How to say “Is this table reserved?” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learning how to ask about reservations is one of the most practical skills for travelers and language beginners. This article teaches you how to say and understand Is this table reserved? in Brazilian Portuguese, with vocabulary, useful phrases, simple dialogues, and cultural tips for restaurants, cafés, and bars.

Basic phrase: How to ask if a table is reserved

The most direct and common way to ask Is this table reserved? in Brazilian Portuguese is Esta mesa está reservada?

This phrase is polite, simple, and works in most settings like restaurants, cafés, and event venues. It uses the verb estar to express the current state of the table.

Short variations and alternatives

Essa mesa é reservada? — A slightly less formal alternative using essa.

Essa mesa está ocupada? — Means Is this table occupied? and is useful when you want to sit down right away.

Posso sentar aqui? — Means Can I sit here? and is a friendly, practical option if you do not need to mention reservations.

Breaking down the key words

Understanding the components helps you build similar queries in Portuguese.

Esta / Essa — Both mean this; esta is a bit more formal and often used for objects close to you in a neutral register. essa is very common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.

Mesa — Table.

Está — Third-person singular of estar, used to describe temporary states or locations.

Reservada — Reserved. This adjective agrees in gender with mesa, which is feminine, so reservada, not reservado.

Polite ways to ask

Adding a polite phrase can make interactions smoother, especially in nicer restaurants.

Use com licença at the start: Com licença, esta mesa está reservada? which means Excuse me, is this table reserved?

Or include a softener: Desculpe, essa mesa está ocupada? which means Sorry, is this table occupied?

Examples in context

At a café: Com licença, posso sentar aqui?
Barista: Pode sim, fica à vontade. (Yes, go ahead, make yourself comfortable.)

At a busy restaurant: Desculpe, essa mesa está reservada para que horas?
Host: Para as oito. (For eight o’clock.)

How to respond if a table is reserved or free

Common replies you might hear from staff or other customers.

Reserved answers

Sim, está reservada. — Yes, it is reserved.

Está reservada para as oito. — It is reserved for eight o’clock.

Não, está reservada. — No, it is reserved. (Used to say the table is not available.)

Free or available answers

Não, pode sentar. — No, you can sit.

Está livre. — It is free.

Fica à vontade. — Make yourself comfortable. (Informal welcome to sit.)

Short dialogues: Beginner-friendly examples

Dialogue 1 — Café

Você: Com licença, essa mesa está ocupada?
Atendente: Não, pode sentar.
Você: Obrigado. (Thank you.)

Dialogue 2 — Restaurant

Você: Desculpe, esta mesa está reservada?
Host: Sim, está reservada para seis pessoas às sete.
Você: Entendi, obrigado. (I understand, thank you.)

Dialogue 3 — Bar

Você: Posso sentar aqui?
Pessoa: Está reservada.
Você: Tudo bem, obrigado. (Alright, thank you.)

Useful vocabulary for restaurant situations

Com licença — Excuse me

Desculpe — Sorry / Excuse me

Posso sentar aqui? — Can I sit here?

Está ocupado(a) — It is occupied

Está livre — It is free

Reservado(a) — Reserved

Reserva — Reservation

Fazer uma reserva — To make a reservation

Explaining gender and agreement (very simple)

In Portuguese adjectives match the gender and number of the noun. Mesa is feminine, so use reservada. If the noun were masculine, like lugar (place), you would say reservado. For plural tables, mesas reservadas.

Pronunciation tips for beginners

Mesa — pronounce MEH-za, stress on the first syllable.

Reservada — reh-zehr-VAH-da; the letter r at the start of a syllable can sound like an English h in Brazilian Portuguese, so reservar often sounds like heh-zehr-VAR.

Está — es-TAH with a clear t sound; in casual speech it can sound like es-TAH or eh-STAH depending on the speaker.

Posso — POH-soo; the double s is pronounced like English s, not like z.

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

1. Using reservado with mesa: Since mesa is feminine, say reservada, not reservado. Incorrect: Esta mesa está reservado? Correct: Esta mesa está reservada?

2. Forgetting polite phrases: In Brazil, adding com licença or desculpe is common when interrupting staff. It sounds polite and helps get attention.

3. Using the wrong demonstrative: People often mix esta and essa. For beginners, both are understood. Use esta for a neutral or slightly formal tone, essa for casual speech.

Practical scenarios beyond restaurants

Hotel breakfast area

Com licença, essa mesa está reservada para hóspedes? — Excuse me, is this table reserved for guests?

Events and parties

Esta mesa está reservada para a festa? — Is this table reserved for the party?

Food courts and shared spaces

Posso deixar minha bolsa aqui? Essa mesa está ocupada? — Can I leave my bag here? Is this table occupied?

Tips for smooth interactions

Approach staff politely and make eye contact. Using com licença or desculpe before your question opens the interaction nicely.

If staff says it’s reserved, ask until what time: Até que horas está reservada? — Until what time is it reserved?

If you need a table for a group, explain the number: Temos quatro pessoas. Tem uma mesa disponível? — We have four people. Is there a table available?

Quick cheat sheet: Pocket phrases

Com licença, esta mesa está reservada?

Posso sentar aqui?

Essa mesa está ocupada?

Até que horas está reservada?

Tem uma mesa para duas pessoas?

Realistic mini scenarios to practice

Scenario: You arrive at a crowded restaurant and see an empty table with plates. You ask: Com licença, essa mesa está ocupada? Staff might reply: Está liberada, pode sentar. You then say: Obrigado.

Scenario: A table has a sign. You ask: Esta mesa está reservada? Host replies: Sim, para sete pessoas às oito. You say: Tudo bem, obrigado pela informação.

When to make reservations

For popular restaurants or dinner times on weekends, Brazilians often make reservations by phone or online. Use fazer uma reserva to refer to booking a table. Example: Quero fazer uma reserva para sexta às oito. — I want to make a reservation for Friday at eight.

Summary of essential phrases to memorize

Esta mesa está reservada?

Essa mesa está ocupada?

Posso sentar aqui?

Com licença / Desculpe

Está livre / Está reservada

Conclusion

Asking Is this table reserved? in Brazilian Portuguese is a small but powerful skill for travel and everyday life. Start with Esta mesa está reservada?, learn a few polite phrases like com licença and desculpe, and remember the common replies. With the vocabulary, dialogues, and tips here, you can confidently handle restaurant situations as a beginner.