How to Ask Questions in Portuguese

Asking questions is one of the most fundamental skills in any language, and mastering this in Portuguese can help you communicate more confidently, whether you're traveling, living in a Portuguese-speaking country, or simply improving your language skills. In this guide, you'll learn how to form different types of questions in European Portuguese, from simple yes/no questions to more complex ones involving interrogative words.

1. Interrogative Words (WH-Questions)

Just like in English, Portuguese has interrogative words that help you ask open-ended questions. Here are some key ones you need to know:

• Quem – Who

• O que / Que – What

• Onde – Where

• Quando – When

• Porquê / Por que – Why

• Como – How

• Qual / Quais – Which (singular/plural)

• Quanto / Quantos / Quantas – How much / How many

  
  

These words will allow you to ask specific questions and engage in deeper conversations.

Examples:

• Quem é aquele homem? (Who is that man?)

• O que estás a fazer? (What are you doing?)

• Onde é o restaurante? (Where is the restaurant?)

• Quando vais para casa? (When are you going home?)

• Por que estás a aprender português? (Why are you learning Portuguese?)

• Como se faz este prato? (How do you make this dish?)

2. Yes/No Questions

Yes/no questions in Portuguese are relatively straightforward and don't require auxiliary verbs as in English. Often, simply raising the intonation at the end of a sentence turns it into a question.

Examples:

• Gostas de café? (Do you like coffee?)

• Estás em casa? (Are you at home?)

  
  

For a more polite tone or to ask for confirmation, you can add "não" at the end of a statement.

Example:

• Tu estudas português, não? (You study Portuguese, right?)

3. Question Structure in Portuguese

The typical word order in Portuguese questions is verb - subject (implied*) - object, but this can vary depending on the type of question you're asking. When you use interrogative words (Quem, O que, Onde, etc.), they usually appear at the beginning of the question.

Examples:

• Onde moras? (Where do you live?)

• O que estás a fazer? (What are you doing?)

• 
  

By adding "é que", you can create a slightly more formal or structured question:

Examples:

• Onde é que (tu*) moras? (Where do you live?)

• O que é que (tu*) estás a fazer? (What are you doing?)

• Por que é que não vieste? (Why didn’t you come?)

4. Asking About Money

When shopping or dining out, asking about prices is a common necessity. Here's how you ask about money in Portuguese:

Examples:

• Quanto custa? (How much does it cost?)

• Quanto custa um café? (How much does a coffee cost?)

• Quanto custa uma refeição? (How much does a meal cost?)

  
  

The response will usually be given in euros or the local currency.

5. Asking About Quantities

When talking about numbers or quantities, you can easily adapt the question structure to inquire about things like time, objects, or people.

Examples:

• Quantas pessoas vêm à festa? (How many people are coming to the party?)

• Quantos livros tens? (How many books do you have?)

6. Common Daily Questions

Everyday life requires you to ask basic questions to navigate different situations. These are some of the most common ones:

Examples:

• Onde é o supermercado? (Where is the supermarket?)

• A que horas abre o restaurante? (What time does the restaurant open?)

7. Polite Questions

Being polite is important when you're asking for help or making a request. In Portuguese, you can use these common phrases to maintain good manners:

Examples:

• Podes ajudar-me, por favor? (Can you help me, please?)

• Podes repetir, por favor? (Can you repeat, please?)

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When learning to ask questions in Portuguese, it's easy to make some common mistakes. Here are a few to watch out for, along with tips on how to avoid them:

• Confusing "o que" and "qual":Many learners mix these two interrogative words. Remember: use "o que" when asking for definitions or explanations and "qual" when selecting from a known set of options.

  • Example: Qual é o seu nome? (What is your name?) versus O que é isso? (What is that?)

• Misplacing the subject and verb:Unlike English, Portuguese often keeps the subject implied. Overusing the subject pronoun can make your questions sound awkward.

  • Tip: Focus on the verb and object to keep your questions natural.

  • Example: Instead of Tu estás em casa?, simply ask Estás em casa?

• Neglecting intonation:In yes/no questions, rising intonation is essential. Some learners forget this, making their questions sound like statements.

  • Tip: Practice raising your voice at the end of the question to indicate inquiry.

• Forgetting to use "por que" and "porque":These two phrases are often confused. Por que (why) is used in questions, while porque (because) is used to provide explanations.

  • Example: Por que não vieste? (Why didn’t you come?) versus Eu não vim porque estava doente. (I didn’t come because I was sick.)

By being mindful of these common errors and practicing regularly, you'll improve your questioning skills and communicate more effectively in Portuguese.

Já Sabes Fazer Perguntas em Português? (Do you already know how to ask questions in Portuguese?)

Asking questions is an essential part of learning any language, and Portuguese is no different. From basic yes/no questions to more advanced inquiries using interrogative words, mastering this skill will significantly improve your communication. Whether you're navigating daily life or having deeper conversations, these tips will help you ask questions confidently.

And there's nothing better than ending with a question: Ready to take your Portuguese to the next level? Practice asking and answering questions with a native speaker in real-time. Book an online lesson with mrPortuguese and gain the confidence to communicate naturally in any situation!