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How to Say ‘Could you give the cat back, please?’ in Portuguese

Pode devolver o gato, se faz favor?

POH-dih deh-vol-VEHR oo GAH-too seh fahz fah-VOHR

[POH-dih deh-vol-VEHR oo GAH-too seh fahz fah-VOHR]

Phrase Breakdown

Pode devolver o gato,

POH-dih deh-vol-VEHR oo GAH-too

Can you give back the cat,

This is the main request. Swallow the first 'e' of 'devolver', then pause briefly at the comma.

Example

Pode devolver o gato amanhã?

Can you give back the cat tomorrow?

Words in this phrase

Pode

[POH-dih]

can you

A polite way to ask if someone is able or willing to do something.

Example

Pode ajudar-me com a mala, por favor?

Can you help me with the suitcase, please?

devolver

[deh-vol-VEHR]

to give back

Verb meaning to return something to its owner.

Example

Tenho de devolver o livro.

I have to give back the book.

[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.

gato

[GAH-too]

cat

Masculine noun for the animal cat.

Example

O meu gato é preto.

My cat is black.

se faz favor?

seh fahz fah-VOHR

please?

This polite ending is typical of Portugal. Say 'faz' with a 'sh' sound and stress '-vor'.

Example

Pode ajudar-me, se faz favor?

Can you help me, please?

Words in this phrase

[seh]

(part of 'se faz favor')

Reflexive/impersonal particle in the polite phrase meaning 'please'.

Example

Um café, se faz favor.

A coffee, please.

faz

[fahz]

does / makes

Part of the set expression used politely in Portugal.

Example

Em Um galão, se faz favor., faz pertence à expressão fixa.

In A galão, please., faz belongs to the fixed expression.

favor

[fah-VOHR]

Please

A polite expression used when making a request.

Example

Pode me ajudar, por favor?

Can you help me, please?

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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