Portuguese · A2 (Elementary)
Work in Portuguese: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Portuguese words for work are o contrato (the contract), o salário (the salary) and as férias (the holidays / annual leave). The full Portuguese work phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Portuguese vocabulary for work, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Portuguese to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key work vocabulary
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| o contrato | the contract |
| o salário | the salary |
| as férias | the holidays / annual leave |
| as horas extras | overtime |
| demitir-se | to resign |
| contratar | to hire |
| o contrato sem termo | permanent contract (EU) |
| o contrato a termo | fixed-term contract |
| a entrevista | the interview |
| o teletrabalho | remote working |
Example sentences
Assinei um novo contrato.
I signed a new contract.
O meu salário é de 1.500 euros líquidos.
My salary is 1,500 euros net.
Tenho vinte e dois dias de férias.
I have twenty-two days of annual leave.
Consegui um contrato sem termo.
I got a permanent contract.
Quero demitir-me.
I want to resign.
Faço teletrabalho dois dias por semana.
I work remotely two days a week.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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