I have to admit that when it comes to speaking Portuguese I am a dunce! No bones about it, I am rubbish. Even the few words I do know I mispronounce.

What I'd like to see as part of FAQ is a Spoken Portuguese section wherein duffers like me could at least learn to pronounce our limited vocabulary.

For example, for yonks now I have been pronouncing Silves as sills with a v in it when I now know it should be sil vesh (I hope!). I have been shipping in Intermarsh when everyone else was shopping in Intermarshay.

So, is there any one out there that'd like to post a few words or phrases for dimwits like to me to learn and impress folk with?

I'd like to know how to say and pronounce correctly:
Can I have the bill please?
Keep the change?
Two small beers and an orange juice please?

. . . and so on. Just a few pleasantries and polite statements.

Thanks in advance (fingers firmly crossed!)

No, MC, it isn't "Sil vesh". Try saying it without the "e" at all and you will be closer i.e. Silvs with a "sh" at the end. Messines is more like "mesinge" with a "sh" at the end, when you hear the locals say it. It is very difficult to learn pronunciation from reading, it is better to listen, listen, listen. Get a good CD/tape and listen to it in the car, in the bath, while cooking...wherever, but keep listening. I am just tuning in to Algarve Portuguese, which is different again from other regions. They never finish the endings of words, which doesn't help the foreign ear, when learning. There used to be a Portuguese radio station/programme in the UK. Don't know if there still is, but worth finding out.

Bdolyo Ehll I ma lal ontgeu-idte onw!

Ahem! Bloody hell I am all tongue-tied now!

Perhaps my idea isn't as good as I imagined I think I'll stick to Turkish and just ask the waiter, "Hesap, Lutfen" and then make his day with, "Ustu kalsin."

Whatever.

If you have children this can help - get a DVD you know well (i.e. have seen hundred's of times with the kids and can quote verbatim), set it to Portuguese and try and keep up.

Now if only someone can tell me how to slip the phrase 'My name is Buzz Lightyear. I come in peace' into everyday conversation I'll be sorted.

More seriously, this topic is a good idea MC - perhaps we could have a word/phrase of the day and a pronunciation of the day for a while? - maybe you could run it as a sub-section of FAQ to stop it becoming to messy. (Obviously with help from the experts like Bruxy)?

I like the 'phrase of the day' idea.

If you'd like to start it off I'll re-post it into a new section of FAQ.

It doesn't have to be one per day - I'll take all I can get!

What is Portuguese for 'Can you recommend an honest lawyer please?'

Graham wrote:Now if only someone can tell me how to slip the phrase 'My name is Buzz Lightyear. I come in peace' into everyday conversation I'll be sorted.

Graham wrote: (Obviously with help from the experts like Bruxy)?

Remember what Jeremy said...an expert is an "ex" i.e. a has been and a "spurt" i.e. a big drip. I think Gambo is your man on native pronunciation. I am but a mere novice.

By the way, I know some good Italian chat up lines, if anyone is iinterested.

Graham wrote:What is Portuguese for 'Can you recommend an honest lawyer please?'

So you only want to learn no then in Portuguese.