How to Say ‘Has an owner / is taken’ in Portuguese
Tem dono
teng DOH-noo
[teng DOH-noo]
💬 Usage Tip: [Ter dono] is a very natural Portuguese way to say something is "taken" or "spoken for," not literally that it has an owner. You can reuse it with other things too, like [Esta cadeira tem dono?]
Phrase Breakdown
Tem
[teng]
has / has got
From the verb 'ter', used here to ask whether something is taken or claimed.
Tem dono esse lugar ou aceitas candidaturas?
Is that seat taken or are you accepting applications?
dono
[DOH-noo]
owner / someone who claims it
Literally 'owner'; in flirting it playfully means a seat or person may already be taken.
Se tem dono, espero que ao menos saiba contar boas histórias.
If it has an owner, I hope they at least know how to tell good stories.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
What Learners Are Saying
“Rio de Janeiro tested my Portuguese every single day. The real-world scenarios in this app meant I could actually keep up with locals at the beach bars.”
Chris B., 33, Digital Nomad
“Moved to Lisbon with zero Portuguese and honestly thought I’d be pointing at menus forever. Three weeks in and I’m having real conversations with my landlord.”
Priya N., 35, Freelance Designer
“I hop cities every few months and this is the only app that actually prepares me for living somewhere, not just visiting. Tokyo was the real test — passed with flying colors.”
James O., 28, Remote Worker