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How to Say ‘I brought a little something for you.’ in Portuguese

Trouxe uma pequena lembrança para a senhora.

TROH-seh OO-muh peh-KEH-nuh lehm-BRAN-sah PAH-ruh ah seh-NYOH-rah

[TROH-seh OO-muh peh-KEH-nuh lehm-BRAN-sah PAH-ruh ah seh-NYOH-rah]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Calling your gift a pequena lembrança downplays it modestly, which is how Portuguese guests usually present gifts. Flowers, sweets or wine are typical when visiting someone's home.

Phrase Breakdown

Trouxe uma pequena lembrança

TROH-seh OO-muh peh-KEH-nuh lehm-BRAN-sah

I brought a small gift

'Trouxe' sounds like 'TROH-s(e)', with 'x' as 'ss'. 'Lembrança' has a nasal 'em'.

Example

Trouxe uma pequena lembrança de Itália.

I brought a small souvenir from Italy.

Words in this phrase

Trouxe

[TROH-seh]

I brought

Past tense of 'trazer' (to bring), first person singular.

Example

Trouxe flores para o jantar.

I brought flowers for dinner.

uma

[OO-muh]

a / one (feminine)

The feminine singular indefinite article, used before feminine nouns like 'mesa'.

Example

Ao chegar, pedimos Uma mesa para dois.

When arriving, we ask for 'A table' for two.

pequena

[peh-KEH-nuh]

small

Feminine singular adjective meaning small; it describes a feminine noun like 'sala'.

Example

A sala é pequena, mas muito confortável.

The room is small, but very comfortable.

lembrança

[lehm-BRAN-sah]

souvenir; small gift

A token gift or keepsake; also means 'memory'.

Example

Comprei uma lembrança de Lisboa.

I bought a souvenir from Lisbon.

para a senhora.

PAH-ruh ah seh-NYOH-rah

for you (madam).

This is the polite 'you' for a woman. 'Para a' blends into 'pra'.

Example

Este café é para a senhora.

This coffee is for you, madam.

Words in this phrase

para

[PAH-ruh]

for

Preposition used to show who something matters to.

Example

Este tipo de ambiente é ideal para quem gosta de colaborar.

This type of environment is ideal for someone who likes collaborating.

[ah]

the (feminine singular)

Same article "a" used before a feminine noun; often unstressed in speech.

Example

A estação é ali à direita.

The station is right there on the right.

senhora

[seh-NYOH-rah]

you (polite, to a woman); madam

Polite way to address a woman as 'you', used with the third-person verb.

Example

A senhora precisa de ajuda?

Do you need help, madam?

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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