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How to Say ‘Go ahead, what's the matter?’ in Portuguese

Diga, o que se passa?

DEE-gah oh keh seh PAH-sah

[DEE-gah oh keh seh PAH-sah]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Diga "go ahead / tell me" is how many Portuguese people answer the phone or invite you to explain. It's polite and businesslike, not abrupt.

Phrase Breakdown

Diga,

DEE-gah

Tell me / Go ahead,

A polite imperative of 'dizer' (to say), often used to invite someone to speak. Stress the first syllable: DEE-gah.

Example

Diga, em que posso ajudar?

Go ahead, how can I help?

Words in this phrase

Diga

[DEE-gah]

go ahead / tell me

Polite command form of 'dizer' (to say); used to invite someone to speak.

Example

Diga, em que posso ajudar?

Go ahead, how can I help?

o que se passa?

oh keh seh PAH-sah

what's going on?

A fixed question meaning 'what's happening?'. Say it as one flowing unit: 'u kə sə PA-sɐ'. The unstressed vowels are very reduced in European Portuguese.

Example

O que se passa contigo?

What's going on with you?

Words in this phrase

[oh]

what

Used to refer to a thing or things previously mentioned or easily identified.

Example

O que é isso?

What is this?

que

[keh]

what

Used with 'o' to form 'what' in questions.

Example

O que queres comer?

What do you want to eat?

[seh]

(reflexive particle)

Reflexive pronoun used in the expression 'passar-se' (to happen).

Example

O que se passa contigo?

What's going on with you?

passa

[PAH-sah]

is happening

From 'passar'; 'passar-se' means to happen or go on.

Example

Não sei o que se passa.

I don't know what's going on.

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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