🪑🔒

How to Say ‘I'll save your seat’ in Portuguese

Eu guardo-te o lugar

EH-oo GWAR-doo-tuh oo loo-GAR

[EH-oo GWAR-doo-tuh oo loo-GAR]

💬 Usage Tip: Portuguese often uses the plain present for a promise about the next few minutes: guardo "I keep" here means "I'll keep".

Phrase Breakdown

Eu guardo-te

EH-oo GWAR-doo-tuh

I'll keep for you

European Portuguese attaches the pronoun after the verb with a hyphen. '-te' means 'for you' (informal).

Example

Eu guardo-te um bolo.

I'll save you a cake.

Words in this phrase

[EH-oo]

The speaker refers to themselves.

Example

Eu vou ao bar esta noite.

I am going to the bar tonight.

guardo-te

[GWAR-doo-tuh]

I keep (it) for you

From 'guardar' (to keep, save) with 'te' (for you) attached by a hyphen, as is usual in Portugal.

Example

Eu guardo-te um bocado de bolo.

I'll save you a piece of cake.

o lugar

oo loo-GAR

the seat / the spot

'Lugar' means 'place' or 'seat'. The final 'r' is light and short.

Example

Gosto muito deste lugar.

I really like this place.

Words in this phrase

[oo]

the (masculine singular)

Article used before a masculine singular noun; often unstressed in speech.

Example

O bilhete é mais barato se comprares com antecedência.

The ticket is cheaper if you buy in advance.

lugar

[loo-GAR]

seat / place / spot

Means “place/spot”; in transport it often means a seat.

Example

O lugar ao lado da janela no elétrico está livre.

The seat next to the window on the tram 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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