💡 Bags in supermarkets are charged for, so many people bring their own.
💡 Loyalty cards from the big chains are free and often give discounts; you can sign up at the till or in the app.
💡 A NIF on the receipt isn't compulsory: you can answer "no" without explanation.
💡 Cards are accepted almost everywhere; Multibanco is the name for both the cash machine and card payment.
💡 If the card doesn't work contactless, they often ask you to insert it and enter your PIN.
💡 Sections are often labelled: talho - butcher's counter, peixaria - fish, padaria - bread, laticínios - dairy.
💡 Directions: à direita - right, à esquerda - left, em frente - straight ahead, ao fundo - at the end.
💡 Many supermarkets have a price scanner in the shop; or just ask a member of staff.
💡 If the price at the till is higher than on the shelf, you can politely say so: they often check and correct it.
💡 Cashiers often ask for small change (moedas); if you don't have any, it's enough to say "no, sorry".
💡 At the deli counter you often have to take a ticket (senha) and wait until your number is called.
💡 É tudo - "that's all": a short answer that works in any shop.
💡 Pregnant women, people with babies and people with disabilities are served without queuing: tills have an atendimento prioritário sign.
💡 It's better to ask for the number on the receipt before paying: afterwards the cashier may not be able to add it.
💡 At a self-checkout, alcohol or an unusual item often has to be confirmed by a staff member: that's normal, just call them over.
💡 At the market the seller often picks and weighs it themselves, so it's better to ask than to help yourself.
💡 Eggs at the market are sold by the dozen: uma dúzia - 12, meia dúzia - 6.
💡 Nacional on price tags means the product is Portuguese; da época - seasonal.
💡 To gut fish in Portuguese is amanhar o peixe; at fish counters this is usually done on the spot.
💡 At the market people often speak affectionately, with diminutives: coisinha, bocadinho, and may call a customer querida or querido.
💡 Tasting at the market is normal; it's polite to say thank you, even if you don't buy.
💡 Prices are often said without the word "euros": três e cinquenta is €3.50.
💡 At the market a big note may not be accepted for lack of change, so it's better to have smaller ones.
💡 The fitting room is the provador; clothing size is tamanho, and shoe size is número.
💡 To avoid being bothered, it's enough to say Só estou a ver - "I'm just looking".
💡 Return conditions depend on the shop: you usually need the receipt (talão) and there is a time limit.
💡 An exchange is a troca: trocar por um tamanho maior - exchange for a bigger size.
💡 Keep the receipt for at least a few weeks: without it a return or exchange may not be accepted.
💡 A seasonal sale is saldos, an offer is promoção, a discount is desconto.
💡 If it's a gift, they'll often wrap it for free and give a gift receipt without the price (talão de oferta).