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How to Say ‘Sorry, do you have a minute?’ in Portuguese

Desculpe, tem um minuto?

des-koo-lpe tayng oong mee-NOO-too

[des-koo-lpe tayng oong mee-NOO-too]

Phrase Breakdown

Desculpe,

des-koo-lpe

Excuse me,

The formal form. The first 'e' is nearly silent: 'dsh-KUL-p'.

Example

Desculpe, onde é a saída?

Excuse me, where is the exit?

Words in this phrase

Desculpe

[des-koo-lpe]

sorry

A polite expression used to forgive or ask for forgiveness.

Example

Eu estou desculpado.

I am forgiven.

tem um minuto?

tayng oong mee-NOO-too

do you have a minute?

A polite formal question with rising intonation.

Example

Tem um minuto agora?

Do you have a minute now?

Words in this phrase

tem

[tayng]

you have (formal)

Form of 'ter' (to have) used with 'você' or the polite third person to address a stranger.

Example

O senhor tem um carro bonito.

You have a nice car, sir.

[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.

minuto

[mee-NOO-too]

minute

A unit of time equal to sixty seconds; masculine noun.

Example

Espera um minuto, por favor.

Wait a minute, please.

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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