🙋📅🍽️

How to Say ‘I'd like to book a table’ in Portuguese

Queria reservar uma mesa

kuh-REE-uh heh-zer-VAR OO-muh MAY-zah

[kuh-REE-uh heh-zer-VAR OO-muh MAY-zah]

💬 Usage Tip: Queria literally means "I wanted", but it's the standard polite way to ask for something. It works anywhere: Queria um café "I'd like a coffee".

Phrase Breakdown

Queria reservar

kuh-REE-uh heh-zer-VAR

I would like to book

'Queria' is a polite 'I would like'. Say it 'kri-A' or 'ke-RI-a'. In 'reservar' the first 'e' is almost silent: 'rr'zer-VAR'.

Example

Queria reservar um quarto.

I would like to book a room.

Words in this phrase

Queria

[kuh-REE-uh]

I would like

A polite way to introduce what you want to say.

Example

Na frase «Queria» agradecer, o tom fica mais suave e profissional.

In the phrase “I would like” to thank, the tone becomes softer and more professional.

reservar

[heh-zer-VAR]

to book / to reserve

Verb for booking something in advance, like a table or room.

Example

Quero reservar um quarto.

I want to book a room.

uma mesa

OO-muh MAY-zah

a table

The article stays with its noun. Say 'U-ma ME-za'. The 's' between vowels sounds like 'z'.

Example

Temos uma mesa livre.

We have a free table.

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.

mesa

[MAY-zah]

table

Feminine noun; a table, e.g. in a restaurant.

Example

A mesa está livre.

The table is free.

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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