🚶☕

How to Say ‘I'm going to get a coffee’ in Portuguese

Vou buscar um café

voh boosh-KAR oong kah-FEH

[voh boosh-KAR oong kah-FEH]

💬 Usage Tip: buscar means "go and get" or "fetch", not "search". Vou buscar as crianças is "I'm going to pick up the kids".

Phrase Breakdown

Vou buscar

voh boosh-KAR

I'm going to get

'Vou' + infinitive is the near future. 'Buscar' means 'to fetch'. The s sounds like 'sh': 'bush-KAR'.

Example

Vou buscar o meu filho.

I'm going to pick up my son.

Words in this phrase

Vou

[voh]

I'm going to

'I' form of ir (to go), used for near future.

Example

Vou comer agora.

I'm going to eat now.

buscar

[boosh-KAR]

to get / fetch

Infinitive verb meaning to go and get something.

Example

Vou buscar o casaco.

I'll go get my coat.

um café

oong kah-FEH

a coffee

In Portugal 'um café' means an espresso. 'Um' is nasal, and the stress falls on 'FÉ'.

Example

Queria um café, por favor.

I'd like a coffee, please.

Words in this phrase

[oong]

An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Em «um» prazer, o artigo introduz a expressão educada.

In “a” pleasure, the article introduces the polite expression.

café

[kah-FEH]

coffee

Literally coffee; in networking contexts, it often means an informal meeting.

Example

Aceitava um café para falarmos melhor.

I would accept a coffee to talk more properly.

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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