💳🖥️❌⚙️

How to Say ‘The card machine isn't working’ in Portuguese

O terminal não está a dar

oo ter-mee-NAHL nao eh-stah ah dar

[oo ter-mee-NAHL nao eh-stah ah dar]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Taxis in Portugal are supposed to accept cards, so a "broken" card machine is a common source of friction. You can politely insist, or ask for an alternative like MB Way.

Phrase Breakdown

O terminal

oo ter-mee-NAHL

The card machine

'Terminal' here is the card payment machine. Say it 'oo ter-mee-NAL', with a dark final 'l'.

Example

Posso pagar no terminal?

Can I pay on the card machine?

Words in this phrase

[oo]

the

A masculine singular definite article used before nouns.

Example

O prazer de participar foi grande.

The pleasure of taking part was great.

terminal

[ter-mee-NAHL]

card terminal

The card payment machine used to pay by card.

Example

Passe o cartão no terminal.

Swipe the card on the terminal.

não está a dar

nao eh-stah ah dar

isn't working

This is the everyday way to say something isn't working. Say it smoothly: 'now shTA a DAR'.

Example

A internet não está a dar.

The internet isn't working.

Words in this phrase

não

[nao]

not

Used to make a verb negative.

Example

Eu não gosto dessa rota.

I do not like this route.

está

[eh-stah]

A form of 'ser' or 'estar', used to indicate state or location.

Example

O tempo está bom hoje.

The weather is good today.

[ah]

(progressive marker)

Used in 'estar a + infinitive' to express an ongoing action, like '-ing'.

Example

Estou a trabalhar.

I am working.

dar

[dar]

to work / to function

Literally 'to give'; colloquially 'não está a dar' means something isn't working.

Example

A internet não está a dar.

The internet isn't working.

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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