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How to Say ‘Well, I'm going to grab a coffee.’ in Portuguese

Bem, vou buscar um café.

BEHNG voh boosh-KAR oong kah-FEH

[BEHNG voh boosh-KAR oong kah-FEH]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: um café means a small espresso by default. Announcing a coffee run is a polite, natural way to wrap up the chat.

Phrase Breakdown

Bem, vou buscar

BEHNG voh boosh-KAR

Well, I'm going to get

'Bem' here means 'well' and signals the end of a chat. It is nasal: 'bãy'. Pause slightly after it.

Example

Bem, vou buscar as chaves.

Well, I'm going to get the keys.

Words in this phrase

Bem

[BEHNG]

well

In a good or satisfactory way.

Example

Ele fez o trabalho muito bem.

He did the job very well.

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.

The object of 'buscar'. Make the 'um' nasal and stress 'FÉ'.

Example

Bebo um café de manhã.

I drink a coffee in the morning.

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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