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How to Say ‘Is this chair free?’ in Portuguese

Esta cadeira está livre?

ESH-tuh kah-DAY-rah shtah LEE-vreh

[ESH-tuh kah-DAY-rah shtah LEE-vreh]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Asking about a spare chair is a natural, low-pressure way to start talking in a busy café. It gives you a real reason to approach someone.

Phrase Breakdown

Esta cadeira

ESH-tuh kah-DAY-rah

This chair

'Esta' (this) has no accent and stresses the first syllable: 'ÉSH-ta'. 'Cadeira' sounds like 'ka-DAY-ra'.

Example

Esta cadeira é confortável.

This chair is comfortable.

Words in this phrase

Esta

[ESH-tuh]

this

Demonstrative used with feminine singular nouns to point to something close or current.

Example

Esta oportunidade parece muito interessante.

This opportunity seems very interesting.

cadeira

[kah-DAY-rah]

chair

Feminine noun for a seat with a back.

Example

Esta cadeira está livre?

Is this chair free?

está livre?

shtah LEE-vreh

is free?

'Está' (is) stresses the last syllable: 'shTA'. 'Livre' means free or available. Raise your voice at the end to ask a question.

Example

A mesa está livre?

Is the table free?

Words in this phrase

está

[shtah]

are (you, formal) / is

Form of 'estar' (to be, for states) used with 'você' or formal address, or for he/she/it.

Example

O senhor está cansado?

Are you tired, sir?

livre

[LEE-vreh]

free / available

Not occupied or not taken.

Example

A mesa está livre.

The table is free.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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