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How to Say ‘I have, but I don't know what to choose.’ in Portuguese

Já vi, mas não sei o que escolher.

zhah vee mas NOWN say oh kuh esh-koo-LYEHR

[zhah vee mas NOWN say oh kuh esh-koo-LYEHR]

Phrase Breakdown

Já vi,

zhah vee

I've already seen it,

'Vi' is 'I saw' from 'ver'. Say 'zhah VEE', then pause briefly at the comma.

Example

Já vi esse filme.

I've already seen that film.

Words in this phrase

Já

[zhah]

already

Prior to a specified or implied time.

Example

Já comi meu almoço.

I have already eaten my lunch.

[vee]

I saw

Past tense of 'ver', to see, first person.

Example

Vi o jogo ontem.

I saw the game yesterday.

mas não sei

mas NOWN say

but I don't know

'Mas' means 'but'. Before 'não', its 's' sounds like a soft 'zh': 'muhzh now say'.

Example

Gosto, mas não sei cozinhar.

I like it, but I don't know how to cook.

Words in this phrase

mas

[mas]

But

Used to introduce something contrasting.

Example

Eu gostaria de ir, mas não posso.

I would like to go, but I can't.

não

[NOWN]

not

Used to negate the meaning of a word or group of words.

Example

Não quero comer agora.

I don't want to eat now.

sei

[say]

know

To be aware of through observation or information.

Example

Eu sei a resposta.

I know the answer.

o que escolher.

oh kuh esh-koo-LYEHR

what to choose.

Say 'oo kuh shkoo-LYEHR'. The 'lh' is like the 'lli' in 'million'.

Example

Há tanto o que escolher.

There's so much to choose from.

Words in this phrase

[oh]

what

Used to refer to a thing or things previously mentioned or easily identified.

Example

O que é isso?

What is this?

que

[kuh]

what

Together with 'o', forms 'o que' meaning 'what'.

Example

Não sei o que fazer.

I don't know what to do.

escolher

[esh-koo-LYEHR]

to choose

Verb meaning to pick or select.

Example

É difícil escolher um prato.

It's hard to choose a dish.

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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