Introduction
Knowing how to ask What is nearby in Brazilian Portuguese is one of the most useful survival phrases for travelers and beginners. This article explains the phrase, variations, vocabulary, simple replies, and short dialogues you can use right away when looking for places, services, or points of interest.
Basic phrase: How to ask What is nearby
The simplest and most direct way to ask What is nearby in Brazilian Portuguese is O que tem por perto?
Other polite or slightly more specific options include asking about a particular type of place, for example: O que tem por aqui? and Tem algum(a) … por perto?
Phrase breakdown and pronunciation tips
O que tem por perto? literally breaks down as follows: O que = What; tem = there is/are; por perto = nearby. Use a natural, rising intonation at the end for a question.
O que tem por aqui? is similar: aqui means here, so it sounds a bit more immediate than por perto.
Tem algum(a) … por perto? means Is there any … nearby? Use algum before masculine nouns and alguma before feminine nouns. For example: Tem algum banco por perto? Tem alguma farmácia por perto?
Useful vocabulary for nearby places
Here are common places you might ask about. The list gives the Portuguese word followed by a short English explanation.
praça — small square or plaza
praia — beach
restaurante — restaurant
café — café
loja — shop or store
mercado — supermarket or grocery store
farmácia — pharmacy
hospital — hospital
posto de gasolina — gas station
ônibus — bus (vehicle) / ponto de ônibus — bus stop
estação de metrô — subway/metro station
taxi — táxi
caixa eletrônico — ATM
banheiro — restroom or bathroom
How to form polite questions
To be polite, add por favor after the phrase. For example: O que tem por perto, por favor?
Or use Você sabe if you want to ask whether someone knows: Você sabe o que tem por aqui?
When asking specific questions, include the noun: Tem alguma farmácia por perto? Tem um banco por aqui?
Common replies you may hear
Here are short, natural replies that Brazilians often use when answering where things are.
Tem. — There is. / Yes, there is.
Tem sim. — Yes, there is. (friendly affirmation)
Não tem. — There is not.
Fica perto. — It’s nearby.
Fica longe. — It’s far.
Vai reto. — Go straight.
Vira à direita. — Turn right.
Vira à esquerda. — Turn left.
É na esquina. — It’s on the corner.
É a duas quadras. — It’s two blocks away.
Directional words and travel vocabulary
reto — straight
direita — right
esquerda — left
esquina — corner
quarteirão/quadra — block
perto — near / nearby
longe — far
próximo — next / close
entrar — to enter
sair — to exit
Practical phrases and full examples
Below are beginner-friendly full sentences you can use in real situations when you need to find something nearby.
O que tem por perto? — What is nearby?
O que tem por aqui? — What is nearby here?
Tem algum restaurante por perto? — Is there any restaurant nearby?
Tem alguma farmácia por aqui? — Is there any pharmacy around here?
Tem um ponto de ônibus perto daqui? — Is there a bus stop near here?
Onde fica o banheiro? — Where is the bathroom?
Tem um caixa eletrônico por perto? — Is there an ATM nearby?
Onde fica a estação de metrô mais próxima? — Where is the nearest metro station?
Short real-life dialogues
Dialogue 1 — At the bus stop
Você: O que tem por perto?
Local: Tem um mercado e uma farmácia a duas quadras. Vai reto e vira à esquerda. — There is a market and a pharmacy two blocks away. Go straight and turn left.
Dialogue 2 — Walking in a neighborhood
Você: Tem algum restaurante por aqui?
Local: Tem sim, tem um restaurante brasileiro na próxima esquina. — Yes, there is a Brazilian restaurant on the next corner.
Dialogue 3 — Looking for a restroom
Você: Onde fica o banheiro, por favor?
Local: O banheiro é dentro do café, depois da caixa. — The bathroom is inside the café, after the counter.
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Using literal word-for-word translations from English can lead to awkward sentences. For example, Do you have nearby? is not natural in Portuguese. Use Tem … por perto? or O que tem por perto?
Mixing masculine and feminine articles. Remember to match algum (masculine) with masculine nouns and alguma (feminine) with feminine nouns: Tem algum banco? Tem alguma loja?
Overusing você sabe. It is polite and useful, but native speakers often simply answer Tem… or O que tem… without that extra phrase.
Quick tips to sound natural
Use por favor when asking for help to be polite.
Listen for short directions: reto, direita, esquerda, esquina, quadras. These are common and quick to learn.
Practice question intonation. Portuguese questions often end with rising intonation similar to English.
Additional realistic examples you might see or hear
On a menu board near a beach kiosk: Tem água e suco por perto? — Do you have water and juice nearby? (Used by staff to tell each other where items are kept.)
At a hotel reception: O que tem nas redondezas? — What is in the surroundings? (Redondezas is another word meaning nearby area.)
On a map app: Próximo(s) — Nearby; Mostrar locais por perto — Show places nearby.
At a taxi stand: Tem algum ponto de táxi por perto? — Is there a taxi stand nearby?
Mini vocabulary recap
O que tem por perto? — What is nearby?
Tem algum(a) … por perto? — Is there any … nearby?
Por aqui and por perto both mean nearby/around here, with small nuance: por aqui is more immediate.
Practice suggestion for beginners
When walking in a safe area, try asking one simple question to a shopkeeper or passerby, like Tem alguma farmácia por perto? Notice natural short replies and practice the directional words until they feel comfortable.
Conclusion
Learning to ask What is nearby in Brazilian Portuguese opens many practical possibilities for travel and daily life. Start with O que tem por perto?, learn a few place words like farmácia and supermercado, and practice short replies like Fica perto and Vai reto. With these simple phrases you will find places more confidently and improve listening skills fast.
