How to Ask Questions in Portuguese

Knowing how to ask questions is essential when learning Portuguese.

Whether you're ordering a coffee, asking for directions, meeting someone new, or having a conversation, you'll need to form questions naturally and confidently.

In this guide, you'll learn how to ask questions in European Portuguese, including common Portuguese question words, yes/no questions, question structure, questions about prices and quantities, everyday questions, and polite ways to ask for information.

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 and the word order usually stays the same.

Examples:

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

• Estás em casa? (Are you at home?)

  
  

In European Portuguese, “não?” is very commonly used to ask for confirmation. The verb in the question tag agrees with the subject and tense of the main sentence.

Let me show you a few examples:

Example:

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

• Ele fala espanhol, não fala?

• Nós somos amigos, não somos?

3. Question Structure in Portuguese

Portuguese questions often follow the same basic word order as statements, but the subject is frequently omitted because the verb already indicates who is doing the action.

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 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?)

“É que” is very common in European Portuguese questions and can make a question sound more natural and conversational.

4. Asking About Money

When shopping or dining out, asking about prices is a common necessity. In english that would be the how much.

The following common Portuguese questions are useful in situations such as shopping, travelling, eating out, asking for directions, and having simple conversations.

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.

Remember

Quanto custa...? → singular

Quanto custam...? → plural

• Quanto custam estes sapatos? (How much do these shoes cost?)

  Quanto custam esses óculos? (How much do those glasses cost?)

5. Asking About Quantities

When you want to ask about how many of something there is, Portuguese uses quantos or quantas. The form changes depending on the gender and number of the noun that follows it.

You can use these question words to ask about people, objects, places, time, money, and many other things. In everyday Portuguese, they are especially useful when you need to find out the number or amount of something.

Examples:

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

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

• Quantas horas trabalhas hoje?

6. Common Daily Questions

In everyday situations, you will often need to ask simple questions in Portuguese to find information, get around, and communicate with people.

Learning a few common questions can make everyday life in Portugal much easier and help you feel more confident using the language.

Once you learn the basic structure, you can also replace individual words to create many new questions.

Examples:

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

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

Notice that you can replace those words "o supermercado" / "o restaurante" / "a praia" / "o centro de Lisboa".

Examples:

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

• Onde fica a estação? (Where is the station?)

• Que horas são? (What time is it?)

• Posso pagar com cartão? (Can I pay by card?)

• Há mesa para duas pessoas? (Is there a table for two?)

• 
  

These questions cover some of the most common situations you may encounter in everyday life in Portugal. You can also adapt them by changing the place, object, time, or number of people.

For example, the structure “Onde fica...?” can be used to ask about almost any location:

• Onde fica a farmácia? (Where is the pharmacy?)

• Onde fica a estação de comboios? (Where is the train station?)

• Onde fica o centro da cidade? (Where is the city centre?)

• Onde fica a praia? (Where is the beach?)

• 
  

Similarly, “Quanto custa...?” is useful whenever you want to ask about a price:

• Quanto custa este livro? (How much does this book cost?)

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

• Quanto custa o bilhete? (How much is the ticket?)

  
  

The truth is:

Learning these question patterns is much more useful than memorising isolated phrases.

As your Portuguese improves, you can replace different words and use the same structures in new situations. This makes it easier to ask questions naturally in European Portuguese and communicate in real-life situations in Portugal.

7. Polite Questions

When asking for help, information, or a favour, using polite expressions can make your Portuguese sound more natural and respectful. In European Portuguese, words such as por favor, desculpe, and com licença are commonly used when making requests or approaching someone.

The form of the verb can also change depending on who you are speaking to.

With friends, family, or people you know well, podes is common.

In more formal situations, such as speaking to a stranger, a professional, or someone you do not know well, "pode ajudar-me" may be more appropriate.

Learning these common polite questions will help you communicate more confidently in everyday situations in Portugal, from asking someone to repeat something to requesting help or information.

Examples:

With someone you know well:

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

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

With someone you don't know well:

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

• Pode 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.

Ready to Ask Questions in Portuguese?

The fastest way to become comfortable asking questions in Portuguese is to practise them in real conversations. Start with simple questions, pay attention to how native speakers phrase them, and gradually add more complex structures to your vocabulary.

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!