Portuguese phrases for repair desk questions

Introduction

This article helps English-speaking beginners learn useful Brazilian Portuguese phrases for talking to a repair desk. Whether you need to fix a phone, computer, appliance, or car, these practical expressions, vocabulary, and short dialogues will make your visit easier and more confident.

Why learn repair desk phrases?

Visiting a repair desk can be stressful when you do not speak the language. Learning simple phrases lets you explain the problem, ask about costs and time, and understand instructions. This guide focuses on everyday situations and easy-to-use expressions in Brazilian Portuguese.

Key vocabulary for repair situations

Start with basic nouns and verbs you will hear or use at the repair desk. The first appearance of each main Portuguese term is highlighted.

o conserto — repair

a oficina — repair shop / garage

a assistência técnica — technical support / service center

o orçamento — estimate / quote

a garantia — warranty

o defeito — defect / fault

o problema — problem

trocar — to replace

consertar — to fix

funcionar — to work / function

não funciona — does not work

está quebrado — is broken

Useful phrases to start the conversation

These beginner-friendly lines help you begin the dialogue at a counter or on the phone.

Olá, eu preciso de um conserto. — Hello, I need a repair.

Tem alguém para me atender? — Is someone available to help me?

Onde fica a assistência técnica? — Where is the service center?

Posso deixar meu aparelho aqui? — Can I leave my device here?

Vocês fazem esse tipo de conserto? — Do you do this kind of repair?

Explaining the problem

Use short sentences to describe what is wrong. Emphasize simple verbs and symptoms.

O meu celular não liga. — My phone won’t turn on.

O computador está travando. — The computer is freezing.

A máquina de lavar não drena a água. — The washing machine does not drain water.

O vidro do carro está trincado. — The car window is cracked.

O som não sai das caixas de som. — Sound is not coming from the speakers.

Small diagnostics and details

Technicians will ask questions. Learn simple answers and verbs to indicate time and observations.

Quando isso começou? — When did this start?

Ontem / Hoje de manhã / Faz duas semanas — Yesterday / This morning / Two weeks ago

O problema acontece sempre? — Does the problem happen all the time?

Às vezes / Sempre / Raramente — Sometimes / Always / Rarely

Você ouviu algum barulho? — Did you hear any noise?

Questions about cost and time

At a repair desk you will need to ask about price and turnaround. These phrases are useful.

Quanto custa o conserto? — How much does the repair cost?

Vocês cobram por hora ou por peça? — Do you charge by the hour or by the part?

Tem previsão de quanto tempo vai levar? — Do you have an estimate of how long it will take?

Posso pegar um orçamento por escrito? — Can I get a written estimate?

Tem alguma taxa de avaliação? — Is there an evaluation fee?

Handling warranty and parts

Learn to ask whether a repair is covered or if original parts are used. These phrases avoid surprises.

Isso está na garantia? — Is this under warranty?

Quanto tempo dura a garantia? — How long is the warranty?

Vocês usam peças originais? — Do you use original parts?

Se for necessário trocar a peça, me avisem antes. — If it is necessary to replace the part, let me know first.

Common replies from technicians

Here are typical phrases you might hear back. Recognizing them helps you respond.

Vamos fazer um diagnóstico primeiro. — We will run a diagnosis first.

O conserto vai ficar pronto em dois dias. — The repair will be ready in two days.

O orçamento é de duzentos reais. — The estimate is two hundred reais.

Não encontramos o defeito, precisamos de mais tempo. — We did not find the fault, we need more time.

Está coberto pela garantia. — It is covered under warranty.

Short realistic dialogues

These beginner-friendly dialogues show how a typical interaction might go at a repair desk. The first line shows the customer, the second line the technician.

Cliente: Olá, meu notebook não liga.
Atendente: Você pode deixar para fazermos um diagnóstico?

Cliente: Quanto tempo demora?
Atendente: Normalmente leva um dia útil.

Cliente: Meu celular caiu e a tela quebrou.
Atendente: Podemos trocar a tela, eu peço o orçamento e te falo o preço.

Cliente: O ar-condicionado não resfria.
Atendente: Vamos verificar o gás e o compressor. Pode deixar o aparelho aqui?

Polite phrases and practical tips

Politeness helps. Use these short phrases and tips when interacting at the desk.

Por favor — Please

Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (male / female speaker)

Com licença — Excuse me

Desculpe, pode repetir? — Sorry, can you repeat?

Tip: Bring a written note with device model and a photo if possible. This makes communication easier and prevents misunderstandings.

Common mistakes to avoid

Beginners often make a few recurring errors. Here are clear corrections and alternatives.

Wrong: usar direta traduzida do inglês like eu preciso reparar meu celular now. Better: eu preciso consertar meu celular agora.

Wrong: dizer trocar quando quer consertar. Better: use consertar for fixing and trocar for replacing parts.

Wrong: esquecer de especificar se quer orçamento. Better: always ask posso ter um orçamento? before approval.

Simple questions you can memorize

Memorize a short set of questions to handle most repair visits.

O que você recomenda? — What do you recommend?

Quanto tempo vai levar? — How long will it take?

Tem desconto no conserto? — Is there a discount on the repair?

Como vou saber quando estiver pronto? — How will I know when it is ready?

Reading signs and labels at the shop

Many repair shops have signs or labels you may need to understand. Here are common words.

Aberto — Open

Fechado — Closed

Atendimento — Service / Reception

Retirada — Pickup

Entrega — Delivery

Final tips for beginners

Keep sentences short and speak slowly. Write down serial numbers and the exact description of the problem in Portuguese if you can. When in doubt, show the technician the device and say tem um problema aqui while pointing.

Conclusion

Learning a few key Brazilian Portuguese phrases for repair desk conversations makes visits smoother and reduces stress. With the vocabulary, sample lines, and short dialogues here you can describe problems, ask about costs and time, and understand common replies. Practice these practical expressions before your next visit and bring a note with model and symptoms to help the technician.