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How to Say ‘May I ask a question?’ in Portuguese

Posso fazer uma pergunta?

POH-soo fa-ZEHR OO-muh pehr-GOON-tah

[POH-soo fa-ZEHR OO-muh pehr-GOON-tah]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: This is the polite way to get the floor after a talk in a Portuguese office. People often raise a hand and say it before they ask anything.

Phrase Breakdown

Posso fazer

POH-soo fa-ZEHR

Can I ask / make

'Posso' means 'I can'. In 'fazer' the first 'e' is almost swallowed: 'f'ZER'.

Example

Posso fazer isto?

Can I do this?

Words in this phrase

Posso

[POH-soo]

can I

First person of 'poder'; used to ask permission.

Example

Posso sentar-me aqui?

Can I sit here?

fazer

[fa-ZEHR]

to do

To perform an action or task.

Example

Preciso fazer o trabalho.

I need to do the work.

uma pergunta?

OO-muh pehr-GOON-tah

a question?

'Pergunta' is stressed on 'GUN'. You 'make' (fazer) a question in Portuguese.

Example

Tenho uma pergunta.

I have a question.

Words in this phrase

uma

[OO-muh]

Feminine singular indefinite article before 'família'.

Example

Uma empresa pode ter uma cultura muito acolhedora.

A company can have a very welcoming culture.

pergunta

[pehr-GOON-tah]

question

Feminine noun; 'fazer uma pergunta' means to ask a question.

Example

Tenho uma pergunta sobre o salário.

I have a question about the salary.

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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