Language Basics



Part of the My Guide Network Since 2006 180+ destinations

Portuguese is the official language of Cape Verde, however the local language is Crioulo. Crioulo is more of a verbal as opposed to written language even though there has been an attempt of standardisation, there still remains slight differences between the Islands.

In the tourist centres of Sal and to a less extent Boa Vista, English, French and Italian are widely understood and spoken, so you should have no problems in communicating.

Greetings

English
Portuguese
Crioulo
Good Morning Bom Dia Bondia
Good Afternoon Boa Tarde Botard
Good Evening Boa noite Bonoite
Hello Olá Manera tut dret
My name is… O meu nome é Nha nome ê
What is your name? Como te chamas/qual é o teu nome? Manera qbonome
Please Se faz favor D’favor
Thank You Obrigada/Obrigado Brigadu
Excuse me Desculpe Dsculpam
Yes sim sin
No nao não

Useful Phrases

Do you speak English Fala Inglês Bo Ta falá Inglês
How much is the Taxi? Quanto custa o taxi Tonté
Can you help me? Pode-me ajudar Bo Pode jdame
How do I get to…. Como chego a … Manera cum ta djgálá
Right Direita/o Dreita
left Esquerda/o Esquerda
Straight ahead Sempre em frente Sempe pa frent

Days of the week

Monday Segunda-feira Segunda-feira
Tuesday Terça-feira Terça-feira
Wednesday Quarta-feira Quarta-feira
Thursday Quinta-feira Quinta-feira
Friday Sexta-feira Sexta-feira
Saturday Sábado Sobd
Sunday Domingo Dming
Today Hoje OJ
This afternoon Esta tarde OJ Dtard
This Morning Esta manhã Manha
This evening Esta noite OJ Dnoit
Yesterday Ontem Ont
Tomorrow Amanhã Manha

Numbers

1 Um Un
2 Dois Dos
3 Três Tres
4 Quatro Quat
5 Cinco Cinq
6 Seis Seis
7 Sete Set
8 Oito Oit
9 Nove Nov
10 Dez Dez
20 Vinte Vint
30 Trinta Trinta
40 Quarenta Quarenta
50 Cinquenta Cinquenta
60 Sessenta Secenta
70 Setenta Stenta
80 Oitenta Oitenta
90 Noventa Noventa
100 Cem Cem
1000 Mil Mil

Supermarket/Eating Out

Menu Menu Menu
Beer Cerveja Cerveja
Red wine Vinho Tinto Vin tint
White wine Vinho Branco Vin bronq
Fish Peixe Pex
Water Água Agua
Meat Carne Carn
Pasta Massa Massa
Bread Pão Pao
Milk Leite Leit
The bill A conta Conta

 

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