How to respond in Portuguese when someone asks who you are visiting

Introduction

Learning how to answer the question who are you visiting in Brazilian Portuguese is a practical skill for travelers, new residents, or language beginners. This article teaches simple vocabulary, sample replies, polite forms, and common situations so you can confidently respond when someone asks quem você veio visitar or quem você está visitando.

Why this question matters

In Brazil, people often ask who you are visiting at apartment buildings, hospitals, train stations, or informal gatherings. Knowing how to respond clearly helps with directions, security checks, and social interactions. For beginners, mastering a few set phrases will make these encounters smooth and polite.

Key verbs and words to know

visitar – to visit

vir – to come

quem – who

estou – I am (estar, present)

sou – I am (ser, permanent)

na casa de – at the house of

no apartamento do – at the apartment of

no hospital – at the hospital

para ver – to see

How to ask the question in Brazilian Portuguese

Before learning responses, recognize common ways the question is asked.

Quem você veio visitar? – Who did you come to visit?

Quem você está visitando? – Who are you visiting?

Você veio visitar quem? – Whom did you come to visit? (less formal)

Pra quem você veio? – For whom did you come? (colloquial)

Simple, polite responses for beginners

Use these short replies when someone asks who you are visiting. Start with a greeting for politeness, then give the name and relationship if useful.

Estou visitando a minha irmã. – I am visiting my sister.

Estou visitando a minha irmã.

Vim visitar o meu amigo João. – I came to visit my friend João.

Vim visitar o meu amigo João.

Estou na casa do meu primo. – I am at my cousin’s house.

Estou na casa do meu primo.

Vim ver a minha mãe. – I came to see my mother.

Vim ver a minha mãe.

Vim visitar a paciente Maria no hospital. – I came to visit patient Maria in the hospital.

Vim visitar a paciente Maria no hospital.

Short, direct replies for security or quick checkpoints

At building entry points or reception, answers can be brief and factual.

Estou visitando o João, apartamento 502. – I am visiting João, apartment 502.

Estou visitando o João, apartamento 502.

Vim visitar a Sra. Silva. – I came to visit Mrs. Silva.

Vim visitar a Sra. Silva.

Estou aqui para ver o paciente Carlos no quarto 12. – I’m here to see patient Carlos in room 12.

Estou aqui para ver o paciente Carlos no quarto 12.

Adding context: relationship, reason, and time

Beginners should know how to add a short reason or relationship to make the reply sound natural and helpful.

Sou amigo do Pedro, vim ficar até domingo. – I’m Pedro’s friend, I came to stay until Sunday.

Sou amigo do Pedro, vim ficar até domingo.

Sou filha da dona Ana, vim cuidar dela por alguns dias. – I’m Mrs. Ana’s daughter, I came to look after her for a few days.

Sou filha da dona Ana, vim cuidar dela por alguns dias.

Vim visitar meu tio por causa do aniversário. – I came to visit my uncle because of his birthday.

Vim visitar meu tio por causa do aniversário.

Politeness and formal phrases

Use these when speaking with a receptionist, porteiro (doorman), or someone older.

Com licença, estou visitando o senhor Silva. – Excuse me, I am visiting Mr. Silva.

Com licença, estou visitando o senhor Silva.

Boa tarde, vim visitar a Sra. Pereira, por favor. – Good afternoon, I came to visit Mrs. Pereira, please.

Boa tarde, vim visitar a Sra. Pereira, por favor.

Você poderia avisar que eu vim visitar o apartamento 305? – Could you inform them that I came to visit apartment 305?

Você poderia avisar que eu vim visitar o apartamento 305?

Common follow-up questions and how to answer them

After you say who you are visiting, you may be asked for more details. Practice simple answers.

Qual o seu nome? – What is your name?

Qual o seu nome?

Meu nome é Ana. – My name is Ana.

Meu nome é Ana.

Quanto tempo vai ficar? – How long will you stay?

Quanto tempo vai ficar?

Vou ficar dois dias. – I will stay two days.

Vou ficar dois dias.

Você trouxe documento? – Did you bring identification?

Você trouxe documento?

Sim, aqui está meu RG. – Yes, here is my ID.

Sim, aqui está meu RG.

Practical dialogue examples for beginners

Short, realistic conversations you might hear or say in Brazil.

Receptionist: Quem você veio visitar?
Visitor: Vim visitar a minha irmã, Mariana.

Receptionist: Quem você veio visitar?
Visitor: Vim visitar a minha irmã, Mariana.

Porteiro: Qual o nome da pessoa e o apartamento?
Morador: É o João no apartamento 304.

Porteiro: Qual o nome da pessoa e o apartamento?
Morador: É o João no apartamento 304.

Visitor: Com licença, vim visitar o paciente Carlos no quarto 12.
Nurse: Ok, vou avisar a enfermaria.

Visitor: Com licença, vim visitar o paciente Carlos no quarto 12.
Nurse: Ok, vou avisar a enfermaria.

Vocabulary list with quick translations

quem – who

visitar – to visit

vir – to come

casa – house

apartamento – apartment

paciente – patient

porteiro – doorman

recepção – reception

documento – ID / document

Dona – Mrs. (polite before a first name)

Beginner tips and common mistakes

Tip 1: Use estar + visitando to emphasize the ongoing action: estou visitando rather than just visito.

Tip 2: For past arrival, use vim visitar or vim ver to say I came to visit: vim visitar, vim ver.

Tip 3: When giving names, Brazilians often use first names. Say João or Maria rather than a full formal name, unless required.

Common mistake: Confusing ser and estar. Use sou for identities (I am a friend) and estou for temporary states (I am visiting).

Common mistake: Omitting politeness in formal settings. Start with com licença or boa tarde at a reception desk.

Useful variations for different situations

Visiting a family member: Estou visitando minha avó.

Visiting a friend: Vim visitar meu amigo.

Visiting a patient in a hospital: Vim visitar o paciente Carlos.

Stopping by briefly: Estou só de passagem para ver a Ana. – I’m just stopping by to see Ana.

How to practice these phrases

Practice two-line dialogues aloud with a friend or language partner. Repeat polite phrases and the most common responses until they feel natural. Use the vocabulary list to create new short replies for different names and places.

Try role-play: one person is a porteiro asking Quem você veio visitar? and the other replies with a name, relationship, and apartment or room number.

Conclusion

Responding to who are you visiting in Brazilian Portuguese is straightforward once you learn a few key verbs, polite expressions, and short reply patterns. Use the sample phrases, dialogues, and tips here to feel confident at receptions, buildings, hospitals, and social visits. Keep practicing the short, natural replies until they become automatic.