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Treat your friend to a night out in Portuguese Posted by on Apr 12, 2016 in Culture, Learning, Vocabulary

Do you know what to say when you are treating your friends to a dinner, lunch, any kind of food or drink? Sometimes Brazilians are known for the way they never seem to take no for an answer when offering something, you can do the same using this vocabulary.

You will also learn on this post how to definitely say no when people insist you accept something you don’t want.

Check it out:

 

Photo by BemLoira BemDevassa

Photo by BemLoira BemDevassa

 

  1. How to say you are paying (or someone else is paying)
  • É por minha conta hoje – literally “it is on me today”
  • Sou eu quem pago hoje – literally “I’m the one who pays today” – meaning you’re the one paying.
  • Hoje a conta é do chefe – literally “today the bill/check belongs to the boss”; meaning the boss is paying.
  • É por conta da casa – literally “it is on the house”

Examples

– Maria, você quer ir tomar um açaí? É por minha conta.

– Mas você pagou da última vez, sou eu quem pago hoje.

– Tudo bem, então!

 

– (Maria, would you like to have an açaí? I am paying.

– But you paid for the last one. I’ll pay for this one today.

– Ok!)

 

– Oi Carlos, você vai sair com a galera do trabalho mais tarde? Hoje a conta é do nosso chefe!

– Claro!

 

– (Hi Carlos, are you going out with the crowd from work later? Today our boss is paying.

– Of course!)

 

  1. Trying to convince someone to have/try something
  • Prova só um pouquinho – literally “try just a little bit”
  • Só mais um pouquinho – literally “just a little bit more”
  • Só experimenta – literally “just try it”
  • Tem certeza? – literally “are you sure?”
  • Faço questão – similar meaning as “I insist”
  • Não aceito não como resposta – meaning “I don’t take no as an answer”

Example:

– Você aceita um pedaço do bolo?

– Agora não, acabei de almoçar.

– Tem certeza? Só experimenta.

– Não, obrigado, eu comi muito.

– Prova só um pouquinho, faço questão!

– Tá bom…

 

– (Would you like a piece of cake?

– Not now, I just had lunch.

– Are you sure? Just try it.

– No, thank you, I ate a lot.

– Try just a little bit, I insist!

– Ok…)

 

  1. How to refuse something
  • De jeito nenhum – meaning “no way”
  • Não mesmo – meaning “no way”
  • Sério, não quero mesmo – meaning “seriously, I really don’t want it”
  • Sem chance – “not a chance”

Example:

– Você aceita um chocolate?

– Sem chance, estou de dieta.

– Mas esse chocolate é uma delícia, só experimenta.

– De jeito nenhum, não posso, meu nutricionista vai me matar se eu aceitar!

– Mas ele não precisa ficar sabendo.

– Não mesmo, mas obrigada por oferecer.

 

– (Would you like some chocolate?

– Not a chance, I am on a diet.

– But this chocolate is delicious, just try it.

– No way, I can’t, my nutritionist would kill me if I accepted!

– But he doesn’t have to know.

– No way, but thanks for offering it.)

 

Now go on and start offering and refusing things Brazilian style, since it’s all part of the culture!

Boa sorte e boa semana!

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