was your weekend?
Tens planos para sexta?
Any plans for Friday?
Está um calor! / Que frio que está hoje!
It's so hot! / So cold today!
Try thisLunch is often a proper sit-down meal, and many cafés and restaurants offer a prato do dia (dish of the day) or a lunch menu. Accepting an invitation to lunch or coffee, even with little Portuguese, is one of the best ways to practise.
Quick check
A colleague says “Hoje pago eu”. They mean…
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