❓🙋

How to Say ‘What do you want?’ in Portuguese

O que é que quer?

oo keh eh kuh kehr

[oo keh eh kuh kehr]

💬 Usage Tip: é que adds no meaning. Portuguese speakers just love slipping it into questions: Onde é que está? "Where is it?"

🇵🇹 In Portugal: With no tu, the bare verb quer is the polite "you", the safe way to address a stranger, even a hostile one.

Phrase Breakdown

O que é

oo keh eh

What is it

Say it quickly as one chunk: 'u kee EH'. The 'que' is very short.

Example

O que é isto?

What is this?

Words in this phrase

[oo]

What

Used to ask for information about something.

Example

O que você quer fazer hoje?

What do you want to do today?

que

[keh]

What

Used to express a reaction to previous information.

Example

Que lindo é este lugar!

What a beautiful place this is!

[eh]

Form of the verb 'ser' used to identify or state something.

Example

É meu interesse conhecer melhor a empresa.

It is my interest to get to know the company better.

que quer?

kuh kehr

that (you) want?

'quer' is the polite 'you want'. Say 'kee KEHR', with a light tapped 'r'.

Example

O que é que quer comer?

What do you want to eat?

Words in this phrase

que

[kuh]

that

Often used in expressions like claro que sim to reinforce the statement.

Example

Acho que podemos colaborar bem.

I think that we can collaborate well.

quer

[kehr]

do you want

A polite question asking about preference or choice.

Example

Quer canela no cappuccino?

Do you want cinnamon on the cappuccino?

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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