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How to Say ‘And it's already booked that day, I'm sorry.’ in Portuguese

E nesse dia já está reservada, peço desculpa.

ee NEH-seh DEE-ah zhah esh-TAH reh-zer-VAH-dah PEH-soo desh-KOOL-pah

[ee NEH-seh DEE-ah zhah esh-TAH reh-zer-VAH-dah PEH-soo desh-KOOL-pah]

Phrase Breakdown

E nesse dia

ee NEH-seh DEE-ah

And on that day

'Nesse' combines 'em' and 'esse', meaning 'on that'. 'E' sounds like 'i': 'i NE-ss' DI-a'.

Example

E nesse dia choveu.

And on that day it rained.

Words in this phrase

[ee]

and

A simple connector joining two qualities or ideas.

Example

Procuro um ambiente aberto e humano.

I am looking for an open and human environment.

nesse

[NEH-seh]

on that

Contraction of 'em' + 'esse'.

Example

Nesse restaurante come-se bem.

In that restaurant you eat well.

dia

[DEE-ah]

day

A common noun meaning 'day'; it can refer to a calendar day or daily life in expressions.

Example

No dia da feira de carreiras, perguntei sobre o ambiente de trabalho.

On the day of the careers fair, I asked about the work environment.

já está reservada,

zhah esh-TAH reh-zer-VAH-dah

it's already booked,

The feminine 'reservada' refers back to 'a sala'. Stress 'VA'.

Example

A sala já está reservada.

The room is already booked.

Words in this phrase

já

[zhah]

already

Prior to a specified or implied time.

Example

Já comi meu almoço.

I have already eaten my lunch.

está

[esh-TAH]

3rd person singular of “estar” (“is/are”), used for temporary states/conditions (e.g., whether a seat is free).

Example

Este lugar está livre agora.

This seat is free now.

reservada

[reh-zer-VAH-dah]

reserved / booked

Feminine past participle of 'reservar'.

Example

A mesa está reservada.

The table is reserved.

peço desculpa.

PEH-soo desh-KOOL-pah

I'm sorry / I apologise.

This is a polite apology, literally 'I ask forgiveness'. Say 'PE-su d'sh-KUL-pa'.

Example

Peço desculpa pelo atraso.

I apologise for the delay.

Words in this phrase

peço

[PEH-soo]

I ask (for)

First person of 'pedir'; with 'desculpa' it means 'I apologise'.

Example

Peço um café, por favor.

I'm asking for a coffee, please.

desculpa

[desh-KOOL-pah]

sorry / excuse (me)

Informal imperative of 'desculpar', used to apologize to a friend.

Example

Desculpa, não te vi.

Sorry, I didn't see you.

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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