How to talk about prices in Portuguese basics

Introduction

Learning how to talk about prices in Brazilian Portuguese is a practical skill for travel, shopping, and everyday conversations. This article gives beginner-friendly vocabulary, useful phrases, clear examples, and common mistakes so you can confidently ask about costs, say prices, and understand basic transactions in Brazil.

Basic vocabulary for prices

Start with essential nouns and numbers. Memorize these words and practice saying them aloud.

preço — price

valor — value; often used for price

custa — costs (from the verb custar)

quanto custa? — how much does it cost?

quanto é? — how much is it?

reais — the plural of the Brazilian currency real (singular real)

centavos — cents, used for amounts less than one real

caro — expensive

barato — cheap / inexpensive

desconto — discount

promoção — sale / promotion

Numbers and currency basics

Knowing numbers is crucial. Here are common forms you will hear when prices are spoken.

0 — zero

1 — um / uma

2 — dois / duas

3 — três

4 — quatro

5 — cinco

10 — dez

20 — vinte

50 — cinquenta

100 — cem / cento (cem used alone, cento in compound numbers)

1000 — mil

When saying prices, Brazilians often use a comma as the decimal separator: 3,50 means three reais and fifty centavos. In speech you will hear três reais e cinquenta centavos or três e cinquenta.

Simple sentence patterns to say prices

Here are beginner-friendly structures to say or ask about prices. Learn the pattern, then substitute vocabulary.

Quanto custa isso? — How much does this cost?

Quanto é isso? — How much is this?

Quanto custa a blusa? — How much does the blouse cost?

Isso custa vinte reais. — This costs twenty reais.

O total é cinquenta e três reais. — The total is fifty-three reais.

Tem desconto? — Is there a discount?

Practical example dialogues

Short dialogues help you practice realistic interactions. Read them aloud and imagine being in the shop.

Example 1: In a baker’s shop
Cliente: Quanto custa o pão?
Vendedor: Dois reais cada um.
Cliente: Só um, por favor.

Example 2: At a clothing store
Cliente: Quanto custa essa camisa?
Vendedor: Custa cinquenta reais, mas está em promoção por quarenta reais.
Cliente: Aceita cartão?
Vendedor: Sim, cartão ou dinheiro.

Asking about discounts, payment, and change

These practical phrases will help you handle typical payment scenarios.

Tem desconto para pagamento à vista? — Is there a discount for cash payment?

Você aceita cartão? — Do you accept card?

Posso pagar com cartão de crédito? — Can I pay with a credit card?

Quanto fica com desconto? — How much is it with the discount?

Tem troco? — Do you have change? (used when you need change for a larger bill)

Você pode separar o preço? — Can you split the bill? (useful for simple shared payments)

Reading price tags and menus

Price tags and menus use short forms. Recognize these patterns so you can quickly understand costs.

R$ 12,90 — read as doze reais e noventa centavos or doze e noventa in casual speech.

Promoção: 2 por 1 — two for one

Kit: R$ 29,90 — a kit price, often for bundled items

À vista R$ 45, parcelado em 3x de R$ 15 — cash price 45 reais, or in installments 3 times 15 reais

Price tags may abbreviate reais as R$ and centavos after a comma. Practice reading several tags aloud to get comfortable with the format.

Common phrases used by vendors

Vendors use simple, direct expressions you should recognize and can respond to.

Posso ajudar? — Can I help?

É por medida? — Is it by weight? (common in markets)

Leva mais barato? — Take more for cheaper? (a casual way to offer a deal for buying more)

Fica por R$ 25,00. — I’ll give it for 25 reais. (an offer)

Sem cobrança adicional. — No extra charge.

Practice exercises for beginners

Active practice helps turn phrases into usable language. Try these short exercises daily.

1. Label five items in your home with estimated prices in Portuguese. Example: cafeteira — R$ 120,00.

2. Create short dialogues. Practice asking Quanto custa? and responding with Isso custa… or Custa… reais.

3. Read a Brazilian menu or online store listing and write the prices in Portuguese words. Convert numerals to spoken form: R$ 8,50 = oito reais e cinquenta centavos.

4. Listen to a short Brazilian shopping video or street market audio and write down any price words you hear: caro, barato, desconto, promoção.

Tips for sounding natural

Small pronunciation and phrasing adjustments help you be understood.

Drop the final s in casual speech for some plurals, but keep it for clarity at first.

Use cents only when necessary: Brazilians often say apenas reais unless centavos matter.

Practice tempo: prices are spoken quickly in markets. Slow down and ask the vendor to repeat if needed: Pode repetir, por favor?

Use polite forms: Por favor and obrigado/obrigada help keep interactions friendly.

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

Beginners make predictable errors. Here are the most common and quick fixes.

Saying the decimal point instead of comma. When reading numerals aloud, use e for centavos: R$ 3,50 is três reais e cinquenta centavos, not three point fifty.

Mixing currency names. Always say reais (plural) or real (singular) for the currency. Do not use dollars unless comparing.

Incorrect agreement for one item. Use um real, not uma real (real is masculine). For centavos use um centavo, duas moedas — learn gender with the noun.

Forgetting polite markers. Always add por favor or com licença in shops to sound natural and respectful.

Useful flashcard list

Make flashcards with these words and phrases on one side and English on the other.

Quanto custa? — How much does it cost?

Quanto é? — How much is it?

Isso custa… — That costs…

R$ 15,90 — quinze reais e noventa centavos

Tem desconto? — Is there a discount?

Aceita cartão? — Do you accept card?

À vista — cash (paid in full now)

Parcelado — paid in installments

Short real-world scenarios to practice

Scenario: Buying a bus ticket
Vendedor: Uma passagem para o centro custa R$ 4,50.
Você: Aqui está R$ 5,00. Tem troco?
Vendedor: Sim, cinquenta centavos.

Scenario: At a fruit market
Você: Quanto custa o quilo da banana?
Feirante: Cinco reais o quilo. Quer meio quilo?
Você: Sim, meio quilo, por favor.

Scenario: Ordering coffee
Barista: O café pequeno custa R$ 3,00.
Você: Vou querer um café pequeno e um pão de queijo. Quanto fica?
Barista: R$ 7,50 no total.

Resources to continue learning

Combine vocabulary drills with listening practice. Use Brazilian supermarket sites, café menus, or market videos to familiarize yourself with price language. Try simple apps and audio lessons focused on numbers and shopping scenarios. Practice with a language partner or in local Brazilian communities when possible.

Conclusion

Talking about prices in Brazilian Portuguese is one of the most useful beginner skills. Focus on basic vocabulary, number pronunciation, common sentence patterns, and practical dialogues. With short daily practice and exposure to real price tags and menus, you will quickly become comfortable asking about costs, responding to vendors, and handling simple transactions.