🪑⬇️🚶‍♂️🍽️➡️

How to Say ‘You can take a seat, I'll bring it to your table.’ in Portuguese

Pode sentar-se, que eu levo-lho à mesa.

POH-d sen-TAR-seh keh eh-ooh LEH-voo-lyoo ah MEH-zah

[POH-d sen-TAR-seh keh eh-ooh LEH-voo-lyoo ah MEH-zah]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: In many Portuguese cafés you order at the counter, and staff bring it over if you sit. Table service can sometimes cost a little more than drinking standing at the balcão "counter".

Phrase Breakdown

Pode sentar-se,

POH-d sen-TAR-seh

You can sit down,

A polite invitation. 'Pode' sounds like 'POD', with a nearly silent final 'e'. Say 'sentar-se' as sen-TAR-s'.

Example

Pode sentar-se aqui.

You can sit here.

Words in this phrase

Pode

[POH-d]

can / may

A form of 'poder', used to ask if something is possible or allowed.

Example

Pode ficar perto da janela?

Can it be near the window?

sentar-se

[sen-TAR-seh]

sit down

Reflexive verb: to sit oneself down.

Example

Quer sentar-se aqui?

Do you want to sit here?

que eu levo-lho

keh eh-ooh LEH-voo-lyoo

as I'll bring it to you

Here 'que' means 'because' or 'as'. 'Que eu' blends into 'kew': 'kew LE-vu-lyu'.

Example

Espere, que eu levo-lho.

Wait, I'll bring it to you.

Words in this phrase

que

[keh]

because / since

Here a conjunction giving a reason, like 'as' or 'since', common in spoken Portuguese.

Example

Vá descansar, que eu trato disso.

Go and rest, as I'll take care of it.

[eh-ooh]

Pronoun referring to oneself.

Example

Eu estou aqui.

I am here.

levo-lho

[LEH-voo-lyoo]

I take it to you

Verb 'levar' (to take) in the first person, joined with 'lhe' (to you) and 'o' (it) into 'lho'.

Example

O café está pronto, levo-lho já.

The coffee is ready, I'll bring it to you right away.

à mesa.

ah MEH-zah

to the table.

Use an open 'a' in 'à', then MAY-za, with the tone falling at the end.

Example

O café vai à mesa.

The coffee goes to the table.

Words in this phrase

[ah]

to the

Indicating direction or destination towards something specific.

Example

Vamos à praia amanhã.

We are going to the beach tomorrow.

mesa

[MEH-zah]

Table

The word used for a restaurant table in a reservation context.

Example

A Mesa está reservada para as nove.

The table is reserved for nine o'clock.

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.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lisbon with zero Portuguese and honestly thought I’d be pointing at menus forever. Three weeks in and I’m having real conversations with my landlord.”

Priya N., 35, Freelance Designer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer