Restaurant reservations Part 3: Requesting accommodations for special occasions, such as birthdays or anniversaries.
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Key Phrases
Queria fazer uma reserva para sábado à noite.
I'd like to make a reservation for Saturday night.
Para seis pessoas, por favor.
For six people, please.
Isso seria perfeito.
That would be perfect.
Skills You'll Learn
How to make a restaurant reservation politely.
Como fazer uma reserva num restaurante de forma educada.
How to give details such as date, time, and number of people.
Como dar detalhes como a data, a hora e o número de pessoas.
How to ask for special arrangements for a birthday celebration.
Como pedir preparativos especiais para uma celebração de aniversário.
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are calling a restaurant in Portugal to book a table for six people on Saturday night for your mother’s birthday, asking for a quiet corner and permission to bring a small cake.
Boa tarde. Queria fazer uma reserva para sábado à noite.
Good afternoon. I’d like to make a reservation for Saturday night.
Boa tarde. Com certeza. Para quantas pessoas?
Good afternoon. Of course. For how many people?
Para seis pessoas, por favor. É para o aniversário da minha mãe.
For six people, please. It’s for my mother’s birthday.
Que bonito. A que horas desejam a mesa?
How lovely. What time would you like the table?
Às oito, se possível. Também queria um canto mais calmo.
At eight, if possible. I’d also like a quieter corner.
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Boa tarde.
BOH-ah TAR-d(uh)
Good afternoon.
💬 In Portugal, unstressed vowels get very reduced, so [Boa tarde] often sounds closer to (boh-ah TAR-d(ə)). The [a] in [tarde] is clear because it's stressed, but the final [e] is very light.
See breakdown →Queria
kuh-REE-ah
I would like
💬 [Queria] literally looks like [I wanted], but in requests it often means a polite [I'd like]. You can reuse this softening pattern with other things: [Queria marcar uma mesa] or [Queria pedir a conta].
See breakdown →Fazer uma reserva
fah-ZAIR OO-ma reh-ZAIR-vah
To make a reservation
Queria fazer uma reserva.
kuh-REE-ah fah-ZAIR OO-ma reh-ZAIR-vah
I'd like to make a reservation.
💬 [Queria] is a very common polite way to ask for something in Portugal, softer than a direct [Quero]. It's useful beyond reservations: [Queria uma mesa] or [Queria falar convosco].
See breakdown →Para
PAH-rah
For
Sábado à noite
SAH-buh-doo ah NOY-t(uh)
Saturday night
💬 Time expressions often use [à/às] in Portuguese, so you'll often hear [sábado à noite], [às oito], [à tarde]. Here [à] is [a] + [a] together.
See breakdown →Para sábado à noite
PAH-rah SAH-buh-doo ah NOY-t(uh)
For Saturday night
Com certeza.
kong ser-TEH-zah
Of course.
🇵🇹 This is a natural warm reply from staff when confirming they can help. In Portugal it sounds a bit more reassuring than a plain yes.
See breakdown →Para quantas pessoas?
PAH-rah KWAHN-tash pess-SOH-ash
For how many people?
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