Portuguese at School Pickup: Useful Phrases for Parents
Practice friendly questions and common school-day words for a quick conversation with a teacher or caregiver.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
A quick greeting makes the interaction comfortable: Oi, tudo bem? (Hi, how are you?). To ask about the day, say Como foi o dia dele/dela? (How was his/her day?) or Teve alguma novidade hoje? (Was there anything new today?).
Start with a greeting and a simple question
Use meu filho or minha filha to identify your child. If you are unsure about a detail, ask the teacher to repeat or explain it rather than guessing, especially when it involves a schedule or an item to bring.
Oi, como foi o dia da Ana?
Hi, how was Ana’s day?
Ele almoçou bem hoje?
Did he eat lunch well today?
Tem algum recado para mim?
Is there a message for me?
Recognize common school and daycare words
A professora or professor is a teacher; a cuidadora is a caregiver; lanche is a snack; almoço is lunch; and mochila is a backpack. A recado is a message or note, while atividade can refer to an activity or assignment depending on the age and setting.
Schools use different routines and vocabulary. If a teacher uses a local term you do not know, ask for an example or a written note.
A mochila ficou na sala.
The backpack stayed in the classroom.
Ela trouxe o lanche de casa.
She brought her snack from home.
A professora mandou um recado.
The teacher sent a message.
Confirm the next step clearly
Before you leave, repeat the important detail: what needs to come tomorrow, what time pickup is, or where an item was left. Repeating it as a question gives the other person a chance to correct a misunderstanding.
If you do not understand, use Você pode repetir mais devagar? (Could you repeat that more slowly?) or Pode escrever para mim? (Could you write it down for me?).
Então amanhã precisa trazer uma troca de roupa?
So tomorrow, should we bring a change of clothes?
A saída é às cinco, certo?
Pickup is at five, right?
Você pode me mandar esse recado por escrito?
Could you send me that message in writing?
Put it into practice
Practice one question about the day and one phrase for confirming a detail. Use the child’s name or the correct pronoun to make each phrase specific.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The teacher sent a message”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.