Basic Portuguese in 30 Days: At a café

1. Question 1 of 10

   Which is the most polite way to order?

   • AUm café, já.
   • BQuero um café.
   • CDá-me um café.
   • DQueria um café, por favor.
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Queria um café, por favor.

   Queria (I would like) with por favor is the polite way to order in Portugal.

2. Question 2 of 10

   In Portugal, what do you get when you order 'um café'?

   • AA large coffee with milk
   • BA small strong black coffee
   • CCoffee with milk in a tall glass
   • DA cup of tea
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A small strong black coffee

   Um café in Portugal is an espresso: small, strong and black. Coffee with milk in a tall glass is um galão.

3. Question 3 of 10

   What is 'um pastel de nata'?

   • Aa ham sandwich
   • Ba custard tart
   • Ca chocolate cake
   • Da cheese pastry
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   Answer: B. a custard tart

   Um pastel de nata is a small custard tart, very popular in Portugal.

4. Question 4 of 10

   The waiter asks: 'Mais alguma coisa?' What does he mean?

   • ADo you want sugar?
   • BTo take away?
   • CAnything else?
   • DIs everything OK?
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Anything else?

   Mais alguma coisa? means 'Anything else?'. If you don't want more, say é tudo.

5. Question 5 of 10

   How do you ask for the bill?

   • AA caixa, por favor.
   • BO conto, por favor.
   • CA conta, por favor.
   • DA ementa, por favor.
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A conta, por favor.

   A conta is the bill. A ementa is the menu.

6. Question 6 of 10

   You want still water. What do you say?

   • AQueria uma água sem gás.
   • BQueria um gás sem água.
   • CQueria uma água com gás.
   • DQueria uma água com leite.
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Queria uma água sem gás.

   Sem gás means 'without gas' (still). Com gás means sparkling.

7. Question 7 of 10

   The waiter asks: 'É para comer aqui ou para levar?' You want to take it away. What do you say?

   • APara levar, por favor.
   • BPara mim, um café.
   • CÉ tudo, obrigado.
   • DPara aqui, por favor.
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Para levar, por favor.

   Para levar means 'to take away'. Para aqui would mean you want to eat in the café.

8. Question 8 of 10

   Listen. What does the customer order?

   Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

   No sound? Read the text instead

   Empregado: Bom dia, o que deseja?
   Cliente: Queria um galão e uma tosta mista, por favor.

   • AAn espresso and a custard tart
   • BA galão and a toasted ham and cheese sandwich
   • CA tea and a toasted ham and cheese sandwich
   • DA galão and a custard tart
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A galão and a toasted ham and cheese sandwich

   The customer says queria um galão e uma tosta mista. A tosta mista is a toasted ham and cheese sandwich.

   Transcript

   Empregado: Bom dia, o que deseja?
   Cliente: Queria um galão e uma tosta mista, por favor.

9. Question 9 of 10

   Listen. What kind of water does the customer want?

   Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

   No sound? Read the text instead

   Cliente: Uma água, por favor.
   Empregada: Fresca ou natural?
   Cliente: Fresca, se faz favor.

   • ACold water
   • BRoom-temperature water
   • CSparkling water
   • DHot water
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Cold water

   The customer answers fresca, which means cold from the fridge. Natural would mean room temperature.

   Transcript

   Cliente: Uma água, por favor.
   Empregada: Fresca ou natural?
   Cliente: Fresca, se faz favor.

10. Question 10 of 10

    Read the menu. You order a coffee and a custard tart. How much do you pay?

    Café Central – Ementa
    Café: 0,80 €
    Galão: 1,50 €
    Chá: 1,20 €
    Pastel de nata: 1,30 €
    Tosta mista: 3,00 €

    • A€2.80
    • B€2.10
    • C€2.30
    • D€1.60
    Show answer

    Answer: B. €2.10

    Café costs 0,80 € and pastel de nata costs 1,30 €. Together that is 2,10 €.

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