Small Talk in the Waiting Room
Nobody likes waiting. Whether you are at a clinic or a public service office, the wait is often long. To pass the time, people in Portugal frequently make small talk to express mutual frustration about the situation.
The Magic Word: "Pois"
When you listen to Portuguese speakers, you will hear one word over and over again: pois. It is an incredibly common discourse marker used to show that you are paying attention, to agree, or to confirm a fact.
Confirming Facts with "Pois é"
When someone complains about the wait or points out an obvious fact, you can reply with pois é. By pairing pois with the verb ser (to be), you are emphatically agreeing, much like saying "that's right," "it sure is," or "exactly" in English.
Agreeing and Expanding with "Pois"
You can also use pois entirely on its own at the start of a sentence. It acknowledges what the other person just said ("Right..." or "Indeed..."), and acts as a springboard for you to add your own comment, suggestion, or contrast.
For example, if you are discussing a fellow utente (patient/user) who missed their senha (queue ticket), you can start your response with pois:
Bringing It All Together
With just pois and pois é, you can navigate almost any casual interaction or sympathetic complaint while waiting your turn.