Hotel Basics

Essential vocabulary for check-in, check-out, and hotel services.

RECEPÇÃO /heh-sep-SÃOW/
Reception / Front desk
CHECK-IN /SHEH-keen/
Check-in

English term used in both countries.

CHECK-OUT /SHEH-kow-chee/
Check-out
RESERVA /heh-ZEHR-vah/
Reservation / Booking
HÓSPEDE /OSH-peh-jee/
Guest
CHAVE /SHAH-vee/
Key
CARTÃO-CHAVE /kar-TÃOW SHAH-vee/
Key card
CAFÉ DA MANHÃ INCLUSO /kah-FEH dah mah-NYAH in-KLOO-zoo/
🇧🇷 CAFÉ DA MANHÃ INCLUSO 🇵🇹 PEQUENO-ALMOÇO INCLUÍDO
Breakfast included
DIÁRIA /jee-AH-ree-ah/
Daily rate / Per night
BAGAGEM /bah-GAH-zhem/
Luggage / Baggage
GUARDA-VOLUMES /GWAR-dah voh-LOO-mehs/
Luggage storage
COFRE /KOH-free/
Safe / Safety deposit box
PISCINA /pee-SEE-nah/
Swimming pool
ACADEMIA /ah-kah-deh-MEE-ah/
🇧🇷 ACADEMIA 🇵🇹 GINÁSIO
Gym / Fitness center

Room Types & Features

Room categories and amenities you'll see when booking.

QUARTO /KWAR-too/
Room / Bedroom
QUARTO DE SOLTEIRO /KWAR-too jee sol-TAY-roo/
Single room
QUARTO DE CASAL /KWAR-too jee kah-ZAL/
Double room

Literally "couple's room" – has one double/queen bed.

CAMA DE CASAL /KAH-mah jee kah-ZAL/
Double bed
CAMA DE SOLTEIRO /KAH-mah jee sol-TAY-roo/
Single/Twin bed
SUÍTE /SWEE-chee/
Suite / En-suite room

Room with private bathroom.

BANHEIRO /ban-YAY-roo/
🇧🇷 BANHEIRO 🇵🇹 CASA DE BANHO / WC
Bathroom
BANHEIRO PRIVATIVO /ban-YAY-roo pree-vah-CHEE-voo/
Private bathroom
BANHEIRO COMPARTILHADO /ban-YAY-roo kom-par-chee-LYAH-doo/
Shared bathroom
AR-CONDICIONADO /AR kon-jee-see-oh-NAH-doo/
Air conditioning
AQUECEDOR /ah-keh-seh-DOR/
Heater / Heating
VENTILADOR /ven-chee-lah-DOR/
Fan
VARANDA /vah-RAN-dah/
Balcony
VISTA PARA O MAR /VEES-tah PAH-rah oo MAR/
Sea view

Building & Floors

Navigate apartment buildings and multi-story hotels.

ANDAR /an-DAR/
🇧🇷 ANDAR 🇵🇹 PISO (also ANDAR)
Floor / Story
TÉRREO /TEH-hee-oo/
🇧🇷 TÉRREO 🇵🇹 RÉS-DO-CHÃO (R/C)
Ground floor
⚠️ Note: In Portugal, ground floor is "0" or "R/C" – the 1st floor is one up. Brazil uses American numbering.
ELEVADOR /eh-leh-vah-DOR/
Elevator / Lift
ESCADA /es-KAH-dah/
Stairs / Staircase
SAÍDA /sah-EE-dah/
Exit
ENTRADA /en-TRAH-dah/
Entrance
SAÍDA DE EMERGÊNCIA /sah-EE-dah jee eh-mer-ZHEN-see-ah/
Emergency exit
PORTEIRO /por-TAY-roo/
Doorman / Porter
PORTARIA /por-tah-REE-ah/
Lobby / Reception area
GARAGEM /gah-RAH-zhem/
Garage / Parking
SUBSOLO /soob-SOH-loo/
Basement
TERRAÇO /teh-HAH-soo/
Rooftop / Terrace
ÁREA COMUM /AH-ree-ah koh-MOON/
Common area
INTERFONE /in-ter-FOH-nee/
Intercom / Buzzer

Appliances

Common household appliances and their controls.

