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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.

Example

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.

Example

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.

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