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Read the dialogue
Two people at a bus stop in São Paulo. A is looking for the bus that goes to Rua Francisco Morato.
A: Com licença, esse vai pela Morato?
Excuse me, does this one go down Morato?
B: Não, esse vai pela Avenida Vital Brasil, até o Instituto Butantã.
No, this one goes down Avenida Vital Brasil, until the Butantã Institute.
A: Tá. Você sabe qual que eu devia pegar?
OK. Do you know which one I should take?
B: Pela Francisco Morato? Pode pegar o 702C. Ele passa aqui mesmo nessa parada.
Along Francisco Morato? You can take the 702C. It stops right here at this bus stop.
A: Tá bom, obrigado.
OK, good, thanks.
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Language focus
Focus 1
Preposições de rota — pela / pelo / até
English: along / down / through / until
Pela / pelo = por + a/o. Use it to say which street or avenue a vehicle travels along.
Até says where the journey ends.
Esse ônibus vai pela Avenida Paulista.
This bus goes along Avenida Paulista. O metrô passa pelo centro.
The metro goes through downtown. O 702C vai até o Instituto Butantã.
The 702C goes all the way to the Butantã Institute. Esse ônibus vai pela Francisco Morato até o terminal.
This bus goes down Francisco Morato all the way to the terminal.
This bus goes along Avenida Paulista. O metrô passa pelo centro.
The metro goes through downtown. O 702C vai até o Instituto Butantã.
The 702C goes all the way to the Butantã Institute. Esse ônibus vai pela Francisco Morato até o terminal.
This bus goes down Francisco Morato all the way to the terminal.
Focus 2
Poder + infinitivo — suggestions & possibilities
English: you can / could take
In Brazilian Portuguese, pode + infinitive is the natural way to give directions or suggest an option. It is warmer and less blunt than a command.
Pode pegar o 702C.
You can take the 702C. Pode ir de metrô — é mais rápido.
You can go by metro — it's faster. Pode descer na próxima parada.
You can get off at the next stop.
You can take the 702C. Pode ir de metrô — é mais rápido.
You can go by metro — it's faster. Pode descer na próxima parada.
You can get off at the next stop.
Focus 3
Expressões-chave do diálogo
Key phrases for asking about transport
These expressions are ready to use in any city, at any bus stop.
Com licença — polite opener; gets someone's attention
Esse vai pela...? — Does this one go down...?
Qual que eu devia pegar? — Which one should I take? (informal spoken form)
Aqui mesmo — right here (mesmo = emphasis, not "same")
Parada — bus stop
Tá bom — OK, got it, sounds good
Esse vai pela...? — Does this one go down...?
Qual que eu devia pegar? — Which one should I take? (informal spoken form)
Aqui mesmo — right here (mesmo = emphasis, not "same")
Parada — bus stop
Tá bom — OK, got it, sounds good
🏙 Culture note
São Paulo has over 13,000 bus lines — the largest network in Brazil. Each line has a code like 702C. Finding the right bus is a daily challenge even for locals. Apps like SPTrans and Google Maps are widely used, but asking someone at the stop still works perfectly.
🔊 Phonology note
The R in Brazilian Portuguese has two sounds: at the start of a word or doubled (rr), it sounds like English "h" — rua = "hua". Between vowels, it is a quick tap, like the "dd" in "ladder" — parada, pegar.
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Exercises
Exercise 1 — Comprehension check
Choose the correct answer based on the dialogue.
Exercise 2 — Pela, pelo or até?
Fill in the gaps with pela, pelo, or até.
1. Esse ônibus vai a Avenida Paulista.
2. O metrô passa centro da cidade.
3. Esse vai o terminal Santana.
4. O 702C passa a Francisco Morato.
5. O ônibus vai a Praça da Sé.
Exercise 3 — Giving directions with poder
Rewrite each sentence as a suggestion using Pode + infinitivo. Write the full sentence.
Exercise 4 — Match the expression
Choose the correct English meaning for each Portuguese expression.
Exercise 5 — Your turn
Think of a real situation — a city you know, a place you want to reach, or a trip you've taken. Write 4–6 sentences in Portuguese describing how to get there by bus or public transport. Use at least one pela/pelo/até and one pode + infinitivo.
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