Halloween in European Portuguese
A few spooky words. A little everyday Portuguese. And one very suspicious shadow…
A pumpkin on a doorstep. A shadow at the window. Someone whispering “Que susto!” If you are learning European Portuguese, Halloween is a lovely excuse to practise words you can picture and phrases you might actually say.
In this beginner-friendly guide to Halloween in European Portuguese, I’ll help you learn 16 Portuguese Halloween words, try 10 Portuguese Halloween phrases and put them into practice. You do not need perfect grammar to join in: start with a few words, say the short phrases aloud and enjoy the little mystery at the end.
The activities focus on European Portuguese for beginners, with short chunks you can use before studying every grammar rule. For more lessons after this seasonal guide, explore my European Portuguese blog.
Halloween in European Portuguese: two dates to know
Here is a small cultural distinction to keep with your new vocabulary.
Dia das Bruxas
Halloween gives this lesson its pumpkins, costumes and ghosts. To say “Happy Halloween”, try Feliz Dia das Bruxas! For “trick or treat”, you can use Doces ou travessuras?
Language reference: Priberam: doces ou travessuras.
Pão por Deus
In parts of Portugal, children go from door to door asking for Pão por Deus and receive small cakes, nuts or sweets. This custom is associated with All Saints’ Day. Names and practices vary by region; in Leiria, you may hear Dia do Bolinho.
Cultural reference: Municipality of Leiria: the Bolinho tradition.
Keep the dates separate: the Halloween greeting belongs to 31 October; Pão por Deus is associated with 1 November. They offer different windows into Portuguese seasonal culture.
Portuguese Halloween vocabulary: 16 words
Learning the words for Halloween in European Portuguese becomes easier when you connect words with images and examples. Open a card to discover the English meaning and a short example. Read the Portuguese aloud, then close the card and try to remember it. The little word before each noun is part of the lesson too: o is masculine, a is feminine, and os is masculine plural.
a abóboraReveal meaning
A abóbora é cor de laranja.
The pumpkin is orange.
a bruxaReveal meaning
A bruxa tem um chapéu preto.
The witch has a black hat.
o fantasmaReveal meaning
Há um fantasma na casa!
There is a ghost in the house!
o morcegoReveal meaning
O morcego voa à noite.
The bat flies at night.
a aranhaReveal meaning
A aranha está na parede.
The spider is on the wall.
a teia de aranhaReveal meaning
Há uma teia de aranha à porta.
There is a spider web by the door.
o esqueletoReveal meaning
O esqueleto está a dançar.
The skeleton is dancing.
o vampiroReveal meaning
O vampiro tem uma capa.
The vampire has a cape.
o monstroReveal meaning
O monstro é simpático.
The monster is friendly.
a casa assombradaReveal meaning
A casa assombrada é antiga.
The haunted house is old.
o disfarceReveal meaning
O meu disfarce é de vampiro.
My costume is a vampire costume.
a máscaraReveal meaning
A máscara é assustadora.
The mask is scary.
os docesReveal meaning
Os doces estão no saco.
The sweets are in the bag.
o caldeirãoReveal meaning
O caldeirão está na cozinha.
The cauldron is in the kitchen.
a velaReveal meaning
A vela está na mesa.
The candle is on the table.
o sustoReveal meaning
Que susto!
What a fright!
My teaching tip: learn o fantasma, rather than just fantasma. Despite ending in -a, this word is masculine. With a casa assombrada, notice how assombrada agrees with the feminine noun casa.
10 Portuguese Halloween phrases to try
Once you recognise the words, you can start talking about Halloween in European Portuguese. I’ve included a few expressions to learn as whole chunks, even if you have not studied all the grammar yet.
| Say it in Portuguese | What it means | A useful detail |
|---|---|---|
| Feliz Dia das Bruxas! | Happy Halloween! | A seasonal greeting. Dia das Bruxas literally means “Day of the Witches”. |
| Doces ou travessuras? | Trick or treat? | You may also hear “Doçura ou travessura?”. Both expressions are recorded by Priberam. |
| Que susto! | What a fright! | A natural reaction when something suddenly surprises you. |
| Tenho medo. | I’m scared. | Portuguese uses ter medo: literally, “to have fear”. |
| Tenho medo de aranhas. | I’m afraid of spiders. | Add de + the thing that scares you: de aranhas, de fantasmas… |
| Gostas do meu disfarce? | Do you like my costume? | An informal question to one person. Gostas is the tu form. |
| Vou mascarar-me de bruxa. | I’m going to dress up as a witch. | Learn it as a useful chunk. Swap bruxa for vampiro or fantasma. |
| Posso levar um doce? | Can I take a sweet? | One sweet is um doce; more than one are doces. |
| É só uma brincadeira! | It’s just a joke! | Useful after a harmless Halloween prank. |
| Não tenhas medo! | Don’t be scared! | An informal phrase to reassure one person. Learn the whole phrase for now. |
A European Portuguese detail: for “costume”, learn disfarce or fato de Halloween. In this context, fato means an outfit, not an English “fact”. And to say “I’m scared”, use Tenho medo.
