How to Say ‘Is this seat free, or are you waiting for someone?’ in Portuguese
Este lugar está livre, ou está à espera de alguém?
ESH-tuh loo-GAR es-TAH LEE-vruh oh es-TAH ah ish-PEH-ruh duh ahl-GAYNG
[ESH-tuh loo-GAR es-TAH LEE-vruh oh es-TAH ah ish-PEH-ruh duh ahl-GAYNG]
🇵🇹 In Portugal: With a stranger at the bar, the polite está (no tu) is the safe opener. It's courteous without being stiff, and it leaves room to switch to tu once the chat warms up.
Phrase Breakdown
Este lugar está livre,
ESH-tuh loo-GAR es-TAH LEE-vruh
Is this seat free,
A polite question to ask before sitting down. Pause briefly after 'livre'.
Desculpe, este lugar está livre?
Excuse me, is this seat free?
Words in this phrase
Este
[ESH-tuh]
this
A demonstrative used for something near the speaker; masculine singular.
Este autocarro vai para o centro?
Does this bus go to the centre?
lugar
[loo-GAR]
seat / place / spot
Means “place/spot”; in transport it often means a seat.
O lugar ao lado da janela no elétrico está livre.
The seat next to the window on the tram is free.
está
[es-TAH]
is
A form of the verb 'to be,' used for state or condition.
Está ótima esta noite.
It is great tonight.
livre
[LEE-vruh]
free; available; unoccupied
Used to say something is available/unoccupied (a seat on the tram/train).
Este lugar está livre, pode sentar-se.
This seat is free, you can sit down.
ou está à espera
oh es-TAH ah ish-PEH-ruh
or are you waiting
'Ou' (or) links straight into 'está', almost like 'ow-shtá'.
Vem connosco ou está à espera?
Are you coming with us or are you waiting?
Words in this phrase
ou
[oh]
or
Used to present an alternative in a question or comparison.
No networking, posso perguntar se o ambiente é formal ou descontraído.
In networking, I can ask whether the atmosphere is formal or relaxed.
está
[es-TAH]
is
A form of the verb 'to be,' used for state or condition.
Está ótima esta noite.
It is great tonight.
à
[ah]
at / awaiting
Part of the expression 'à espera', which means 'waiting for'.
A frase Ficamos à vossa espera. é muito usada por restaurantes.
The phrase 'We look forward to seeing you.' is widely used by restaurants.
espera
[ish-PEH-ruh]
wait
Noun meaning waiting; 'à espera de' means waiting for.
Estou à espera do autocarro.
I'm waiting for the bus.
de alguém?
duh ahl-GAYNG
for someone?
Your voice rises at the end because it's a question. The final 'ém' is nasal.
Está à espera de alguém?
Are you waiting for someone?
Words in this phrase
de
[duh]
of
A preposition meaning "of" or "for," depending on context.
Falámos de carreira durante o intervalo.
We talked about career matters during the break.
alguém
[ahl-GAYNG]
someone
Indefinite pronoun meaning 'someone'.
Há sempre alguém pronto para explicar os processos.
There is always someone ready to explain the processes.
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