Introduction
Learning what to say in Portuguese when you reserved a seat is a practical skill for travel, dining, transportation, and events in Brazil. This article teaches beginner-friendly phrases, vocabulary, simple dialogues, and polite responses so you can confirm, find, or claim your reserved seat with confidence.
Why knowing seat reservation phrases matters
When you reserve a seat—at a restaurant, on a bus, in a theater, or for a flight—you often need to show, confirm, or ask about your reservation in Portuguese. Simple phrases help you avoid confusion and make interactions smoother, especially as a beginner. Below you will find useful vocabulary, polite expressions, and sample dialogues in Brazilian Portuguese with clear English explanations.
Key vocabulary for seat reservations
reserva – reservation
reserva de mesa – table reservation (restaurant)
assento – seat
poltrona – armchair/seat (often used for buses and theaters)
cadeira – chair (restaurants, event halls)
confirmar – to confirm
cancelar – to cancel
nome – name
horário – time
data – date
fila – line/queue
entrada – entrance
Common phrases to use when you reserved a seat
These short phrases are the most likely to be used when interacting with staff. The first appearance is highlighted for emphasis.
Tenho uma reserva – I have a reservation
Tenho uma reserva em nome de – I have a reservation under the name of
Reservei uma mesa – I reserved a table
Reservei um assento – I reserved a seat
Gostaria de confirmar minha reserva – I would like to confirm my reservation
Minha reserva é para hoje/amanhã – My reservation is for today/tomorrow
Quantas pessoas? – How many people?
É possível mudar o horário? – Is it possible to change the time?
How to say your name and details
When you reserved a seat, staff will often ask for a name or confirmation details. Use these simple constructions.
Meu nome é Maria – My name is Maria
Está em nome de João Silva – It is under the name João Silva
Para quantas pessoas? Duas pessoas – For how many people? Two people
Às 20h – At 8 PM
Polite phrases and replies
Politeness goes a long way. Use these friendly expressions when greeting or thanking staff.
Boa tarde – Good afternoon
Com licença – Excuse me
Por favor – Please
Muito obrigado / Muito obrigada – Thank you very much (male/female speaker)
Desculpe – Sorry / Excuse me
Sem problema – No problem
Simple question phrases you might hear
Here are common questions staff might ask when you arrive.
Nome, por favor? – Name, please?
Tem reserva? – Do you have a reservation?
Em nome de quem? – Under whose name?
Quantas pessoas? – How many people?
Você confirmou a reserva? – Did you confirm the reservation?
Practical short dialogues for common situations
Below are short beginner-friendly dialogues for restaurants, buses/theaters, and flights. Each line is in Brazilian Portuguese with a simple context implied.
Restaurant arrival:
Recepcionista: Boa noite. Você tem reserva?
Cliente: Sim. Tenho uma reserva em nome de Lucas às 19h.
Recepcionista: Ótimo, por aqui, por favor.
Bus or theater seat confirmation:
Atendente: Comprovante, por favor. Qual assento você reservou?
Passageiro: Reservei a poltrona 12A em nome de Sofia.
Atendente: Tudo certo, pode entrar.
Check-in at a small event:
Recepcionista: Nome, por favor.
Convidado: Eduardo, eu reservei um assento.
Recepcionista: Obrigado, Eduardo. Aqui está seu crachá.
How to confirm or change a reservation
If you need to confirm or change a reservation, these phrases are useful. They are polite and clear for beginners.
Quero confirmar minha reserva – I want to confirm my reservation
Posso mudar o horário? – Can I change the time?
Posso cancelar a reserva? – Can I cancel the reservation?
Tem disponibilidade para hoje à noite? – Is there availability for tonight?
Vocês têm o meu nome na lista? – Do you have my name on the list?
Practical tips for beginners
Use these simple tips to make real interactions easier.
Always carry a booking confirmation or note with the reservation name and time written down in Portuguese. This makes communication faster and reduces errors.
Practice the short phrase Tenho uma reserva em nome de followed by your name. It covers most arrival situations.
Speak slowly and use por favor and obrigado/obrigada to sound polite and clear.
If you do not understand, say Desculpe, pode repetir, por favor? – Sorry, can you repeat, please?
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Here are mistakes beginners often make and simple fixes.
Mistake: Forgetting to give the reservation name. Fix: Prepare the phrase Em nome de + your name.
Mistake: Mixing up horário formats. Fix: Use the 24-hour style when possible (e.g., 19h for 7 PM) or specify manhã/tarde/noite: às 7 da noite.
Mistake: Using the wrong word for seat. Fix: Use assento for general seats, poltrona for bus/theater, and mesa/cadeira for restaurants.
Extra phrases for text messages or phone calls
When confirming or asking by message or phone, short clear sentences work best.
Olá, confirmei minha reserva para hoje? – Hello, did you confirm my reservation for today?
Olá, terminei a reserva em nome de Ana – Hello, I made the reservation under the name Ana
Bom dia, gostaria de cancelar minha reserva – Good morning, I would like to cancel my reservation
Posso chegar 15 minutos mais tarde? – Can I arrive 15 minutes later?
Example messages
Message to a restaurant:
Olá, aqui é a Mariana. Tenho uma reserva para hoje às 20h. Está tudo certo?
Message to a theater box office:
Boa tarde. Reservei a poltrona 8B em nome de Pedro. Onde retiro os ingressos?
Using receipts and confirmation numbers
Many reservations include a confirmation number or booking code. Learn to show or ask about it in Portuguese.
Número da reserva – reservation number
Posso ver o número da reserva? – Can I see the reservation number?
Tenho o número da reserva 12345 – I have reservation number 12345
Short checklist before you arrive
Bring a printed or digital reservation note with: name (nome), date (data), time (horário), number of people (número de pessoas), and confirmation number (número da reserva) if available.
Conclusion
Knowing a few key Brazilian Portuguese phrases for reserved seats helps you handle restaurants, transport, and events with confidence. Use simple lines like Tenho uma reserva em nome de plus your name, practice polite replies, and carry your reservation details. With these phrases and dialogues, beginners can manage most real-life reservation interactions smoothly and politely.
