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How to Say ‘Can I buy you a drink?’ in Portuguese

Posso pagar-te uma bebida?

POH-soo puh-GAR-tuh OO-mah beh-BEE-dah

[POH-soo puh-GAR-tuh OO-mah beh-BEE-dah]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Using the informal te with a stranger is normal among younger people in a bar. Asking first rather than just sending a drink over comes across as respectful.

Phrase Breakdown

Posso pagar-te

POH-soo puh-GAR-tuh

Can I buy you

'Pagar' means 'to pay'. 'Pagar-te' means 'to pay for you' and is the natural way to say 'buy you'. Say it 'pa-GAR-t'.

Example

Posso pagar-te o almoço?

Can I buy you lunch?

Words in this phrase

Posso

[POH-soo]

can I / may I

Used to ask permission or possibility politely.

Example

Pergunto "Posso pagar em dinheiro?" antes de tirar as notas.

I ask "Can I pay in cash?" before taking out the notes.

pagar-te

[puh-GAR-tuh]

buy you / pay you

From 'pagar', to pay, plus 'te'.

Example

Deixa-me pagar-te um café.

Let me buy you a coffee.

uma bebida?

OO-mah beh-BEE-dah

a drink?

'Uma' is the feminine 'a' and goes with 'bebida'. Stress the 'bi': 'b'-BEE-da'.

Example

Pedi uma bebida fresca.

I ordered a cold drink.

Words in this phrase

uma

[OO-mah]

a; an

Feminine singular indefinite article used before a feminine noun.

Example

Quero uma mesa tranquila para dois.

I want a quiet table for two.

bebida

[beh-BEE-dah]

drink

A feminine noun for any beverage, often alcoholic in a bar setting.

Example

Esta bebida é muito fresca.

This drink is very refreshing.

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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