Portugal prático (o talho, o comprovativo)

Shops and paperwork

wordmeaning
o talhothe butcher's shop
a esferográficathe ballpoint pen
a portagemthe toll (motorway)
o comprovativothe proof, the receipt (document)
I buy the meat at the corner butcher's.
Compro a carne no talho da esquina.

Driving from Lisbon to Porto you pass portagens — most now electronic (Via Verde). Any Portuguese service will sooner or later ask you for um comprovativo de morada — proof of address — so learn the word before the queue teaches it to you.

Photos, cables and doctors

a foto is the everyday short form of a fotografia — both live side by side. o cabo is the cable: o cabo do carregador. And o doutor: in Portugal the title matters — receptionists and clients say o senhor doutor / a senhora doutora to lawyers, doctors and anyone with an office.

Good morning, has the doctor arrived yet?
Bom dia, o doutor já chegou?

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