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How to Say ‘Can you wait a minute?’ in Portuguese

Pode esperar um minuto?

POH-dih shpeh-RAR oong mee-NOO-too

[POH-dih shpeh-RAR oong mee-NOO-too]

Phrase Breakdown

Pode esperar

POH-dih shpeh-RAR

Can you wait

This is the polite 'you' form. 'Pode' sounds like 'POD'. In 'esperar' the first 'e' is barely heard and the 's' sounds like 'sh': shpe-RAR.

Example

Pode esperar aqui?

Can you wait here?

Words in this phrase

Pode

[POH-dih]

can you

A polite way to ask if someone is able or willing to do something.

Example

Pode ajudar-me com a mala, por favor?

Can you help me with the suitcase, please?

esperar

[shpeh-RAR]

to wait

Verb meaning to wait; can also mean to hope or expect.

Example

Vou esperar aqui.

I'll wait here.

um minuto?

oong mee-NOO-too

a minute?

'Um' is nasal. Stress 'nu' in 'minuto': mi-NU-tu. Raise your voice at the end for the question.

Example

Só um minuto, por favor.

Just a minute, please.

Words in this phrase

[oong]

An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Em «um» prazer, o artigo introduz a expressão educada.

In “a” pleasure, the article introduces the polite expression.

minuto

[mee-NOO-too]

minute

A unit of time equal to sixty seconds; masculine noun.

Example

Espera um minuto, por favor.

Wait a minute, please.

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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