A1 — Iniciante I ← My Materials

Onde é o banheiro?

Episódio 3 Língua da Gente Pedir e dar direções
Orlando R. Kelm · COERLL / University of Texas at Austin · CC BY 4.0

Step 1 — Listen

🎧 Listen to the podcast episode
First listen: What does person A need? Does person B give the right directions the first time?
Língua da Gente · Episode 03
Can't play? Open in Apple Podcasts →

Step 2 — Read the Dialogue

💬 The Conversation
Listen again while reading. Notice how person B corrects themselves at the end.
A
Com licença, onde é o banheiro?
Excuse me, where's the bathroom?
B
Lá atrás, a segunda porta à esquerda.
Back there, the second door on the left.
A
Obrigada.
Thank you.
B
Ah, desculpa — é a segunda porta à direita.
Oh, sorry — it's the second door on the right.

Step 3 — Language Focus

📖 Asking for Directions

The key structure is simple: Onde é o/a ___? — "Where is the ___?" Add com licença to be polite when approaching a stranger.

PortugueseEnglishNotes
Com licençaExcuse meto get someone's attention
Onde é o banheiro?Where is the bathroom?Onde é o/a + place
Lá atrásBack thereindicating distance + direction
À esquerdaOn the leftà = a + a (contraction)
À direitaOn the rightà = a + a (contraction)
A primeira / segunda portaThe first / second doorordinal numbers agree in gender
Obrigado / ObrigadaThank you-o if you're male, -a if you're female
Com licença vs. Desculpa — what's the difference?
Com licença = excuse me (asking permission to pass or interrupt) — before the action.
Desculpa / Desculpe = sorry (apologizing for a mistake) — after the action.

In the dialogue, A says com licença to approach B politely. B says desculpa when correcting the wrong directions.
🔊 Phonology Note — The "nh" sound The word banheiro contains the "nh" combination — a nasal palatal sound. Think of the "ny" in "canyon," the Spanish "ñ," or the French "gn" in "champagne." It's softer and more nasal than a regular N. Practice: ba-NHEI-ro. The stress falls on the second syllable.

Step 4 — Practice

1 Fill in the blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct word.
Word bank: com licença  onde  esquerda  direita  desculpa  segunda
— , onde é o banheiro?
— é a farmácia?
— Lá atrás, a porta à esquerda.
— A primeira porta à .
— Ah, — é à direita!
2 True or False?
Based on the dialogue, choose Verdade (True) or Mentira (False).
Person A wants to find the bathroom.
Person B says the bathroom is the first door on the left.
Person B corrects themselves — the bathroom is actually on the right.
Person A says "obrigado" (masculine form) to thank person B.
3 Your turn — Ask for directions
Answer in Portuguese.
Write your own answers. There are no right or wrong responses — this activity is about expressing your own ideas and experiences.

Your teacher will review this during class. 🗣️

Enviar respostas para a professora