Introduction
Learning to say what you have is one of the first practical skills when studying Brazilian Portuguese. This article teaches beginners how to form sentences about possessions, physical states, and items you carry, using clear grammar, key vocabulary, real-life examples, and common mistakes to avoid.
- Core idea: talking about what you have in Brazilian Portuguese
- Simple possession sentences
- Using possessive adjectives
- Describing temporary states: I have a fever, I have time
- Questions and negatives: asking if someone has something
- Talking about items you carry or bring
- Common mistakes beginners make
- Extra beginner tips to build confidence
- Putting it all together: sample beginner dialogues
- Conclusion
Core idea: talking about what you have in Brazilian Portuguese
To tell someone what you have in Brazilian Portuguese, you most often use the verb ter for possession and estar or ficar for temporary states. For possessions, use ter in the present tense with the correct subject form. For example, Eu tenho, Você tem, Ele tem, Nós temos. Combining ter with objects and modifiers will let you explain possessions clearly.
Basic conjugation of ter (present tense)
Eu tenho — I have
Você tem — You have (singular, polite/informal)
Ele tem / Ela tem — He/she has
Nós temos — We have
Vocês têm — You have (plural)
Eles têm / Elas têm — They have
Simple possession sentences
Start by combining the correct form of ter with a noun. Remember Brazilian Portuguese uses gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) for nouns and articles.
Examples:
Eu tenho um livro.
Translation: I have a book.
Você tem uma caneta?
Translation: Do you have a pen?
Ela tem dois filhos.
Translation: She has two children.
Nós temos tempo.
Translation: We have time.
Useful vocabulary for possessions
um/uma — a, an
dois/duas — two
meu / minha — my (masculine / feminine)
seu / sua — your, his, her, their (context matters)
livro — book
carteira — wallet
celular — cell phone
chave — key
Using possessive adjectives
Possessive adjectives clarify ownership. Place them before the noun. Note agreement in gender and number with the noun, not the owner.
Examples:
Meu carro — my car (carro is masculine)
Minha casa — my house (casa is feminine)
Seus documentos — your/their documents
Nossas mochilas — our backpacks
Practical tip about seu / sua
Seu and sua are ambiguous: they can mean your, his, her, or their. Use context or add a name/pronoun to clarify: o carro do João or o carro dele. Example: O celular dela means her phone.
Describing temporary states: I have a fever, I have time
Some expressions that use a literal translation of have in English also use ter in Portuguese. For example conditions like fever and luck. For temporary feelings, Brazilians often use estar instead.
Examples using ter:
Eu tenho febre.
Translation: I have a fever.
Ele tem dor de cabeça.
Translation: He has a headache.
Nós temos sorte.
Translation: We are lucky / We have luck.
Examples using estar for temporary states:
Eu estou cansado.
Translation: I am tired.
Ela está com sede.
Translation: She is thirsty.
Note: with this feeling Brazilians often use estar com + noun.
Common expressions with ter
ter fome — to be hungry: Eu tenho fome.
ter sede — to be thirsty: Eu tenho sede.
ter pressa — to be in a hurry: Ele tem pressa.
Questions and negatives: asking if someone has something
To ask if someone has something, start with the verb form and add the object. Use não to negate.
Examples — questions:
Você tem caneta?
Translation: Do you have a pen?
Ela tem cartão de crédito?
Translation: Does she have a credit card?
Examples — negatives:
Eu não tenho dinheiro.
Translation: I do not have money.
Nós não temos aulas hoje.
Translation: We do not have classes today.
Short responses
Yes: Sim or simple verb answer: Tenho / Tem.
No: Não or Não tenho / Não tem.
Examples:
Você tem troco? — Tenho.
Ele tem os ingressos? — Não, ele não tem.
Talking about items you carry or bring
When describing what you carry with you, use the present tense of ter plus a list of items. Use commas or e to (and) to connect items.
Examples:
Eu tenho carteira, celular e chaves.
Translation: I have a wallet, cell phone, and keys.
Ela tem uma bolsa e um caderno.
Translation: She has a bag and a notebook.
Practical context: shopping, travel, or checklists.
Example situations
At a café: Você tem dinheiro ou só cartão?
Do you have cash or only card?
At the airport security line: Você tem líquidos na bagagem de mão?
Do you have liquids in your carry-on luggage?
On public transit: Tem vaga? / Tem lugar livre?
Is there an empty seat?
Common mistakes beginners make
1. Using estar instead of ter for possession. Remember ter = to have, estar = to be (temporary states).
2. Forgetting gender agreement with articles and possessives: say minha mochila not meu mochila.
3. Overusing seu/sua without clarifying ownership. If unclear, add do + name or dele/dela: o livro dele.
4. Word order: Portuguese commonly places the verb before the object for short sentences, but both Eu tenho um livro and Tenho um livro are acceptable in speech.
Mini practice drills
Translate to Portuguese (beginner level): I have three pens. — Eu tenho três canetas.
I do not have time. — Eu não tenho tempo.
Do you have a map? — Você tem um mapa?
She has a small bag. — Ela tem uma bolsa pequena.
Extra beginner tips to build confidence
1. Memorize the present conjugation of ter and common expressions like ter fome and ter pressa. These appear often in everyday speech.
2. Practice short, realistic phrases you would use: say aloud what you carry before leaving home, or label items in your room with Portuguese sticky notes.
3. Use role-play: simulate ordering coffee and answering if you have cash, or pretend to be at the airport and state which documents you have.
4. Listen for patterns: in menus, signs, and forms Brazilians often use simple nouns and ter constructions; copying those helps internalize structure.
Helpful vocabulary for everyday contexts
dinheiro — money
passaporte — passport
bilhete — ticket
ingresso — admission ticket
carteira — wallet
mochila — backpack
Putting it all together: sample beginner dialogues
Short dialog 1 — at a store:
Vendedor: Você tem cartão?
Cliente: Sim, eu tenho cartão. Aceita crédito?
Short dialog 2 — at the bus stop:
Pessoa A: Você tem troco de dez reais?
Pessoa B: Não, eu não tenho troco. Só tenho nota de cinquenta.
Short dialog 3 — at a friend’s house:
Amigo: Você tem alergia a algum alimento?
Visitante: Não, não tenho alergia.
Conclusion
Mastering how to say what you have in Brazilian Portuguese starts with the verb ter, basic possessives, and a small set of common expressions. Practice short sentences, learn useful vocabulary, and try the simple dialogues above in real contexts. With these tools a beginner can confidently express possession, state temporary conditions, and respond to everyday questions.
