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How to Say ‘I can, but I want a new fish.’ in Portuguese

Posso, mas quero um peixe novo.

POH-soo mahsh KEH-roo oong PAY-shuh NOH-voo

[POH-soo mahsh KEH-roo oong PAY-shuh NOH-voo]

Phrase Breakdown

Posso,

POH-soo

I can,

This is from 'poder' (can). Say it 'POH-su', with an open 'o', then pause at the comma.

Example

Posso entrar?

Can I come in?

Words in this phrase

Posso

[POH-soo]

I can

First-person form of 'poder', meaning 'I can' or 'I am able to'.

Example

Sim, posso pedir essa mesa para si.

Yes, I can request that table for you.

mas quero

mahsh KEH-roo

but I want

The final 's' of 'mas' sounds like 'sh' before 'quero'. Say the two words together.

Example

Gosto, mas quero outro.

I like it, but I want another one.

Words in this phrase

mas

[mahsh]

but

Used to introduce a contrast or exception.

Example

Estou cansado, mas otimista.

I am tired, but optimistic.

quero

[KEH-roo]

I want

A direct way to say what you want; less soft than “Queria.”

Example

Quero um médio.

I want a medium one.

um peixe novo.

oong PAY-shuh NOH-voo

a new fish.

Keep 'um' nasal, say 'peixe' as 'PAY-sh', and stress the first syllable of 'novo'.

Example

Ela comprou um peixe novo.

She bought a new fish.

Words in this phrase

[oong]

An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Em «um» prazer, o artigo introduz a expressão educada.

In “a” pleasure, the article introduces the polite expression.

peixe

[PAY-shuh]

fish

Fish as food; very common in Portuguese cuisine.

Example

Vou comer o peixe porque parece fresco.

I am going to eat the fish because it looks fresh.

novo

[NOH-voo]

new

Different from a previous one; recently introduced or obtained.

Example

Ele tem um novo telefone.

He has a new phone.

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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