Introduction
Learning how to say what language you speak is one of the first practical skills in Brazilian Portuguese. This article teaches you how to use the verb falar to say which languages you speak, with clear grammar, useful vocabulary, realistic examples, common mistakes, and beginner tips for everyday conversations.
- What does falar mean and why it matters
- Present tense of falar for beginners
- Basic sentence patterns to say what language you speak
- Common language vocabulary (Brazilian Portuguese)
- Example phrases for real situations
- How to say you speak multiple languages
- Adding proficiency levels
- Polite forms and questions
- Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
- Practical tips for remembering falar phrases
- Mini grammar note: negative and question forms
- Quick practice exercises (beginner)
- Where to use these phrases in real life
- Conclusion
What does falar mean and why it matters
The verb falar means to speak or to talk in Brazilian Portuguese. It is the most common verb used to describe the languages someone can use. For a beginner, mastering falar helps with introductions, travel, meeting people, and filling out simple forms or profiles.
Basic conjugation is important because Portuguese verbs change with the subject. For now, focus on the present tense to say what you currently speak.
Present tense of falar for beginners
To make simple statements about languages, use the present indicative forms of falar. Learn these forms for the common subjects:
eu falo — I speak
você fala — you speak (singular, formal or informal in Brazil)
ele/ela fala — he/she speaks
nós falamos — we speak
vocês falam — you speak (plural)
eles/elas falam — they speak
Tip about você
In Brazilian Portuguese, você is very common for you singular. It uses the third-person verb form, so you say você fala, not você falas.
Basic sentence patterns to say what language you speak
Use these simple patterns to respond when someone asks what languages you speak.
Eu falo + language — I speak + language
Eu falo um pouco de + language — I speak a little of + language
Eu não falo + language — I do not speak + language
Você fala + language? — Do you speak + language?
Common language vocabulary (Brazilian Portuguese)
inglês — English
português — Portuguese
espanhol — Spanish
francês — French
alemão — German
italiano — Italian
chinês — Chinese
japonês — Japanese
árabe — Arabic
rua and local dialects are not languages — focus on the standard names above for beginner conversations
Example phrases for real situations
Use these realistic examples when meeting people, answering forms, or ordering language services.
At a meeting or party: Olá, eu falo inglês e um pouco de português.
On a travel form: Idiomas: Português, Inglês.
When asking someone: Você fala espanhol?
At a language exchange: Eu falo português, quero praticar inglês.
In a customer service interaction: Desculpe, eu não falo português muito bem.
On a work profile: Falo inglês e espanhol fluentemente; falo português intermediário.
Useful short responses
Sim, eu falo. — Yes, I speak (it).
Um pouco. — A little.
Não tenho fluência. — I am not fluent.
Estou estudando português. — I am studying Portuguese.
How to say you speak multiple languages
List languages with e between two items and com between a verb and a list when appropriate.
Eu falo inglês e espanhol. — I speak English and Spanish.
Eu falo português, inglês e um pouco de francês. — I speak Portuguese, English and a little French.
We often add adverbs to indicate level: fluentemente, bem, um pouco, não muito.
Eu falo inglês fluentemente. — I speak English fluently.
Adding proficiency levels
Beginners need simple adjectives and adverbs to describe how well they speak a language.
fluente — fluent
bem — well
um pouco — a little
intermediário/intermediária — intermediate
iniciante — beginner
Examples:
Eu falo inglês fluente.
Eu falo português bem.
Eu falo francês um pouco.
Sou iniciante em alemão. — I am a beginner in German.
Polite forms and questions
To ask politely which languages someone speaks, try:
Com quais idiomas você trabalha? — Which languages do you work with?
Que idiomas você fala? — What languages do you speak?
Você fala inglês? — Do you speak English?
Use por favor and desculpe to be polite: Por favor, você fala inglês? Desculpe, você fala português?
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Mixing verb forms: Do not say eu fala or você falam. Match subject and verb correctly: eu falo, você fala, nós falamos.
Wrong preposition: When saying you speak a language, say eu falo português, not eu falo em português. The form com + language can appear in other contexts but avoid it for simple statements.
Using falar for know: In English you might say I know Spanish, but in Portuguese use falar for speaking. To say you know a language conceptually, use saber: Eu sei espanhol is possible but less natural for conversational ability.
Overusing formal subject pronouns: Brazilians often omit subject pronouns when context is clear. Eu falo inglês is fine, but falo inglês is also natural in casual speech.
Short practice dialogues
Dialogue for meeting someone
A: Oi, tudo bem? Você fala inglês?
B: Oi! Sim, eu falo inglês. E você?
A: Eu falo português e um pouco de inglês.
Dialogue at a hotel
Recepção: Boa tarde. Você fala inglês?
Hóspede: Sim, falo. Preciso de ajuda com a reserva.
Practical tips for remembering falar phrases
Memorize the present tense forms and practice with your own language list: eu falo + your languages.
Create flashcards with the language name in Portuguese and an example sentence on the back: Eu falo italiano.
When filling out profiles or apps, use simple phrases: Falo inglês; Falo português básico.
Listen to short dialogues and repeat aloud to get used to pronunciation, especially the r and ão sounds in Brazilian Portuguese words you might also encounter.
Mini grammar note: negative and question forms
To make a negative sentence, place não before the verb: Eu não falo japonês. — I do not speak Japanese.
To form a yes/no question, use rising intonation in speech or add a question mark in writing: Você fala português? — Do you speak Portuguese?
To form information questions, start with a question word: Que idiomas você fala? — What languages do you speak?
Common phrases you might see on signs or forms
Idiomas: _______ — Languages: _______ (a blank to list languages)
Fala inglês? — Do you speak English? (informal sign)
Atendimento em inglês — Service in English
Atendente bilíngue — Bilingual attendant
Quick practice exercises (beginner)
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of falar:
1. Eu _____ inglês.
2. Você _____ português?
3. Nós _____ francês e alemão.
Answers: falo, fala, falamos.
Translate into Portuguese:
1. I speak a little Spanish. — Eu falo um pouco de espanhol.
2. She speaks Portuguese well. — Ela fala português bem.
3. Do you speak Italian? — Você fala italiano?
Where to use these phrases in real life
Use them when meeting classmates, introducing yourself in language apps, telling a taxi driver what languages you use, filling out language sections on job forms, or asking for help in shops and hotels.
Simple, clear statements using falar are the fastest way to communicate your language abilities while traveling or starting Brazilian Portuguese lessons.
Conclusion
Mastering how to use falar to say what language you speak gives beginners confidence in introductions, travel situations, and basic forms. Learn the present tense forms, memorize common language names in Brazilian Portuguese, practice short sentences, and avoid common mistakes like wrong verb agreement or unnecessary prepositions. With simple practice, you will be able to say which languages you speak naturally and politely.
