Which Portuguese phrases matter most here?

“Quem é o último?” (Who is last); “O que deseja?” (What would you like); “Queria pão, por favor.” (I’d like some bread, please). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Not yet: this page has no recordings so far. Each phrase comes with its meaning in English.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Portugal. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Portuguese phrases for buying bread at the bakery in Portugal

Say what you want and point if you don’t know the name: “Queria pão, por favor”. The baker may ask “Quer fatiado?” and “Mais alguma coisa?”. To find out what a pastry is called, ask “Como se chama isto?”, then “Pode dar-me dois, por favor?”. Say “Sem saco, por favor” if you don’t need a bag.

Try it · about two minutes

You pop into a bakery for a loaf of bread and a pastry you can’t name, so you point and ask.

You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Baker
O que deseja?
What would you like?
You
Queria pão, por favor.
I’d like some bread, please.
Baker
Quer fatiado?
Do you want it sliced?
You
Sim, por favor.
Yes, please.
Baker
Mais alguma coisa?
Anything else?
You
Como se chama isto?
What is this called?
Baker
É um pastel de nata.
It’s a custard tart.
You
Levo este.
I’ll take this one.
Baker
Quer saco?
Do you want a bag?
You
Pode ser um saco de papel?
Can it be a paper bag?
Baker
Cartão ou dinheiro?
Card or cash?
You
Com cartão, por favor.
By card, please.

Which Portuguese phrases do you need?

Quem é o último?
Who is last?
O que deseja?
What would you like?
Queria pão, por favor.
I’d like some bread, please.
Quer fatiado?
Do you want it sliced?
O pão ainda está quente?
Is the bread still warm?
Como se chama isto?
What is this called?
Pode dar-me dois, por favor?
Can I have two, please?
Levo este.
I’ll take this one.
Sem saco, por favor.
No bag, please.
Posso reservar um pão para amanhã de manhã?
Can I reserve a loaf for tomorrow morning?

What is worth knowing in Portugal?

How it usually goes

1
In a busy bakery, take a ticket if there is a machine, or ask who is last.
Quem é o último?Who is last?
2
Say what you want, and point if you don’t know the word.
Como se chama isto?What is this called?
3
Pay at the counter, usually to the person who served you.

Pastéis de nata

The custard tart is the best-known Portuguese pastry. Bakeries and pastelarias (pastry shops) sell it, and plenty of people have one with a coffee at the counter.

Pode dar-me dois, por favor?

Can I have two, please?

Warm and fresh

Many bakeries bake several times a day, so it’s fine to ask whether the bread is still warm. You can also ask them to put a loaf aside for the next morning.

O pão ainda está quente?

Is the bread still warm?

Questions about this situation

Which Portuguese phrases matter most here?: “Quem é o último?” (Who is last); “O que deseja?” (What would you like); “Queria pão, por favor.” (I’d like some bread, please). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Not yet: this page has no recordings so far. Each phrase comes with its meaning in English.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Portugal. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Portuguese

All situations in Portuguese

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.