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How to Say ‘I was thinking of making a reservation for Saturday’ in Portuguese

Estava a pensar fazer uma reserva para sábado

ish-TAH-vah ah pen-SAR fah-ZEHR OO-muh reh-ZEHR-vah PAH-ruh SAH-bah-doo

[ish-TAH-vah ah pen-SAR fah-ZEHR OO-muh reh-ZEHR-vah PAH-ruh SAH-bah-doo]

💬 Usage Tip: Days of the week need no extra word for "on": para sábado is "for Saturday". Swap in any day: para sexta "for Friday".

Phrase Breakdown

Estava a pensar

ish-TAH-vah ah pen-SAR

I was thinking of

This is a soft, polite opening for a request.

Example

Estava a pensar mudar de casa.

I was thinking of moving house.

Words in this phrase

Estava

[ish-TAH-vah]

I was

Imperfect of 'estar', first person; with 'a pensar' it softens a request politely.

Example

Estava a pensar ligar ao restaurante.

I was thinking of calling the restaurant.

[ah]

(progressive marker)

In European Portuguese, 'estar a + infinitive' means doing something right now.

Example

Estou a comer.

I am eating.

pensar

[pen-SAR]

to think

Infinitive of 'pensar'; after 'estar a' it shows an ongoing action.

Example

Estou a pensar no jantar.

I'm thinking about dinner.

fazer uma reserva

fah-ZEHR OO-muh reh-ZEHR-vah

making a reservation

It follows 'pensar' directly as an infinitive. Unlike English, no preposition is needed.

Example

Pode fazer uma reserva por telefone.

You can make a reservation by phone.

Words in this phrase

fazer

[fah-ZEHR]

to make

Verb 'fazer', here meaning to make (a booking).

Example

Quero fazer uma marcação.

I want to make a booking.

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.

reserva

[reh-ZEHR-vah]

reservation

A booking of a table, room, etc.

Example

Tenho uma reserva para dois.

I have a reservation for two.

para sábado

PAH-ruh SAH-bah-doo

for Saturday

'Para' plus a day means 'for' that day. Stress falls on 'SÁ'.

Example

Tenho bilhetes para sábado.

I have tickets for Saturday.

Words in this phrase

para

[PAH-ruh]

for

Preposition used to show who something matters to.

Example

Este tipo de ambiente é ideal para quem gosta de colaborar.

This type of environment is ideal for someone who likes collaborating.

sábado

[SAH-bah-doo]

Saturday

Day of the week after Friday.

Example

O restaurante abre ao sábado.

The restaurant opens on Saturday.

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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