Imagine you’re at a street market in Brazil or a boutique in Portugal. You spot the perfect souvenir—but how do you ask the price, request a discount, or pay with card? Today, you’ll learn essential Portuguese for shopping and bargaining, with simple, polite phrases you can use right away.

Essential shopping words

Here are the most common words you’ll hear when buying things. Read them, then try the short exercises that follow.

Asking the price

Two very common ways to ask price:

• Quanto custa? = How much does it cost?
• Quanto é? = How much is it?

Use demonstratives to point:

• Este/esta (this, near you)
• Esse/essa (that, near the other person)
• Aquele/aquela (that, far away)

Example:

• Quanto custa esta mochila?
• Quanto é esse relógio?

Quanto essa mochila?

Polite bargaining: ask nicely

Bargaining is common in open-air markets (feiras) and small shops, especially in Brazil. In big chain stores or supermarkets, prices are fixed and bargaining isn’t usual. To be polite, use “poder + infinitivo” (can + verb):

• Você pode fazer por R$ 50? (Can you do it for 50 reais?)
• Você pode dar um desconto? (Can you give a discount?)
• Dá para fazer por R$ 80? (Is it possible to do it for 80 reais?)

If the price is high:

• Está um pouco caro. (It’s a bit expensive.)
• Tem algo mais barato? (Do you have something cheaper?)

If you’re just looking:

• Estou só olhando, obrigado/obrigada. (I’m just looking, thank you.)

Sizes, colors, and options

When comparing items, use simple adjectives:

• grande/pequeno (big/small)
• longo/curto (long/short)
• preto/branco/azul/vermelho (black/white/blue/red)

Sizes in clothing (Brazil): P (pequeno), M (médio), G (grande). Some stores also use PP (extra small) and GG (extra large).

Examples:

• Tem esta camisa no tamanho M?
• Esta calça azul é mais barata?

Essa camisa é barato. → Essa camisa é barata. Adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun (camisa is feminine).

Tip: You might hear “baratinho!” at markets to mean “very cheap” or “so cheap!” The suffix “-inho/-inha” is very common in Brazilian Portuguese to soften or make things sound smaller or friendlier.

Paying and methods

To ask how you can pay:

• Vocês aceitam cartão? (Do you accept card?)
• Aceita Pix? (Do you accept Pix?) [Brazil]
• Posso pagar em dinheiro? (Can I pay in cash?)
• Tem troco? (Do you have change?)

Cultural note:

• Brazil: Pix (instant transfer) is very popular; markets often accept it. Cards are widely accepted in cities.
• Portugal: Cards are widely accepted (Multibanco system). Bargaining is less common in malls and chain stores, more in small markets.

Vocês cartão?

Quick grammar: Polite requests with “poder”

“Poder” (to be able/can) is very useful to make requests softer and more polite:

• Você pode fazer por R$ 80?
• Podemos pagar com cartão?
• Eu posso experimentar? (Can I try it on?)

Practice dialogue: bargaining in a market

Reorder the lines to make a natural conversation.

Extra phrases you’ll love

• Pode guardar para mim? (Can you hold it for me?)
• Eu quero pensar um pouco. (I want to think a bit.)
• Pode embalar para presente? (Can you gift-wrap it?)
• Onde está o caixa? (Where is the checkout?)

If the seller won’t lower the price, try:

• Obrigado(a), vou dar uma olhada em outras lojas. (Thanks, I’ll look in other stores.)

Estou olhando, obrigado/obrigada.

Mini cultural guide

• Bargaining works best in informal markets, with handmade goods, or when buying multiple items. Always stay friendly and polite.
• In big brands and supermarkets, prices are fixed; use “Quanto custa?” and choose another item if it’s too expensive.
• Paying cash can sometimes get you a small discount. You can ask: “Tem desconto à vista?” (Is there a discount for paying cash?)
• In Brazil, many sellers prefer Pix for quick payment; in Portugal, card terminals (Multibanco) are very reliable.

If you hear a counter-offer, respond naturally:

• Está bom. Eu levo. (Okay, I’ll take it.)
• Ainda está caro pra mim. (It’s still expensive for me.)

Quanto custa você? → Quanto custa isso? Use “quanto custa” for an item, not for a person. Point with “isso/isto/aquele” or the item’s name.

Quick review

• Ask price: Quanto custa? / Quanto é?
• Be polite: Você pode fazer por R$ 50? / Pode dar um desconto?
• Compare: Está caro / Está barato.
• Sizes: P, M, G.
• Pay: Aceitam cartão? / Aceita Pix? / Posso pagar em dinheiro?
• Change: Tem troco?

Keep these phrases in your pocket and practice them out loud. The more natural your tone, the better your chances of a friendly discount—and a great shopping experience.

Final challenge

Choose a shop in your city (or online) and imagine a conversation in Portuguese:

1. Ask the price of one item.
2. Say it’s a bit expensive.
3. Request a discount or a cheaper option.
4. Ask to pay by card or Pix.

Speak your lines aloud twice. You’ve got this—boas compras!