🙋📅🪑

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

Queria reservar uma mesa

kuh-REE-uh reh-zair-VAR OO-muh MEH-zah

[kuh-REE-uh reh-zair-VAR OO-muh MEH-zah]

💬 Usage Tip: Queria literally means "I wanted", but it's the standard polite way to say "I'd like". Swap in any action: Queria pagar "I'd like to pay".

Phrase Breakdown

Queria reservar

kuh-REE-uh reh-zair-VAR

I would like to book

'Queria' (literally 'I wanted') is the polite way to ask for something. The 'qu' sounds like 'k': 'k-REE-a'.

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

[reh-zair-VAR]

to reserve / to book

Verb used for booking a table, room, or service in advance.

Example

Em “Pode reservar”, “reservar” significa fazer a marcação com antecedência.

In “Pode reservar,” “reservar” means making the booking in advance.

uma mesa

OO-muh MEH-zah

a table

'Mesa' is feminine, so it takes 'uma'. The 's' between vowels sounds like 'z': 'MAY-za'.

Example

Há uma mesa livre?

Is there 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

[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.

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