Portuguese · Reboque
The car broke down: call your insurance breakdown service: what to say in Portuguese
Your car has broken down on the road, and you call the breakdown cover from your insurance.
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How it's done. If you break down on a motorway, first put on a reflective vest and set up the warning triangle - they must be in the car.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Assistência em viagem, bom dia.Uh-seesh-TAYN-syuh ayn vee-AH-zhayn, bohn DEE-uh.
Breakdown assistance, good morning.
They might also say:
Assistência em viagem, em que posso ajudar?
Uh-seesh-TAYN-syuh ayn vee-AH-zhayn, ayn k POH-soo uh-zhoo-DAHR?
Roadside assistance, how can I help?
YOU REPLY
Bom dia. O meu carro avariou na estrada.
Bohn DEE-uh. Oo meh-oo KAH-roo uh-vuh-RYOH nuh SHRAH-duh.
Good morning. My car has broken down on the road.
THEY SAY
Está num local seguro?Shtah noon loo-KAHL sih-GOO-roo?
Are you in a safe place?
2
YOU REPLY
Sim, estou fora da estrada.
Seen, shtoh FOH-ruh duh SHRAH-duh.
Yes, I'm off the road.
THEY SAY
Tem o colete e o triângulo?Tayn oo koo-LET ee oo tree-AHN-goo-loo?
Do you have the vest and the triangle?
3
YOU REPLY
Sim, já pus o triângulo.
Seen, zhah poosh oo tree-AHN-goo-loo.
Yes, I've already put the triangle out.
THEY SAY
Muito bem.MWEE-too bayn.
Very good.
They might also say:
Perfeito.
pir-FAY-too.
Perfect.
4
YOU FINISH
Obrigado!
oh-bree-GAH-doo!
Thank you!
Or say:Muito obrigado!
MWEE-too oh-bree-GAH-doo!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Portuguese for life in Portugal”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Assistência
Uh-seesh-TAYN-syuh
noun
assistance, service
viagem
vee-AH-zhayn
noun
trip, journey
bom
bohn
adjective
good
dia
DEE-uh
noun
day
carro
KAH-roo
noun
car
avariou
uh-vuh-RYOH
verb
broke down
22 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Pode falar mais devagar, por favor?
Pod fuh-LAHR mighzh dvuh-GAHR, poor fuh-VOR?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Ainda estou a aprender português.
Uh-EEN-duh shtoh uh uh-prayn-DEHR poor-too-GESH.
I'm still learning Portuguese.
Similar situations
The operator asks where you are and what happenedReboque · A2 in the app
→The tow truck driver asks where to take the carReboque · A1 in the app
→A minor accident: fill in the joint accident statement (declaração amigável)Acidente · A2 in the app
→The other driver: swap insurance detailsAcidente · A2 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report