Sometimes, you need to call the internet provider. Sometimes, you need to go to the parish council and ask for a document. Sometimes, you need to explain a problem to your insurance company, book a doctor’s appointment or stand in a bank while someone explains something you don’t quite understand.
And sometimes, you could probably do it yourself — but you’d rather not spend an hour trying to overcome a language barrier when someone else could help get it sorted in five minutes.
That’s where I come in.
Whether you need me to make a quick phone call, help you complete some paperwork, accompany you to an appointment or simply be on hand when Portuguese is likely to get in the way, Translasaurus offers practical, person-to-person language support to help make life in Portugal that little bit easier. No job is too small.
If removing the language barrier can make it quicker, simpler or less stressful, just ask.
Need a little help navigating life in Portugal?
From phone calls to appointments and paperwork, I’m here to make things a little easier.
Portuguese paperwork can be confusing even when you speak the language. If you’re faced with an application, form or official process and aren’t quite sure where to start, I can help you understand what’s needed and communicate with the relevant services.
This can include:
Need help with something that isn’t on the list? Ask anyway.
Opening an account, sorting out an insurance claim or trying to understand what information a bank or insurer needs can quickly become frustrating when everything is happening in Portuguese.
I can help with:
I can’t provide financial or insurance advice, but I can help you communicate with the people who can.
Sometimes you just need to make the appointment. Other times, you might feel more comfortable having someone there to help you communicate.
I can assist with:
This service is about helping overcome the language barrier, not providing medical or veterinary advice.
Moving into a home or dealing with something that has gone wrong can be complicated enough. Add a language barrier and even a relatively simple problem can turn into several frustrating phone calls.
I can help with:
Whether your internet has stopped working or you’re trying to explain a problem with your boiler, I can help make sure everyone understands what needs to happen.
When you have children, there’s a lot to organise — and sometimes the language barrier makes everyday communication with schools and services more difficult than it needs to be.
I can help with:
Perhaps you know exactly what needs to be done. You just don’t want to spend half an hour trying to explain it in Portuguese.
That’s fine too.
If you need someone to:
…send me the details and I’ll let you know whether I can help.
Some jobs might take five minutes. Others might take an hour. Either way, sometimes having someone who speaks the language is all it takes to get things moving.
If you need to make a complaint, raise an issue with a company or communicate with the authorities, I can provide language support to help you explain what has happened and understand what information is required.
This may include:
I can help you communicate and navigate the process, but I don’t provide legal advice or act as your legal representative.
Not every language barrier requires a document to be translated. Sometimes, the fastest solution is simply to have someone who understands both languages make the phone call, come along to the appointment or explain what needs to happen next.
I’m Luci, an independent freelance translator based in Loulé, and alongside professional translation and language services, I offer practical support to people navigating everyday life in Portugal. Whether you’re based in the Algarve and need someone to accompany you in person, or you’re elsewhere in Portugal and need help over the phone, get in touch and tell me what you’re trying to do.
If I can help, I will. If I can’t, I’ll try to point you towards someone who can.Need to get something sorted? Give me a shout.