Introduction
Learning how to ask about price is one of the first practical skills for travelers and language learners. This article explains how to say I’ll ask the price first in Brazilian Portuguese, gives useful related phrases, simple dialogues for shopping and services, and beginner tips to sound natural and polite.
- Key phrase: how to say I’ll ask the price first
- Short variations and alternatives
- Useful vocabulary related to asking price
- Simple example sentences beginners can use
- Short dialogues for shopping situations
- Polite phrases and tone
- Payment and negotiation vocabulary
- Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
- Pronunciation tips for beginners
- Practical situations to use this phrase
- Quick tips for beginners
- Conclusion
Key phrase: how to say I’ll ask the price first
The most natural way to say I’ll ask the price first in Brazilian Portuguese is Vou perguntar o preço primeiro. This phrase is polite, clear, and works in most everyday situations: stores, markets, restaurants, or when negotiating for a service.
Breakdown of the phrase
Vou — I will (from the verb ir used to form the near future)
perguntar — to ask
o preço — the price
primeiro — first
Together, Vou perguntar o preço primeiro literally means I will ask the price first. For beginners, this is the safest and most direct option.
Short variations and alternatives
Sometimes you may want slightly different tones or shorter phrases. These are all common in Brazilian Portuguese:
Vou ver o preço — I’ll check the price (less formal, very natural)
Primeiro eu pergunto o preço — First I ask the price (emphasizes order)
Deixe eu perguntar o preço — Let me ask the price (polite, a bit more direct)
Posso perguntar o preço? — Can I ask the price? (polite question)
Useful vocabulary related to asking price
preço — price
quanto custa — how much does it cost
valor — value, price
caro — expensive
barato — cheap
negociar — to negotiate
desconto — discount
à vista — cash payment / single payment
parcelado — paid in installments
Simple example sentences beginners can use
Vou perguntar o preço primeiro, depois eu decido.
Vou perguntar o preço primeiro e volto depois.
Posso perguntar o preço desse casaco?
Quanto custa isso? — common short question to ask price
Tem desconto se eu pagar à vista? — Do you have a discount if I pay in cash?
Short dialogues for shopping situations
Dialogue 1 — clothing store
Cliente: Posso ajudar?
Vendedor: Sim, obrigado. O que você procura?
Cliente: Vou perguntar o preço primeiro. Quanto custa essa camisa?
Vendedor: Essa camisa custa 120 reais.
Cliente: Tem desconto se eu pagar à vista?
Vendedor: Sim, fica por 100 reais à vista.
Dialogue 2 — market stall
Comprador: Quanto custa essa fruta?
Feirante: Dois reais o quilo.
Comprador: Vou ver o preço de outras barracas e já volto.
Feirante: Tudo bem, volto já.
Dialogue 3 — service inquiry
Cliente: Quanto custa para consertar este telefone?
Técnico: Depende do problema. Posso olhar primeiro e depois informo o preço.
Cliente: Ok. Vou perguntar o preço primeiro em outros lugares também.
Polite phrases and tone
Beginners should aim for politeness and clarity. Use por favor to be polite and obrigado or obrigada to thank someone. Examples:
Posso perguntar o preço, por favor?
Obrigado, vou pensar.
Using a friendly tone and a smile goes a long way in Brazil and makes short exchanges smoother.
Payment and negotiation vocabulary
Knowing basic payment words helps after you ask the price. Common terms:
cartão — card
dinheiro — cash
maquininha — card machine (informal)
parcelas — installments
juros — interest
Receipt and confirmation phrases:
Tem nota fiscal? — Do you have a receipt?
Posso pagar no cartão? — Can I pay by card?
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake: Using European forms or unfamiliar vocabulary. Stick to Brazilian Portuguese words we listed above.
Mistake: Forgetting articles. In Portuguese, preço usually goes with an article: perguntar o preço is natural. Saying apenas perguntar preço sounds odd.
Mistake: Direct literal translations. Saying I will ask the price first word-for-word from English may produce awkward word order. Use the phrases shown above.
Pronunciation tips for beginners
Vou — sounds like voh; short and simple.
perguntar — per-goon-TAR (stress on the last syllable)
preço — PREH-so (Brazilian pronunciation with a soft s like English s between vowels)
primeiro — preh-MAY-roo (r sounds vary regionally; a soft r is fine)
Saying the whole phrase smoothly: Vou perguntar o preço primeiro — practice linking words: Vou-perguntar-o-preço-primeiro.
Practical situations to use this phrase
Street markets and feiras — when browsing stalls and comparing prices.
Clothing and shoe stores — before trying items on or deciding.
Restaurants and bakery counters — checking price when portions are unclear.
Service shops — repairs, haircuts, or small home services where you want a quote first.
Quick tips for beginners
Keep it short and polite: Posso perguntar o preço? or Vou ver o preço.
When unsure about payment options, ask Tem cartão? or Aceita cartão?
If you want to compare, say Vou comparar preços and sellers generally understand.
Conclusion
Knowing how to say I’ll ask the price first in Brazilian Portuguese makes shopping and daily interactions easier and more confident. Start with Vou perguntar o preço primeiro and use the simpler alternatives and vocabulary provided here. With these phrases and short dialogues, beginners can handle common price questions politely and naturally.
