How to say “Can I see that one?” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learning how to ask to see something politely is one of the first useful skills for beginners in Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains how to say Can I see that one? in natural, everyday Brazilian Portuguese, with vocabulary, example sentences, short dialogues, common replies, tips, and typical mistakes to avoid.

Basic translation and useful alternatives

The most natural, common way to ask Can I see that one? in Brazilian Portuguese is Posso ver aquele?

Other common alternatives are focused on item type, politeness, or immediacy. For example:

Posso ver aquele ali? – emphasizes the item that is a little farther or pointed at.

Posso ver esse? – used when the item is near the speaker or listener; muito used in stores.

Posso ver aquele, por favor? – adds politeness with por favor.

Você pode me mostrar aquele? – a slightly different construction: Can you show me that one?

Key words explained

Posso – first person singular of poder, meaning may or can I. Use this to ask permission politely.

Ver – verb to see, look at, or try on (context can mean try on clothing).

Aquele – demonstrative pronoun meaning that one (farther from both speaker and listener). Use aquele when pointing to something not close.

Esse – demonstrative pronoun meaning that one (near the listener or already mentioned). Use esse when the item is closer to the person you speak to.

Aqui / Ali – adverbs of place: aqui means here, ali means there (a little farther). Use them to clarify location: aquele ali means that one over there.

When to use aquela, aquele, and isso/esse

Brazilian Portuguese speakers distinguish items by proximity:

Aqui = here (close to the speaker). Use este or esta in formal contexts, but beginners commonly use este/esta less. For simplicity, use esse/essa for near the listener and aquele/aquela for farther items.

Example: If you are at a store and point to a shelf across the aisle, say Posso ver aquele ali?

Polite phrasing and tone

In stores, markets, or when asking a stranger, adding por favor or você pode… makes the request more polite:

Posso ver aquele, por favor?

Você pode me mostrar aquele?

Using desculpa or com licença before asking is polite in busy places: Com licença, posso ver aquele?

Short practical dialogues

Dialogues are short and useful for beginners. The Portuguese lines are in Brazilian Portuguese and realistic for everyday shopping or browsing.

Shopping at a clothing store:
Vendedor: Posso ajudar?
Cliente: Sim, posso ver aquele casaco ali, por favor?

At a market:
Cliente: Posso ver aquela manga?
Feirante: Claro, pode pegar.

Looking at phones in a shop:
Cliente: Posso ver esse celular?
Vendedor: Pode, está na vitrine. Quer que eu pegue?

Variations for different contexts

Electronics store: Posso ver aquele modelo? – model refers to the item.

Clothing: Posso experimentar aquele? – if you want to try it on, use experimentar instead of ver.

Bookstore: Posso ver esse livro? – common when the book is near the counter.

Restaurant or bakery display: Posso ver aquele bolo? – pointing to a display item.

Common replies you might hear

Yes, of course: Pode sim or Claro.

Hold on, I’ll get it: Espera um pouco / Já volto com ele.

You can pick it up: Pode pegar.

We don’t have that one: Não temos esse/aquele.

Beginner tips for sounding natural

1. Use por favor to sound polite but not overly formal: Posso ver aquele, por favor?

2. Match demonstratives to location: use esse for things near the listener, aquele for things farther away.

3. Add com licença in crowded places before asking: Com licença, posso ver aquele?

4. If you mean to try clothes, say experimentar: Posso experimentar aquele vestido?

5. Practice tone: Brazilian Portuguese tends to be friendly; a warm, polite tone goes a long way.

Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them

Mistake: Using the wrong demonstrative. Saying aquele when the item is right next to the seller can sound odd. Fix: Use esse if it’s near the person you’re addressing.

Mistake: Translating word-for-word from English like Can I see that one? to Posso ver aquele ali? is fine, but avoid literal word order from English that makes no sense. The typical order is Posso ver + demonstrative.

Mistake: Forgetting por favor or a polite phrase in service situations. Fix: Add por favor or com licença.

Mistake: Using ver when you clearly want to try something on. Fix: Use experimentar for clothes and calçar or provar for shoes: Posso provar esses sapatos?

More real-world examples

At a jewelry counter: Posso ver aquele anel?

At a museum gift shop: Posso ver esse ímã de geladeira?

At a bakery: Posso ver aquele pão de queijo?
Vendedor: Pode, está ali na bandeja.

At a clothing stall: Posso ver aquela blusa azul?
Vendedor: Claro, quer provar?

Pronunciation tips

Posso sounds like POH-soo. Stress the first syllable.

Ver is pronounced like VEH(r) — the final r is soft in many Brazilian accents.

Aquele sounds like ah-KEH-lee. Esse sounds like EH-see.

Por favor sounds like por fah-VOR and is widely used for politeness.

Quick reference phrase list

Posso ver aquele? – Can I see that one?

Posso ver esse? – Can I see this/that one (near the listener)?

Posso ver aquele ali? – Can I see that one over there?

Você pode me mostrar aquele? – Can you show me that one?

Posso experimentar aquele? – Can I try that one on?

When pointing and body language matters

In Brazil, pointing with an open hand toward the item is more polite than jabbing a finger. Accompany your verbal request with a gesture or a nod to make it clear which item you mean: Posso ver aquele ali?

What to expect after asking

Store staff often respond quickly with permission or offer to bring the item. You may be given the item to inspect, asked if you want to try it, or directed to a fitting room. Practice the small follow-up phrases: Obrigado(a) for thank you, Sim, quero provar for yes I want to try it.

Conclusion

Mastering how to say Can I see that one? in Brazilian Portuguese lets you navigate shops, markets, and casual interactions with confidence. Use Posso ver aquele? for distant items, Posso ver esse? for nearer items, add por favor or com licença for politeness, and switch to experimentar when you want to try clothing. With simple gestures and the short phrases in this article, beginners can communicate clearly in everyday situations.