How to say “What ingredients are they using?” in Portuguese

Introduction

Asking about ingredients is a practical skill for shopping, dining out, or checking food labels in Brazil. This article teaches beginners how to say What ingredients are they using? in Brazilian Portuguese, explains key vocabulary, provides simple example sentences and dialogues, and gives helpful tips for real-life conversations.

Key Portuguese phrase and literal meaning

The most direct way to ask What ingredients are they using? in Brazilian Portuguese is Quais ingredientes eles estão usando?

Breakdown in English:

Quais = Which / What (plural)

ingredientes = ingredients

eles = they (masculine or mixed group)

estão usando = are using (present continuous)

Variants and more natural alternatives

Depending on context and formality, Brazilians might use slightly different phrasing. Here are common alternatives, with short explanations.

Que ingredientes eles usam? — A more general present tense: What ingredients do they use?

Que ingredientes estão sendo usados? — Passive sounding, useful when pointing to a dish being prepared: What ingredients are being used?

Quais são os ingredientes? — Often used when asking for a list of ingredients for a dish or product: What are the ingredients?

Você sabe que ingredientes eles usam? — Adding você sabe makes it a softer question: Do you know what ingredients they use?

Important vocabulary

ingredientes — ingredients

usar / usando — to use / using

estão — they are (present tense of estar)

eles / elas — they (eles for male or mixed group; elas for female group)

receita — recipe

tempero — seasoning

molho — sauce

farinha — flour

açúcar — sugar

sal — salt

óleo — oil

Pronunciation tips for beginners

Quais is pronounced roughly like kwah-eez, but Brazilians often say it quickly so it sounds like kweys.

ingredientes: in-greh-djen-tis (soft d/j sound like English j before i)

eles: EH-leez

estão: es-TAW-o (nasal on the ão, similar to aw̃)

usando: oo-SAHN-doo

Simple sample sentences

Quais ingredientes eles estão usando no feijão hoje?

Que ingredientes eles usam no tempero dessa salada?

Você sabe quais são os ingredientes desse molho?

Estou verificando os ingredientes para evitar alergia.

O cardápio não lista os ingredientes do prato.

Short dialogues for real situations

Scenario: At a casual restaurant, asking the waiter about a dish

Cliente: Quais ingredientes eles estão usando no prato do dia?
Garçom: Tem arroz, feijão, frango e um molho de tomate.

Scenario: At a bakery checking for allergens

Cliente: Você sabe que ingredientes eles usam nesse pão?
Balcão: Tem farinha de trigo, água, fermento e sal.

Scenario: Grocery shopping and reading a package

Cliente: Quais são os ingredientes deste molho?
Atendente: Olha aqui: tomate, cebola, óleo, sal e açúcar.

Context notes: when to use which pronoun

Use eles if you refer to a group of people who prepare the food (cooks, a restaurant). If the subject is feminine, or you refer to a feminine group, use elas. For objects or neutral subjects, Brazilians often stick with eles in casual speech.

Politeness and softening phrases

To be polite, add a softener or a question word at the start. These are useful in restaurants or stores.

Por favor, quais ingredientes eles estão usando?

Com licença, você sabe que ingredientes usam nesse prato?

Desculpe, você poderia me dizer os ingredientes?

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Using the wrong verb tense — Beginners sometimes say *eles usaram* (they used) when asking about current use. Use estão usando for what is being used now, or usam for general habitual use.

Confusing que and quais — Use que before singular nouns or in casual questions, and quais when you expect a list or multiple items. Both are common: Que ingredientes? and Quais ingredientes? are both acceptable.

Forgetting nasal sounds — Words like estão have a nasal vowel; practice listening and mimicking native speakers to improve pronunciation.

Useful follow-up questions

Is this spicy? — Isto é apimentado?

Does it contain nuts? — Contém castanhas/nozes?

Is it vegetarian? — É vegetariano?

Is it gluten-free? — É sem glúten?

Practical examples you might encounter

Reading a menu: Restaurante — Feijoada: feijão preto, carne seca, linguiça, laranja, temperos. If you want to ask more about preparation, say Quais ingredientes eles usam na feijoada?

At a food stall: Vendor: Pastel com queijo e carne. Customer: Quais são os ingredientes do recheio de carne?

Home conversation: Friend cooking: O que você está colocando no arroz? You can ask: Quais ingredientes vocês estão usando?

Beginner-friendly practice tip

When learning these phrases, practice short role-plays. Imagine you are in a market and ask sellers about ingredients. Use the polite softeners at first, then try shorter versions once you feel comfortable.

Mini glossary for quick reference

Quais — which / what (plural)

Que — what

Ingredientes — ingredients

Estão usando — are using

Usam — use (habitual)

Contém — contains

Sem — without / free of (as in sem glúten)

Realistic conversation example

Scenario: You visit a small restaurant and want to avoid dairy

Você: Com licença, quais ingredientes eles estão usando no molho da lasanha?
Atendente: O molho tem tomate, creme de leite e queijo.
Você: Tem opção sem laticínios?
Atendente: Podemos pedir sem queijo e sem creme de leite.

Conclusion

Knowing how to ask What ingredients are they using? in Brazilian Portuguese opens doors to safer dining, better shopping, and clearer communication. Start with Quais ingredientes eles estão usando?, learn common vocabulary, and practice short dialogues. With these simple tools you will feel more confident asking about ingredients in everyday situations in Brazil.