GELADEIRA /zheh-lah-DAY-rah/
🇧🇷 GELADEIRA 🇵🇹 FRIGORÍFICO
Refrigerator
FOGÃO /foh-GÃOW/
Stove
FORNO /FOR-noo/
Oven
MICRO-ONDAS /MEE-kroo ON-dahs/
Microwave
CHALEIRA /shah-LAY-rah/
Kettle
CAFETEIRA /kah-feh-TAY-rah/
Coffee maker
TORRADEIRA /toh-hah-DAY-rah/
Toaster
LIGADO /lee-GAH-doo/
On (switched on)
DESLIGADO /des-lee-GAH-doo/
Off (switched off)
LIGAR /lee-GAR/
Turn on
DESLIGAR /des-lee-GAR/
Turn off
BOTÃO /boh-TÃOW/
Button
TEMPERATURA /tem-peh-rah-TOO-rah/
Temperature
QUENTE /KEN-chee/
Hot
FRIO /FREE-oo/
Cold
MORNO /MOR-noo/
Warm / Lukewarm

Laundry

Washing machine settings and laundry room signs.

MÁQUINA DE LAVAR /MAH-kee-nah jee lah-VAR/
Washing machine
SECADORA /seh-kah-DOH-rah/
Dryer
LAVANDERIA /lah-van-deh-REE-ah/
Laundry room / Laundromat
LAVAR /lah-VAR/
Wash
SECAR /seh-KAR/
Dry
CENTRIFUGAR /sen-tree-foo-GAR/
Spin
ENXAGUAR /en-shah-GWAR/
Rinse
SABÃO /sah-BÃOW/
Soap / Detergent
AMACIANTE /ah-mah-see-AN-chee/
Fabric softener
ROUPA BRANCA /HOH-pah BRAN-kah/
Whites
ROUPA COLORIDA /HOH-pah koh-loh-REE-dah/
Colors
DELICADO /deh-lee-KAH-doo/
Delicate
FERRO DE PASSAR /FEH-hoo jee pah-SAR/
Iron (for clothes)
TÁBUA DE PASSAR /TAH-boo-ah jee pah-SAR/
Ironing board
VARAL /vah-RAL/
Clothesline

Airbnb & Rental Instructions

Common phrases in vacation rental instructions and house rules.

SENHA /SEN-yah/
Password / Code

WiFi password or door code.

CÓDIGO /KOH-jee-goo/
Code
FECHADURA /feh-shah-DOO-rah/
Lock
TRANCAR /tran-KAR/
Lock (verb)
DESTRANCAR /des-tran-KAR/
Unlock
REGRAS DA CASA /HEH-grahs dah KAH-zah/
House rules
PROIBIDO FUMAR /proh-ee-BEE-doo foo-MAR/
No smoking
PERMITIDO /pehr-mee-CHEE-doo/
Allowed / Permitted
NÃO PERMITIDO /nãow pehr-mee-CHEE-doo/
Not allowed
ANIMAIS DE ESTIMAÇÃO /ah-nee-MAEES jee es-chee-mah-SÃOW/
Pets
LIXO /LEE-shoo/
Trash / Garbage
RECICLAGEM /heh-see-KLAH-zhem/
Recycling
TOALHAS /toh-AH-lyahs/
Towels
LENÇÓIS /len-SOYS/
Sheets
COBERTOR /koh-behr-TOR/
Blanket
TRAVESSEIRO /trah-veh-SAY-roo/
Pillow

Problems & Requests

Words you might see or need when something goes wrong.

QUEBRADO /keh-BRAH-doo/
🇧🇷 QUEBRADO 🇵🇹 AVARIADO
Broken / Out of order
NÃO FUNCIONA /nãow foon-see-OH-nah/
Doesn't work
MANUTENÇÃO /mah-noo-ten-SÃOW/
Maintenance
LIMPEZA /leem-PEH-zah/
Cleaning
CAMAREIRA /kah-mah-RAY-rah/
Housekeeper / Maid
NÃO PERTURBE /nãow pehr-TOOR-bee/
Do not disturb
FAVOR LIMPAR /fah-VOR leem-PAR/
Please clean
BARULHO /bah-ROO-lyoo/
Noise
VAZAMENTO /vah-zah-MEN-too/
Leak
ENTUPIDO /en-too-PEE-doo/
Clogged / Blocked
FALTA DE LUZ /FAL-tah jee LOOZ/
Power outage
FALTA DE ÁGUA /FAL-tah jee AH-gwah/
Water outage

Download Cheat Sheet

Get a printable reference card for lodging vocabulary.