Tell a Short Story in Portuguese: Yesterday, Then, and What Happened Next
You can tell someone what happened without translating a long English story word for word.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Begin with a small anchor: ontem (yesterday), no sábado (on Saturday), or quando eu estava em casa (when I was at home). A listener does not need a full background story to follow what happened; one time or place is often enough.
Set the scene with one time or place
Ontem, eu estava voltando para casa.
Yesterday, I was on my way home.
No sábado, fui a um café novo.
On Saturday, I went to a new café.
Put two actions in order
Use primeiro (first), depois (then/afterward), and aí (then) to guide the listener from one event to the next. Keep the story to two or three actions you can say confidently. A simple sequence is easier to understand than a long sentence packed with details.
Primeiro, comprei pão. Depois, encontrei uma amiga.
First, I bought bread. Then, I met a friend.
Aí, a gente foi almoçar.
Then, we went to have lunch.
Finish with the result or your reaction
End by saying how it turned out or how you felt: Foi muito divertido (It was a lot of fun), Cheguei tarde (I arrived late), or Fiquei feliz (I was happy). If you forget a word, describe the idea another way and let the story keep moving.
- When? Ontem…
- What happened? Primeiro… Depois…
- How did it end? No final… / Foi…
Put it into practice
The I Speak Portuguese source connects short storytelling to a podcast episode. This Real Life adaptation gives you a minimal timeline you can use to tell a story from your own week.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Then, we went to have lunch”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
This guide is an original Real Life Portuguese adaptation of an earlier article from I Speak Portuguese.
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.