Office vs. Ofício: Where You Work and What You Send in Portuguese — Practice

Use escritório for an office or workspace

An office where people work is an escritório. A doctor or dentist’s office is commonly a consultório. For a public office or government department, use órgão, setor, or repartição depending on the specific institution.

Understand the meaning of ofício

Ofício often refers to a formal written document sent between institutions, or to a trade or craft someone practices. It is not the general word for a workplace.

Name the kind of place or document

If you mean a workplace, say escritório; if you are visiting a health professional, say consultório. Use ofício only when the sentence concerns a formal document or a practiced trade.

Remember: Office is usually escritório, consultório, or an agency-specific term; ofício is a formal document or trade.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. My office is near the station.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Meu escritório fica perto da estação.

2. I have an appointment at the doctor’s office at four.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tenho consulta no consultório às quatro.

3. The department sent an official letter to city hall.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A secretaria enviou um ofício à prefeitura.

4. He learned the trade of carpentry from his father.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ele aprendeu o ofício de marceneiro com o pai.

5. The public service office is on the second floor.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O setor de atendimento funciona no segundo andar.

6. I need to sign the official letter before it is sent.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Preciso assinar o ofício antes do envio.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Office is usually escritório, consultório, or an agency-specific term; ofício is a formal document or trade.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Office vs. Ofício: Where You Work and What You Send in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.