How to say trick or treat in Portuguese
Inês: Boa noite! Doces ou travessuras?
Good evening! Trick or treat?Joana: Boa noite! Aqui tens. Queres um rebuçado?
Good evening! Here you are. Would you like a sweet?Inês: Sim, se faz favor. Obrigada!
Yes, please. Thank you!Inês uses obrigada. A male speaker would normally say obrigado. Um rebuçado is a sweet / a piece of candy.
Halloween in European Portuguese: build a sentence
Choose the words in the right order. If you change your mind, select a word in your sentence to put it back. Practise three Portuguese Halloween phrases, and take your time.
What would you say?
Phrase 1 of 3Select each word, then check your sentence.
Halloween in European Portuguese: a short story
Can you spot some of your new words? Read each part once before revealing the translation. This supported A1–A2 reading includes a few extra words: a sombra (shadow), o barulho (noise) and a janela (window).
A sombra à janela
É noite de Halloween. A rua está escura e há uma abóbora à porta de uma casa. A Inês tem um saco de doces. De repente, ouve um barulho. Toc, toc, toc!
Reveal the English translation
It’s Halloween night. The street is dark, and there is a pumpkin by the door of a house. Inês has a bag of sweets. Suddenly, she hears a noise. Knock, knock, knock!
— Quem está aí? — pergunta a Inês.
Uma sombra aparece na janela. A Inês vê dois olhos e diz:
— Que susto! É um fantasma?
Reveal the English translation
“Who’s there?” asks Inês. A shadow appears at the window. Inês sees two eyes and says, “What a fright! Is it a ghost?”
A porta abre-se devagar. Miau! É só um gato preto com uma fita branca. A Inês sorri:
— Afinal, és tu, Mimi!
Reveal the English translation
The door opens slowly. Meow! It’s just a black cat with a white ribbon. Inês smiles. “Oh, it’s you, Mimi!”
Who was at the window?
One more European Portuguese pattern: in the cards, O esqueleto está a dançar means “The skeleton is dancing”. Notice estar a + infinitive, a useful structure for an action in progress.
Halloween in European Portuguese: test yourself
Eight small questions. No timer. Choose one answer to get an explanation, then move on. Your result counts your first answer to each question; you can review everything and try again.
Your progress lasts while this page stays open.
Portuguese Halloween vocabulary: quick answers
How do you say “Halloween” in European Portuguese?
You can say Dia das Bruxas, literally “Day of the Witches”. The English word Halloween is also used in Portuguese.
How do you say trick or treat in Portuguese?
To say trick or treat in Portuguese, try Doces ou travessuras?. You may also hear Doçura ou travessura? Both are recorded in the Priberam dictionary.
What is “costume” in European Portuguese?
For Halloween, try disfarce or fato de Halloween. For example, Gostas do meu disfarce? means “Do you like my costume?”.
How do you say “I’m scared” in Portuguese?
Say Tenho medo. To add what scares you, use de: Tenho medo de aranhas. — “I’m afraid of spiders.”
Is Pão por Deus the same as Halloween?
Pão por Deus is a distinct custom associated with 1 November, All Saints’ Day. In places where it is practised, children ask for food or treats. Regional names and practices vary. Halloween falls on 31 October.
Which Portuguese Halloween vocabulary should I learn first?
Start with a abóbora (pumpkin), a bruxa (witch) and o fantasma (ghost). Learn each noun with its article, then picture it in a short sentence: Há uma abóbora à porta. — “There is a pumpkin by the door.”
Is this guide to Halloween in European Portuguese suitable for beginners?
Use this lesson as a small introduction to European Portuguese for beginners. Start with the cards and a few complete phrases. The story is supported A1–A2 reading, so you can reveal the translation whenever you meet a new word or structure.
How can I talk about Halloween in European Portuguese at home?
Look at a decoration and name it, cover the English translation of a phrase, then try a short exchange aloud. Change one detail each time: Tenho medo de aranhas can become Tenho medo de fantasmas.
Halloween in European Portuguese: keep practising
When teaching European Portuguese for beginners, I favour short, repeatable practice. Try this simple three-step review tomorrow:
- Review five items of Portuguese Halloween vocabulary without looking at the translations.
- Say two Portuguese Halloween phrases aloud, then change one word in each.
- Read the story again and retell the ending in one short Portuguese sentence.
For more Portuguese in context, listen to Pilgrim of Languages — European Portuguese. Adult learners curious about informal expressions can also explore my book, Unveiled Secrets!, which includes strong language and usage notes.
A note from Joana
I’m Joana Aires, a Portuguese language teacher, author and founder of Aires Learning Pro®. I enjoy turning everyday moments and seasonal traditions into opportunities to learn European Portuguese.
To remember your new words for Halloween in European Portuguese, try one last tiny challenge: name three things you might see that night, then say a whole phrase. A little practice today is something you can build on tomorrow.
Feliz Dia das Bruxas — e bons estudos!
