Introduction
Learning how to say prices in Brazilian Portuguese can save time, avoid confusion, and make everyday transactions much easier. This article teaches beginners clear, practical ways to say and understand simple prices, covering numbers, currency words, common phrases, reading receipts, and polite ways to ask and confirm costs.
Why accurate price language matters
When you travel, shop, or use services in Brazil, small misunderstandings about prices can cause frustration. Knowing how to recognize and pronounce amounts, how cents are expressed, and how to ask for a price politely helps you avoid mistakes at markets, cafés, taxis, and online purchases.
Brazilian currency basics
The national currency is the Brazilian real. The singular form is real and the plural is reais. One real equals 100 centavos. Centavo is the term for the smaller unit, pronounced similar to centavo in English.
Examples:
1 real — um real
2 reais — dois reais
50 centavos — cinquenta centavos
Basic number words you need
Start with numbers 0–100, because most beginner transactions use these. Here are the essentials for prices and how they commonly appear:
0 — zero
1 — um / uma (use uma for feminine nouns)
2 — dois / duas
5 — cinco
10 — dez
20 — vinte
30 — trinta
40 — quarenta
50 — cinquenta
100 — cem (use cento for numbers like 101)
How Brazilians write prices
In Brazil, the decimal separator is a comma and the thousands separator is a period. That matters when you read menus, price tags, or websites.
Examples:
R$ 3,50 — três reais e cinquenta centavos
Note the comma between reais and centavos.
R$ 1.200,00 — mil e duzentos reais
The period separates thousands.
Simple phrases to say prices
Memorize a few short patterns for clarity. Use these in shops, street markets, cafés, and with taxi drivers.
It costs … — Custa …
Example: Custa R$ 8,00 — Custa oito reais
How much is it? — Quanto custa?
Example: Quanto custa este pão? — Quanto custa este pão?
Price for two — Preço para dois
Discount — desconto
Saying amounts with centavos
To say amounts under one real or with cents, use the pattern reais e centavos or only centavos when the amount is less than one real.
Examples:
R$ 0,75 — setenta e cinco centavos
R$ 2,30 — dois reais e trinta centavos
R$ 10,05 — dez reais e cinco centavos
Common contexts and realistic examples
Below are short, realistic situations and the typical phrases you will hear or use. Practice them aloud and listen for the comma in written prices.
Buying coffee:
Quanto custa o café?
Quanto custa o café?
O café custa R$ 4,50.
O café custa quatro reais e cinquenta centavos.
At a bakery (padaria):
Quanto fica um pão?
Quanto fica um pão?
Fica R$ 1,20.
Fica um real e vinte centavos.
Paying for a taxi:
Quanto deu?
Quanto deu?
Deu R$ 35,00.
Deu trinta e cinco reais.
Market stall example (haggling or asking):
Tem desconto se eu levar dois?
Tem desconto se eu levar dois?
Posso parcelar no cartão?
Posso parcelar no cartão?
Numbers with feminine and masculine nouns
Portuguese numbers agree in gender for one and in some cases for two/three/other small words. Know when to use uma/um and duas/dois.
Example with feminine noun feira (market):
Uma sacola — uma sacola (one bag)
Duas sacolas — duas sacolas
Example with masculine noun copo (cup):
Um copo — um copo
Dois copos — dois copos
Polite phrases to confirm and negotiate
Politeness helps when confirming totals or asking for change. These phrases are common and beginner-friendly.
Você pode repetir o preço, por favor?
Você pode repetir o preço, por favor?
Tem troco?
Tem troco? — Used to ask if the vendor can give change.
Aceita cartão?
Aceita cartão? — Ask if they accept card payments.
Posso pagar em dinheiro?
Posso pagar em dinheiro?
Reading receipts and signs
Receipts and shop signs use abbreviations and numbers. Understanding common terms reduces confusion when totals include taxes, service, or extra fees.
Total — Total
Subtotal — Subtotal
Taxa — taxa (fee)
Serviço — serviço (service charge)
Example receipt line:
Subtotal R$ 28,90 — Serviço R$ 2,90 — Total R$ 31,80
Subtotal vinte e oito reais e noventa centavos — Serviço dois reais e noventa centavos — Total trinta e um reais e oitenta centavos
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Understanding typical errors helps you avoid misunderstandings in real situations.
1. Misreading comma and period: Remember that R$ 3,50 is three reais and fifty centavos, not three thousand fifty. Always check the separators.
2. Using the wrong gender for one: Use um with masculine nouns and uma with feminine nouns. Saying uma copo is incorrect; use um copo.
3. Forgetting centavos under one real: For amounts below one real, say the number of centavos. Saying R$ 0,50 as zero reais cinquenta sounds odd; instead, say cinquenta centavos.
4. Mixing English and Portuguese numbers: Try to respond with numbers in Portuguese when possible. If you must say a digit, say it slowly and point to the tag.
Quick pronunciation tips
Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation differs from English. For numbers and prices, focus on these points:
Say the comma as a slight pause, not the word comma. Native speakers do not say the punctuation aloud; they join the parts: dois reais e cinquenta centavos.
The R in reais is pronounced like an H in some regions but pronouncing it as a soft R is acceptable for beginners: reais pronounced like haz (soft).
Practice combining reais and centavos smoothly: quatro reais e cinquenta centavos.
Practice drills for beginners
Short, focused drills help you internalize price phrases. Repeat these aloud and try swapping numbers to build confidence.
Drill 1: Ask and answer
Student: Quanto custa?
Vendor: Custa R$ 7,00.
Drill 2: Confirming change
Customer: Tem troco para R$ 20?
Vendor: Sim, tem. Devolve R$ 13,00.
Drill 3: Paying with card
Customer: Posso pagar no cartão?
Vendor: Sim, aceita débito e crédito.
Useful vocabulary list for price situations
Preço — preço (price)
Custa — custa (it costs)
Quanto custa? — Quanto custa? (How much does it cost?)
Reais — reais (plural of real)
Centavos — centavos
Troco — troco (change)
Cartão — cartão (card)
Useful apps and tools for extra practice
Use voice-enabled dictionary apps to hear numbers and practice repeating amounts. Look for Brazilian Portuguese audio examples specifically so you hear the comma rhythm and pronunciation. Flashcards with realistic price tags help reinforce the comma/period convention and the phrases used in everyday purchase settings.
Conclusion
Mastering simple prices in Brazilian Portuguese is about numbers, currency words, and a few key phrases. Focus on the comma as the decimal separator, learn common vocabulary like reais and centavos, and practice short dialogues you will actually use. These practical skills will make shopping, eating out, and taking transportation in Brazil much easier for beginners.
