Which Portuguese phrases matter most here?

“Este peixe é de hoje?” (Is this fish from today); “O que deseja?” (What would you like); “Pode limpar-me o peixe?” (Can you clean the fish for me). 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 the butcher's and fishmonger's counter in Portugal

At the fish counter ask “Este peixe é de hoje?” and “Pode limpar-me o peixe?”. At the butcher’s say what you’re cooking: “Preciso de um corte bom para cozinhar devagar”, or ask for an amount: “Pode dar-me um pedaço de uns quatrocentos gramas?”. Sellers usually weigh, wrap and tell you the total.

Try it · about two minutes

At a market you ask the fishmonger what is fresh and have your fish cleaned, then ask the butcher for a cut to cook slowly.

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

How does the conversation usually go?

At the market’s fish counter, whole fish are laid out on ice.
You
Este peixe é de hoje?
Is this fish from today?
Fishmonger and butcher
O que deseja?
What would you like?
You
Pode limpar-me o peixe?
Can you clean the fish for me?
Fishmonger and butcher
Mais alguma coisa?
Anything else?
You
Pode embrulhar à parte, por favor?
Can you wrap it separately, please?
Fishmonger and butcher
Boa tarde. Diga.
Good afternoon. How can I help?
You
Preciso de um corte bom para cozinhar devagar.
I need a cut that’s good for slow cooking.
Fishmonger and butcher
Fica pronto daqui a dez minutos.
It will be ready in ten minutes.
You
Quanto tempo dura no frigorífico?
How long does it keep in the fridge?
Fishmonger and butcher
Paga com cartão ou em dinheiro?
Card or cash?
You
Com cartão, por favor.
By card, please.

Which Portuguese phrases do you need?

Este peixe é de hoje?
Is this fish from today?
O que deseja?
What would you like?
Pode limpar-me o peixe?
Can you clean the fish for me?
Pode tirar as espinhas, por favor?
Can you remove the bones, please?
Pode embrulhar à parte, por favor?
Can you wrap it separately, please?
Como se cozinha isto?
How do you cook this?
Preciso de um corte bom para cozinhar devagar.
I need a cut that’s good for slow cooking.
Pode picar-me isto?
Can you mince this for me?
Pode dar-me um pedaço de uns quatrocentos gramas?
Can I have a piece of about four hundred grams?
Quanto tempo dura no frigorífico?
How long does it keep in the fridge?

What is worth knowing in Portugal?

At the counter

1
Greet the seller and wait your turn. At a busy counter, ask who is last.
Quem é o último?Who is last?
2
Say what you are cooking, and the seller will suggest a fish or a cut.
O que recomenda para hoje à noite?What do you recommend for tonight?
3
They weigh, prepare and wrap it, then tell you the total.

Cleaned while you wait

A peixaria is a fish shop and a talho a butcher’s. At a fish counter the seller will usually scale and gut the fish while you wait, and will fillet it if you ask.

Pode limpar-me o peixe?

Can you clean the fish for me?

About four hundred grams

Weights are in grams and kilos. Put “uns” before a number to say about: “uns quatrocentos gramas” is roughly four hundred.

Pode dar-me um pedaço de uns quatrocentos gramas?

Can I have a piece of about four hundred grams?

Questions about this situation

Which Portuguese phrases matter most here?: “Este peixe é de hoje?” (Is this fish from today); “O que deseja?” (What would you like); “Pode limpar-me o peixe?” (Can you clean the fish for me). 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

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.