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How to Say ‘Maybe I can exchange it for something else?’ in Portuguese

Se calhar posso trocá-lo por outra coisa?

seh kah-LYAR POH-soo troo-KAH-loo poor OH-trah KOY-sah

[seh kah-LYAR POH-soo troo-KAH-loo poor OH-trah KOY-sah]

Phrase Breakdown

Se calhar

seh kah-LYAR

Maybe / perhaps

A very common European Portuguese expression for 'maybe'. Say 's(e) ka-LYAR'.

Example

Se calhar chove amanhã.

Maybe it'll rain tomorrow.

Words in this phrase

[seh]

(part of 'se calhar': maybe)

Forms the very common expression 'se calhar', meaning perhaps.

Example

Se calhar chove amanhã.

Maybe it'll rain tomorrow.

calhar

[kah-LYAR]

(part of 'se calhar': maybe)

Verb 'to happen by chance'; with 'se' it means maybe.

Example

Se calhar ela não vem.

Maybe she isn't coming.

posso trocá-lo

POH-soo troo-KAH-loo

I can exchange it

'Trocar' means to exchange. With '-lo' attached, the final 'r' drops and the 'a' gets an accent: 'tru-KÁ-lu'.

Example

Posso trocá-lo amanhã?

Can I exchange it tomorrow?

Words in this phrase

posso

[POH-soo]

can I / may I

Used to ask permission or possibility politely.

Example

Pergunto "Posso pagar em dinheiro?" antes de tirar as notas.

I ask "Can I pay in cash?" before taking out the notes.

trocá-lo

[troo-KAH-loo]

exchange it

Verb 'trocar' with 'o' (it) attached as '-lo'.

Example

A camisola é pequena, vou trocá-lo amanhã.

It's too small, I'll exchange it tomorrow.

por outra coisa?

poor OH-trah KOY-sah

for something else?

'Trocar por' means 'to exchange for'. Use a rising intonation for the question. Say 'pu-RÔ-tra KOY-za'.

Example

Queria trocar por outra coisa.

I'd like to swap it for something else.

Words in this phrase

por

[poor]

for

Used for exchanging one thing for another.

Example

Troquei o livro por um disco.

I swapped the book for a record.

outra

[OH-trah]

another; other

Feminine form of 'outro'.

Example

Quero outra chávena.

I want another cup.

coisa

[KOY-sah]

thing

An item or object, used to refer to any non-specific item in conversation.

Example

Há alguma coisa que você precisa?

Is there anything you need?

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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