How to Say ‘Would you prefer a double espresso or an abatanado, which has more water?’ in Portuguese
Prefere um café duplo ou um abatanado, que leva mais água?
preh-FEHR oong kah-FEH DOO-ploo oh oong ah-bah-tah-NAH-doo kuh LEH-vah mysh AH-gwah
[preh-FEHR oong kah-FEH DOO-ploo oh oong ah-bah-tah-NAH-doo kuh LEH-vah mysh AH-gwah]
Phrase Breakdown
Prefere um café duplo
preh-FEHR oong kah-FEH DOO-ploo
Would you prefer a double espresso
A formal question offering a choice. Stress 'FE' in 'preFEre'.
Prefere um café duplo hoje?
Would you prefer a double espresso today?
Words in this phrase
Prefere
[preh-FEHR]
do you prefer
A polite question asking someone's preference.
Prefere mesa no interior se estiver frio lá fora.
Do you prefer a table inside if it is cold outside?
um
[oong]
a
An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.
Em «um» prazer, o artigo introduz a expressão educada.
In “a” pleasure, the article introduces the polite expression.
café
[kah-FEH]
coffee
Literally coffee; in networking contexts, it often means an informal meeting.
Aceitava um café para falarmos melhor.
I would accept a coffee to talk more properly.
duplo
[DOO-ploo]
double
A double espresso, two shots in one cup.
Quero um café duplo.
I want a double espresso.
ou um abatanado,
oh oong ah-bah-tah-NAH-doo
or an 'abatanado',
An 'abatanado' is a long coffee with extra water, similar to an Americano. Stress 'NA': 'uh-buh-tuh-NAH-doo'.
Queria um abatanado, se faz favor.
I'd like an abatanado, please.
Words in this phrase
ou
[oh]
or
Used to present an alternative in a question or comparison.
No networking, posso perguntar se o ambiente é formal ou descontraído.
In networking, I can ask whether the atmosphere is formal or relaxed.
um
[oong]
a
An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.
Em «um» prazer, o artigo introduz a expressão educada.
In “a” pleasure, the article introduces the polite expression.
abatanado
[ah-bah-tah-NAH-doo]
long black coffee
Portuguese coffee: espresso topped up with hot water in a larger cup.
Um abatanado, por favor.
A long black coffee, please.
que leva mais água?
kuh LEH-vah mysh AH-gwah
which has more water?
'Que' introduces a description, like 'which'. Let your voice rise at the end for the question.
É a sopa que leva mais legumes.
It's the soup that has more vegetables.
Words in this phrase
que
[kuh]
that
Often used in expressions like claro que sim to reinforce the statement.
Acho que podemos colaborar bem.
I think that we can collaborate well.
leva
[LEH-vah]
takes / contains
From 'levar'; here it means 'has in it' as an ingredient.
Esta sopa leva cenoura.
This soup has carrot in it.
mais
[mysh]
more
Used to ask for additional information or greater quantity.
Quero saber mais antes de me candidatar.
I want to know more before applying.
água
[AH-gwah]
water
A basic word for ordering water in cafés and restaurants.
Quero água, por favor.
I want water, please.
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