Língua da Gente — Conhecendo seu professor

🎧 Listen to the podcast episode

First listen: Just listen and relax. What is the situation? Who are the speakers? What do you understand?

Língua da Gente · Episode 23

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💬 The Conversation

Listen again while reading. Notice the expressions used to introduce yourself and ask to enter a room.

A

Com licença, o Professor João está aqui?

Excuse me, is Professor João here?

B

Sou eu, em que eu posso ajudar?

That's me. How can I help you?

A

Bom dia, meu nome é Daniela, sou a aluna nova na sua sala.

Hi, I'm Daniela, the new student in your class.

B

Ah é, prazer, pode entrar, senta.

Ah yes, good to meet you, come on in and take a seat.

📖 Key Expressions — Greetings & Introductions

This short dialogue is packed with useful everyday expressions. Here are the key phrases and what they mean:

Portuguese	English	Notes
Com licença	Excuse me	Used to ask permission before entering a room or interrupting someone
O Professor João está aqui?	Is Professor João here?	Asking if someone is present — estar = to be (location)
Sou eu.	That's me. / It's me.	Literally "I am I" — very common Brazilian response to "Is X here?"
Em que eu posso ajudar?	How can I help you?	Polite, professional. Posso = I can (poder)
Meu nome é ___.	My name is ___.	Standard way to introduce yourself formally
Sou a aluna nova na sua sala.	I'm the new student in your class.	Sou + definite article — identifying yourself as a specific person
Prazer.	Nice to meet you. / Pleased to meet you.	Short for Muito prazer — very common in Brazil
Pode entrar.	Come on in. / You may enter.	Pode + infinitive = you can / you may
Senta.	Take a seat. / Sit down.	Informal imperative — very natural and warm in Brazilian speech

🇧🇷 Culture Note — "Com licença" vs. "Desculpa" In Brazil, com licença is used before doing something that requires permission — like entering a room, walking past someone, or interrupting a conversation. It is NOT an apology. If you step on someone's foot or make a mistake, you'd say desculpa (sorry) instead. English speakers often mix these up at first!

🔍 Grammar Spotlight — Sou eu

When the professor answers Sou eu, he's using a very Brazilian structure. The verb ser (to be) is used here to identify — "I am the one." Notice: there is no word for "That's" — Portuguese just puts the verb first: Sou eu (literally: "Am I.").

You can use this pattern to confirm your own identity too: Sou eu. — "It's me." / "That's me."

🔊 Phonology Note — "Licença" and the letter Ç The word licença contains a ç (c-cedilha). This letter always sounds like the English s — never like k. So licença is pronounced approximately "lee-SEN-sa". Brazilian Portuguese also tends to reduce unstressed vowels, so the final -a is short and light. Practice: say com li-CEN-ça three times, stressing the middle syllable.

1 What does it mean? — Expression Quiz

Each expression below comes from the dialogue. Choose the correct English meaning by clicking your answer.

Com licença

✅ Correct! Com licença is used to ask permission or attention — not to apologize. For "sorry," Brazilians say desculpa.

Sou eu.

✅ Correct! Sou eu — the professor is confirming his identity. Literally "I am I" — a very natural Brazilian response.

Prazer.

✅ Correct! Prazer (or Muito prazer) = Nice to meet you. You'll hear this all the time in Brazil when meeting someone new.

Pode entrar.

✅ Correct! Pode entrar = Come on in / You may enter. Pode + infinitive is a warm and common way to give permission in Brazilian Portuguese.

Senta.

✅ Correct! Senta is the informal imperative of sentar — "to sit." It sounds direct but is actually warm and hospitable in Brazil.

2 Complete the Dialogue

Fill in the blanks to reconstruct the dialogue from memory. Type the missing word or phrase.
Word bank: licença · Sou eu · prazer · senta · meu nome é · posso ajudar

— Com , o Professor João está aqui?

— , em que eu posso ajudar?

— Bom dia, Daniela, sou nova aluna em sua aula.

— Ah é, , pode entrar, .

3 Match the expression to its use

What is each expression used for? Match each phrase to its communicative function.

Com licença

Meu nome é Daniela.

Prazer.

Senta.

4 Your Turn — Introduce Yourself

Answer in Portuguese.
Write your own answers. There are no right or wrong responses — this activity is about expressing your own ideas and experiences.