Introduction
Calling a maintenance person in Brazil requires clear, polite language and simple vocabulary. This article teaches 30 practical Brazilian Portuguese phrases beginners can use to request repairs, describe problems, set appointments, and confirm prices. Each phrase includes English explanations and realistic examples so you can call, message, or talk in person with confidence.
- Why these phrases matter
- Key vocabulary (words to know)
- 30 practical phrases for calling a maintenance person
- Short dialogues for common situations
- Beginner tips for polite and effective calls
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Practical phrases for messaging apps
- How to confirm arrival and payment
- Quick checklist before calling
- Conclusion
Why these phrases matter
When you need help with appliances, plumbing, electrical issues, or general repairs, clear communication saves time and avoids misunderstandings. For beginners, using short, direct sentences in Brazilian Portuguese and a few key words will help the technician understand the problem quickly. Below are essential terms and common phrases organized by situation.
Key vocabulary (words to know)
manutenção – maintenance, repair
conserto – fix, repair
encanamento – plumbing
eletricista – electrician
encanador – plumber
serviço – service, job
orçamento – estimate, quote
agenda – schedule
combinado – agreed, arranged
urgente – urgent
30 practical phrases for calling a maintenance person
Each phrase is written in Brazilian Portuguese, followed by an English explanation and a short example when helpful.
1. Olá, preciso de manutenção. – A simple opening: I need maintenance.
2. Tem disponibilidade hoje? – Do you have availability today?
3. Preciso de um eletricista. – I need an electrician.
4. Preciso de um encanador. – I need a plumber.
5. O aquecedor não está funcionando. – The heater is not working.
6. A torneira está vazando. – The faucet is leaking.
7. A tomada não funciona. – The outlet doesn’t work.
8. A luz apaga sozinha. – The light turns off by itself.
9. O ar-condicionado não esfria. – The air conditioner is not cooling.
10. O elevador está parado. – The elevator is stuck.
11. Tem emergência? É urgente. – Is there an emergency slot? It’s urgent.
12. Quanto fica o conserto? – How much will the repair cost?
13. Vocês cobram visita técnica? – Do you charge for a technical visit?
14. Pode vir pela manhã / à tarde? – Can you come in the morning / afternoon?
15. Que horas você chega? – What time will you arrive?
16. Meu endereço é… – My address is… (use to give location)
17. Moro no apartamento X, prédio Y. – I live in apartment X, building Y. (useful for condos)
18. Preciso de peças novas? – Do I need new parts?
19. Você traz as peças? – Do you bring the parts?
20. Você aceita cartão? – Do you accept card? (payment)
21. Prefiro pagamento em dinheiro. – I prefer cash payment.
22. Pode enviar um orçamento por mensagem? – Can you send an estimate by message?
23. Posso acompanhar o serviço? – Can I be present during the service?
24. Vai demorar quanto tempo? – How long will it take?
25. Há garantia no serviço? – Is there a warranty on the service?
26. O barulho vem do motor. – The noise comes from the motor.
27. A água está suja / com cheiro. – The water is dirty / has a smell.
28. O problema começou ontem. – The problem started yesterday.
29. Já tentei desligar e ligar. – I already tried turning it off and on.
30. Obrigado, combinamos o horário. – Thank you, we agreed on the time.
Short dialogues for common situations
Use these beginner-friendly dialogues to practice calling or messaging a maintenance person. Breaks show speaker change with simple labels.
Phone booking example:
Você: Olá, preciso de manutenção. Tem disponibilidade hoje?
Técnico: Sim, posso ir às 15h. Qual é seu endereço?
Você: Meu endereço é Rua das Flores, 120, apartamento 402.
Describing a leak:
Você: Bom dia, minha torneira está vazando.
Encanador: Desde quando está vazando?
Você: Começou ontem à noite. Está pingando o tempo todo.
Asking about cost:
Você: Quanto fica o conserto do chuveiro?
Técnico: Depende da peça. Posso fazer uma visita técnica e ver o problema.
Beginner tips for polite and effective calls
Keep sentences short and speak slowly. If you do not understand, use the phrase Não entendi, pode repetir? This asks the technician to repeat the information. When giving your address, say Meu endereço é… then spell difficult words slowly. Confirm time by saying Então, às 15h está combinado? to make sure both agree on the hour.
Use simple verbs: precisar (to need), funcionar (to work), vazar (to leak), chegar (to arrive). These verbs will cover most repair contexts.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginner learners often use long sentences or mix in English words that may confuse a technician. Avoid complex grammar; prefer present tense for simplicity. For example, instead of saying Eu teria um problema com o ar-condicionado se você pudesse verificar, say O ar-condicionado não funciona. Pode verificar?
Another common mistake is forgetting essential details like apartment number or model name. When relevant, include model or brand: O fogão Brastemp não acende helps the technician prepare proper parts.
Practical phrases for messaging apps
Many maintenance requests start with a text message. Keep messages short and clear. Example templates below use Portuguese for real use.
Oi, bom dia. Preciso de manutenção no chuveiro. Tem horário hoje?
Boa tarde. A porta da garagem não fecha. Pode verificar amanhã pela manhã?
Olá. A geladeira está fazendo barulho estranho. Quanto custa a visita técnica?
How to confirm arrival and payment
Confirm arrival with Você vai chegar às X horas? For payment, ask Qual é o valor total e como posso pagar? If you prefer to pay a specific way, say Posso pagar com cartão de débito? or Prefiro pagar em dinheiro.
When service finishes, thank the technician: Obrigado pelo serviço. Ficou ótimo. If you need to report a problem after the visit, use O problema voltou. Preciso de nova manutenção.
Quick checklist before calling
Have these details ready to make the call fast and efficient.
Location (address, apartment number)
Short description of the problem (leaks, no power, noise)
Model or brand if appliance-related
Preferred time for visit
Payment method
Conclusion
With these 30 Brazilian Portuguese phrases and practical tips, beginners can confidently call or message maintenance professionals. Use short sentences, key vocabulary, and the sample dialogues to communicate clearly. Practice the phrases aloud and keep a simple checklist ready before you call to make any repair visit smooth and efficient.
