I have read in various places that it's not necessary to learn Portuguese because most people speak English, especially in tourist areas like Cascais and Lisbon.
One person commented online that "You can guess the meaning of many written Portuguese words if you know Spanish or any other Romance language, but [spoken] Portuguese is nothing like Spanish or French or Italian" and is different from Brazilian Portuguese, even in spelling and terminology.
It is always considerate - and an enjoyable part of travel abroad - to at least try to learn a few words of the local language. Usually even if your pronunciation isn't perfect, people appreciate your effort. On YouTube there are various videos for learning basic European Portuguese, including this one called Portuguese 101 - Common Words & Phrases - Level One that has useful phrases for travelers.
Luckily the Seattle Sangha have Michel, who offered to translate for us because he lived in Portugal for 3 years.
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