How to ask “How much is it?” in Portuguese basics

Introduction

Knowing how to ask how much something costs is one of the most practical skills for beginners learning Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains simple phrases, vocabulary, pronunciation tips, realistic examples for shops and menus, polite variations, and common mistakes to avoid so you can confidently handle basic transactions in Brazil.

Key phrase: How to ask How much is it?

The simplest and most direct way to ask how much an item costs in Brazilian Portuguese is Quanto custa?

Quanto custa? literally means how much costs. It is appropriate in stores, markets, or when pointing to an item on a menu or in a catalog.

Pronunciation and quick guide

Pronunciation tip: Quanto custa sounds like KWAN-too KOOS-tah. Stress the first syllable of Quanto and the first syllable of custa.

Use Quanto custa? when pointing or holding up an item. If you are asking about a specific quantity, add a number or unit: Quanto custa um? for one, Quanto custa dois? for two, Quanto custa o quilo? for per kilogram.

Other common ways to ask

There are polite or situational alternatives you will hear in Brazil. Learn these to sound natural.

Quanto é? — A very common, slightly more casual variant. Works for single items: Quanto é? (How much is it?)

Quanto fica? — Used when asking how much the final amount will be, especially after adding items or taxes: Quanto fica com embalagem? (How much is it with packaging?)

Qual é o preço? — More formal: Qual é o preço? (What is the price?)

Está quanto? — Informal, often used in markets or with vendors: Quanto está? (How much is it?)

Useful vocabulary for prices and payments

Learning a few key nouns and expressions makes transactions easier.

preço — price

troco — change (money returned after paying)

dinheiro — cash

cartão — card (credit or debit)

cartão de crédito — credit card

cartão de débito — debit card

à vista — paying in cash or single payment, sometimes meaning a discount

parcelado — paid in installments

desconto — discount

incluso — included (e.g., tax included)

Example phrases and short dialogs for beginners

Below are realistic short dialogs you might encounter in a shop, market, or cafe. Each line shows a Portuguese sentence and a simple English explanation.

Shop scenario

Customer: Quanto custa essa camisa?
Seller: Custa cinquenta reais.
Customer: Você aceita cartão?
Seller: Sim, débito e crédito.

English: How much is this shirt? It costs fifty reais. Do you accept card? Yes, debit and credit.

Market scenario

Customer: Quanto está o quilo da maçã?
Vendor: Está cinco reais o quilo.
Customer: Posso levar meio quilo?
Vendor: Tudo bem, vai dar dois e cinquenta.

English: How much is the apple per kilo? It’s five reais per kilo. Can I take half a kilo? Okay, that will be two fifty.

Cafe scenario

Customer: Quanto é um café pequeno?
Barista: Dois reais.
Customer: Pode ser para viagem?
Barista: Sim, será dois reais e cinquenta com copo descartável.

English: How much is a small coffee? Two reais. Can it be to go? Yes, it will be two fifty with disposable cup.

Practical examples on menus and signs

Menus and store tags use short forms you should recognize.

1 fatia — R$ 3,50 (one slice — R$3.50)

Combo — R$ 18,90 (combo — R$18.90)

Preço à vista — R$ 45,00 (cash price — R$45.00)

Parcelamento em até 3x sem juros — (installments up to 3x interest-free)

How to ask about discounts and final price

If you want to know if a discount applies or the final price after fees, use these phrases.

Tem desconto? — Is there a discount?

O preço inclui impostos? — Does the price include taxes?

Quanto fica no total? — How much is it in total?

Quanto fica com entrega? — How much is it with delivery?

Counting and numbers for beginners

To understand prices, you need basic numbers. Here are essential numerals often used in pricing.

um, dois, três, quatro, cinco — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

dez, vinte, cinquenta — 10, 20, 50

cem — 100

mil — 1,000

reais — currency unit: reais (plural), real (singular). Example: um real, dois reais.

Working with cents

Centavos are cents. Use vírgula as a decimal comma in written Brazilian Portuguese pricing: R$ 4,50 is four reais and fifty centavos. When speaking, say quatro reais e cinquenta centavos.

Politeness and useful words to add

Adding a softener makes interactions friendly and polite.

Por favor — please. Example: Quanto custa, por favor?

Com licença — excuse me. Use when getting attention: Com licença, quanto custa essa blusa?

Obrigado / Obrigada — thank you. Men say obrigado; women say obrigada.

Common mistakes beginners make

Here are repeated errors and how to fix them.

Mistake: Using English word order or adding an unnecessary pronoun. Correct: Ask Quanto custa? not Quanto ele custa?. The verb already refers to the item when you point.

Mistake: Confusing Quanto and Quantos. Quanto is used for price and quantity expressions with singular nouns. Use Quantos for plural count: Quantos são? for how many are there.

Mistake: Saying reais incorrectly. Singular is um real, but many learners incorrectly use real for the plural. Use dois reais, three reais.

Simple practice exercises

Practice set 1: Translate these to Portuguese aloud.

How much is this? — Quanto custa isto?

How much is a sandwich? — Quanto custa um sanduíche?

How much is it per kilo? — Quanto custa por quilo?

Practice set 2: Role-play short dialogs with a partner or aloud.

Customer: Quanto custa? Seller: Custa vinte reais. Customer: Você aceita cartão? Seller: Sim.

Tips for learning and real-world use

1. Listen to local vendors and repeat what you hear. Short phrases are repeated often in markets and shops.

2. Carry a small phrase list in Portuguese with Quanto custa?, Quanto fica?, and payment words to refer to when shopping.

3. When unsure about prices, ask Quanto fica no total? to avoid surprises in markets or taxi fares.

4. Pay attention to the decimal comma on signs. R$ 7,00 is seven reais; R$ 7,50 is seven reais and fifty centavos.

Mini glossary of phrases to keep on your phone

Quanto custa? — How much is it?

Quanto é? — How much is it? (informal)

Quanto fica? — How much will it be? (final amount)

Quanto está? — How much is it? (informal)

Tem desconto? — Is there a discount?

Posso pagar com cartão? — Can I pay with a card?

Quanto custa por quilo? — How much is it per kilo?

Common signs and what they mean

Ver if you see these in shops and markets:

PROMOÇÃO — promotion or sale

LIQUIDAÇÃO — clearance

PREÇO ESPECIAL — special price

À VISTA — cash price or single payment

Practice scenario: buying fruit at a feira

Imagine a typical open-air market conversation:

Você: Quanto está a manga?
Feirante: Está três reais o quilo.
Você: Posso levar meio quilo?
Feirante: Claro, vai dar um e cinquenta.

English: How much is the mango? It’s three reais per kilo. Can I take half a kilo? Sure, that’ll be one fifty.

Conclusion

Mastering Quanto custa? and a few related phrases will make shopping, dining, and everyday transactions much easier when learning Brazilian Portuguese. Use the vocabulary, listen to native speakers, practice the short dialogs, and keep a mini phrase list handy for realistic, beginner-friendly trips to stores and markets.