Memory Palace
Step onto the welcome mat and learn the greetings and polite phrases that open every Portuguese conversation.
Mastering welcome mat vocabulary is one of the fastest wins in Portuguese. These 8 words cover the everyday language you need to navigate Step onto the welcome mat and learn the and more. In Loci, each word is anchored to a vivid memory palace scene so it sticks in long-term memory — not just until your next practice session.
hello
Olá, como vai?
Hello, how are you?
good morning
Bom dia! Dormiu bem?
Good morning! Did you sleep well?
good afternoon
Boa tarde! Tudo bem?
Good afternoon! Everything okay?
good night / good evening
Boa noite! Até amanhã.
Good night! See you tomorrow.
thank you
Muito obrigado pela ajuda!
Thank you so much for the help!
please
Água, por favor.
Water, please.
excuse me
Com licença, posso passar?
Excuse me, can I get through?
sorry
Desculpe, foi mal!
Sorry, my bad!
| # | Portuguese | English | Type | Example Sentence | Memory Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | olá | hello | function wordEssential | Olá, como vai?Hello, how are you? | 'Olá' sounds like 'oh-LAH' — think of an OWL going 'AH!' in surprise when guests arrive. The owl gre… |
| 2 | bom dia | good morning | function wordEssential | Bom dia! Dormiu bem?Good morning! Did you sleep well? | 'Bom dia' sounds like 'bom JEE-ah' — BOMB + DIAMOND. A bomb that delivers diamonds in the morning. B… |
| 3 | boa tarde | good afternoon | function wordEssential | Boa tarde! Tudo bem?Good afternoon! Everything okay? | 'Boa tarde' sounds like 'BOH-ah TAR-jee' — a BOA that's TARDY. Good afternoon = a friendly tardy boa… |
| 4 | boa noite | good night / good evening | function wordEssential | Boa noite! Até amanhã.Good night! See you tomorrow. | 'Boa noite' sounds like 'BOH-ah NOY-chee' — a BOA dressed as a KNIGHT. The knight-boa protects the h… |
| 5 | obrigado | thank you | function wordEssential | Muito obrigado pela ajuda!Thank you so much for the help! | 'Obrigado' sounds like 'oh-bree-GAH-doo' — think 'obligated.' You feel OBLIGATED to say thank you. T… |
| 6 | por favor | please | function wordEssential | Água, por favor.Water, please. | 'Por favor' literally means 'for a favor' — 'por' (for/by) + 'favor' (favor). A poor man begging for… |
| 7 | com licença | excuse me | function wordEssential | Com licença, posso passar?Excuse me, can I get through? | 'Com licença' sounds like 'com lee-SEN-sa' — think 'with license/permission.' You're asking for a li… |
| 8 | desculpe | sorry | function wordEssential | Desculpe, foi mal!Sorry, my bad! | 'Desculpe' sounds like 'deh-SKOOL-peh' — think 'dis-skull-pay.' A dramatic skull demanding you pay f… |
How Loci Teaches These Words
In the Loci app, these 8 words are placed inside the The Welcome Mat memory palace. Each word is anchored to a specific location — a locus — with a vivid, absurd mnemonic scene designed by memory champions. When you walk through the palace during review, the scenes pop back into your mind automatically, pulling the Portuguese word with them.
Here's how Loci makes three of these words unforgettable.
You step onto the front porch and a giant OWL-AH (olá) swoops down wearing a top hat, tipping it gracefully. 'HELLO! OLÁ!' the owl hoots, shaking your hand with its wing. The porch light flickers on in welcome as the owl rolls out a tiny red carpet for you.
'Olá' sounds like 'oh-LAH' — think of an OWL going 'AH!' in surprise when guests arrive. The owl greets everyone at the front porch.
You open the mailbox in the morning and a BOMB (bom) explodes out — but it's a glitter bomb! Golden sparkles and sunshine pour out like a sunrise. Inside is a DIAMOND (dia → diamond) ring sparkling in the morning light. A BOMB of DIAMONDS = GOOD MORNING!
'Bom dia' sounds like 'bom JEE-ah' — BOMB + DIAMOND. A bomb that delivers diamonds in the morning. Bom = good, dia = day.
On the garden bench sits a BOA constrictor (boa) who is always TARDY (tarde). The snake checks its watch: 'I'm LATE for the AFTERNOON!' The boa is sunbathing on the bench in the warm afternoon light, perpetually tardy for everything.
'Boa tarde' sounds like 'BOH-ah TAR-jee' — a BOA that's TARDY. Good afternoon = a friendly tardy boa. Boa = good (feminine), tarde = afternoon.
Learn for Free
Reading a word list is one thing. Loci takes these 8 welcome mat words and places them inside a vivid memory palace with mnemonics, example sentences, and spaced repetition. Words stop slipping away.