How to say “I’ll have what they’re having” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learn how to say I’ll have what they’re having in Brazilian Portuguese and use it naturally in restaurants, cafés, and casual conversations. This beginner-friendly guide explains the exact phrase, useful variations, pronunciation tips, common replies, and short dialogues you can use today.

What the phrase means and when to use it

The English phrase I’ll have what they’re having is a casual way to copy someone else’s order at a restaurant or café. In Brazilian Portuguese you can use a few natural options depending on context and politeness. These phrases are handy when you see a dish you like at another table or when you want the same drink as a friend.

Key phrase in Brazilian Portuguese

Use Eu quero o que eles estão comendo for a literal, clear beginner version.

More natural and common in conversation is Quero o mesmo or Vou querer o mesmo.

Short explanations of the main options

Eu quero o que eles estão comendo is literal and easy to understand. It directly matches I’ll have what they’re having and is useful for beginners who want a literal translation.

Quero o mesmo is short, casual, and very common. It means I want the same and works when a waiter or friend understands you are copying another table or person.

Vou querer o mesmo adds a future sense and sounds polite and natural. It is similar to I’ll have the same.

When to choose each phrase

Choose Eu quero o que eles estão comendo if you need to be explicit or are still learning sentence structure.

Choose Quero o mesmo in relaxed settings like cafés or bars when you want to sound natural and conversational.

Choose Vou querer o mesmo in more polite situations or when ordering from a waiter and you want to sound slightly formal but still friendly.

Vocabulary breakdown

Eu = I

Quero = I want (from the verb querer)

Vou querer = I will want / I’ll have (future/conditional nuance; from ir + querer)

O mesmo = the same (masculine; use a mesma if matching a feminine noun)

O que = what

Eles = they (masculine or mixed group)

Elas = they (feminine group)

Estão comendo = are eating (present continuous)

Adjusting gender and number

In Portuguese adjectives and demonstratives change with gender and number. Use o mesmo when referring to masculine items, and a mesma for feminine items.

Examples:

Quero o mesmo (use when the dish name is masculine like sanduíche)

Quero a mesma (use when the item is feminine like salada)

If copying a group of women, you can say Quero o que elas estão comendo

Polite and casual variations

Casual: Quero o mesmo or Quero isso também (I want that too).

Polite: Vou querer o mesmo, por favor adds please and sounds polite for waitstaff.

More explicit: Eu quero o que eles estão comendo, por favor

Pronunciation tips

Quero: KEH-roo (stress on first syllable)

Vou querer: voh keh-REHR

O mesmo: oo MEHZ-moo

A mesma: ah MEHZ-mah

Eu quero o que eles estão comendo: ay-oo KEH-roo oo keh EH-lees es-TOWN koh-MEN-doo

Simple restaurant dialogues

Example 1 — casual café scene

Customer 1: O sanduíche deles parece bom
Customer 2: Quero o mesmo

Waiter: Tudo bem, um sanduíche igual

Example 2 — polite at a restaurant

Customer: Eu quero o que eles estão comendo, por favor
Waiter: Claro, já anoto

Example 3 — matching a drink

Friend: Vou querer o espresso duplo
You: Quero o mesmo

Common follow-up phrases and questions

Você pode repetir? = Can you repeat? Useful if you didn’t catch the waiter.

Qual é? = Which one is it? Use if you need clarification about which dish they ordered.

É muito apimentado? = Is it very spicy? Ask before copying an order if you have dietary limits.

Tem alguma alergia? = Do you have any allergies? A waiter might ask about your allergies when taking an order.

Helpful vocabulary for ordering

Por favor = please

Obrigado / Obrigada = thank you (male / female speaker)

Conta, por favor = Check, please

Sem = without (as in sem cebola = without onion)

Com = with (com açúcar = with sugar)

Common mistakes beginners make

Using o mesmo without matching gender: If the dish is feminine, say a mesma instead of o mesmo.

Forgetting por favor: In Brazil adding por favor is polite and common when ordering.

Speaking too loudly or directly: Eu quero o que eles estão comendo is fine, but in some settings choose Quero o mesmo or Vou querer o mesmo for a friendlier tone.

Not adjusting for drinks vs. food: Use appropriate gender if referring to a feminine noun like a sobremesa (the dessert): Quero a mesma sobremesa

Practical examples you can use today

At a bakery: Quero o mesmo que ela está comendo

At a pizza place: Vou querer o mesmo da mesa ao lado, por favor

At a bar: Quero o mesmo drink que ele; sem gelo

When ordering a dessert: Quero a mesma sobremesa

Short practice dialogues for beginners

Scenario: Two friends at a restaurant
Amigo 1: Nossa, esse prato parece ótimo
Amigo 2: Vou querer o mesmo
Garçom: Quer alguma bebida junto?

Scenario: At a café seeing someone with a cake
Você: Eu quero o que ela está comendo
Barista: Qual fatia, essa ou a outra?
Você: Essa, por favor

Tips to sound natural

Use short phrases: Quero o mesmo is quick and natural in most casual settings.

Add por favor to be polite: Vou querer o mesmo, por favor

Match gender and number: Pay attention if the dish name is feminine or plural.

Pointing and showing the menu: If uncertain, point to the other table’s dish and say Quero o mesmo to the waiter while pointing at the plate or menu picture.

Summary of key phrases

Eu quero o que eles estão comendo — literal translation, clear for beginners

Quero o mesmo — short, casual, common

Vou querer o mesmo — polite, natural when ordering

Use a mesma for feminine items and add por favor to be polite

Conclusion

Now you know several natural ways to say I’ll have what they’re having in Brazilian Portuguese, when to use each option, and useful vocabulary to sound polite and clear. Try the short dialogues and phrases at cafés and restaurants to build confidence. Remember to match gender with a mesma / o mesmo and add por favor for politeness.