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How to Say ‘I'll just have the strong milky coffee’ in Portuguese

Fico só pelo galão escuro

FEE-koo saw PEH-loo gah-LOWNG ehs-koor-oh

[FEE-koo saw PEH-loo gah-LOWNG ehs-koor-oh]

💬 Usage Tip: ficar por means "to stick with" or "settle for", and pelo is por plus o merged. Same pattern: Fico pela água "I'll just have water".

Phrase Breakdown

Fico só

FEE-koo saw

I'll just stick

Say 'FEE-koo saw'. 'Ficar por' means 'to stick with' or 'to just have'.

Example

Fico só aqui.

I'll just stay here.

Words in this phrase

Fico

[FEE-koo]

I'll stay / I'll stick

Form of 'ficar'; 'fico por' means 'I'll stick with'.

Example

Fico com este.

I'll take this one.

só

[saw]

just; only

Used to minimize or soften what was said, as in 'just' or 'only'.

Example

Na expressão «Era só», «só» mostra que era apenas uma confirmação.

In the expression "It was just," "só" shows that it was only a confirmation.

pelo galão escuro

PEH-loo gah-LOWNG ehs-koor-oh

with the dark galão

Say 'PEH-loo guh-LOWNG ush-KOO-roo'. A 'galão escuro' is a milky coffee in a glass, made with more coffee.

Example

Queria um galão escuro.

I'd like a dark galão.

Words in this phrase

pelo

[PEH-loo]

with the

'por' + 'o'; in 'ficar pelo' it means to settle for the.

Example

Fico pelo café.

I'll stick with the coffee.

galão

[gah-LOWNG]

galão (milky coffee)

Portuguese coffee with lots of milk in a tall glass.

Example

O galão está quente.

The galão is hot.

escuro

[ehs-koor-oh]

Dark

Having a deep or darker color.

Example

Ele gosta do café bem escuro.

He likes the coffee very dark.

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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