30 Portuguese phrases for asking someone to explain

Introduction

As a beginner learning Brazilian Portuguese, asking someone to explain something is one of the most useful conversation skills you can practice. This article teaches 30 practical phrases to request clarification, explanations, or repetition in everyday situations like restaurants, transit, stores, and social interactions. Each phrase includes clear English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and short dialogues to help you use them right away.

Why these phrases matter

When you are new to a language, misunderstandings happen often. Knowing polite and simple ways to ask for explanations keeps conversations smooth and builds confidence. These phrases also help you learn new vocabulary by prompting native speakers to rephrase or slow down. Below you will find common expressions organized by situation and level of formality.

Basic polite requests to ask for explanation

Use these when you need someone to explain slowly or repeat a word.

Você pode explicar isso, por favor? — Can you explain this, please? Simple and polite for almost any situation.

Pode repetir, por favor? — Can you repeat, please? Ask when you missed a word or phrase.

Pode falar mais devagar, por favor? — Can you speak more slowly, please? Useful with fast speakers.

O que significa isso? — What does this mean? Use when you see a word or expression you don’t know.

Como se diz isso em português? — How do you say this in Portuguese? Helpful when you know a concept in your language but not the word in Portuguese.

Asking for clarification in a store, restaurant, or service

These phrases help you get details about menus, prices, schedules, or product information.

O que vem com esse prato? — What comes with this dish? Useful at restaurants to understand ingredients and sides.

Tem opção vegetariana? — Is there a vegetarian option? Helpful when you have dietary preferences.

Quanto custa isso? — How much does this cost? Basic and essential in shops and markets.

Esse preço é por pessoa ou por porção? — Is this price per person or per portion? Clarifies pricing on menus.

Como funciona o pagamento? — How does the payment work? Use at small stores or service counters to learn accepted payment methods.

Travel and transportation explanations

When traveling, these phrases help you understand routes, schedules, and instructions.

Qual é a melhor maneira de chegar lá? — What is the best way to get there? Ask for directions or transport advice.

Esse ônibus vai para o centro? — Does this bus go to downtown? Check routes before boarding.

Quando é a próxima estação? — When is the next stop? Useful on trains or buses.

Você pode me explicar a rota? — Can you explain the route to me? Ask a driver or ticket agent for steps.

Onde eu desço para o aeroporto? — Where do I get off for the airport? Important to avoid missing your stop.

Clarifying instructions and directions

These help when following instructions from colleagues, service staff, or friends.

Como eu faço isso? — How do I do this? Use for simple tasks or step-by-step actions.

Pode me mostrar como funciona? — Can you show me how it works? Ask for a demonstration.

Qual é o próximo passo? — What is the next step? Good during multi-step processes.

Você pode explicar de outra forma? — Can you explain it another way? Useful if the first explanation was confusing.

Isso significa que…? — Does that mean that…? Use to confirm your understanding of an explanation.

Asking for meaning and examples

Beginners benefit from hearing words used in context. These expressions request definitions and examples.

Você pode me dar um exemplo? — Can you give me an example? Helps see how a word is used in a sentence.

O que quer dizer essa expressão? — What does this expression mean? Great for idioms and slang.

Quando eu uso essa palavra? — When do I use this word? Learn appropriate contexts.

É formal ou informal? — Is it formal or informal? Important to choose the right tone.

Tem sinônimo para essa palavra? — Is there a synonym for this word? Expands vocabulary.

Polite and urgent ways to ask for help

Sometimes you need a quicker response or more polite phrasing in professional contexts.

Com licença, você pode me explicar rapidinho? — Excuse me, can you explain quickly? Use when you need a short explanation.

Desculpe, eu não entendi a última parte. — Sorry, I didn’t understand the last part. Polite way to ask for repetition.

Posso fazer uma pergunta rápida? — May I ask a quick question? Good before interrupting someone.

Você tem um minuto para explicar? — Do you have a minute to explain? Polite and respectful of the other person’s time.

Pode me ajudar a entender isso, por favor? — Can you help me understand this, please? Direct and courteous.

Common replies you may hear

Recognizing responses helps you continue the conversation. These are short and natural replies you might hear from Brazilians.

Claro, posso explicar. — Sure, I can explain. A friendly and open response.

Você não entendeu qual parte? — Which part didn’t you understand? Helps pinpoint confusion.

Posso explicar com um exemplo. — I can explain with an example. Expect a demonstration.

É só isso, tá? — That’s it, okay? Often used to confirm understanding at the end.

Fica tranquilo, eu explico devagar. — Don’t worry, I’ll explain slowly. Reassuring and patient.

Short beginner-friendly dialogues

Practice with short dialogues you might encounter in real life. Use the phrases in context to make them feel natural.

At a restaurant:
Cliente: O que vem com esse prato?
Garçom: Vem com arroz, feijão e salada. Quer trocar a salada por legumes?

On a bus:
Passageiro: Esse ônibus vai para a Avenida Paulista?
Motorista: Sim, mas desça na próxima parada e pegue a esquerda.

Asking a colleague:
Aluno: Como eu faço esse exercício?
Colega: Primeiro leia a instrução, depois faça a parte A e depois a B. Posso mostrar.

Practical vocabulary to know

These words appear often when asking for explanations. Learn them to understand replies and instructions.

explicar — to explain

repetir — to repeat

devagar — slowly

significar — to mean

exemplo — example

pergunta — question

parte — part

perder — to miss (e.g., a stop)

pagamento — payment

opção — option

Beginner tips and common mistakes

These quick tips will help you sound natural and avoid typical beginner errors.

Tip 1: Use por favor and desculpe to be polite. Brazilians appreciate courtesy in requests.

Tip 2: When asking for repetition, say Pode repetir, por favor? rather than demanding repetition. Tone matters.

Tip 3: Avoid literal translations from English. For example, instead of You can explain me, say Você pode me explicar?

Tip 4: Practice the verbs explicar and repetir with pronouns: me explicar, nos explicar, explicar para mim.

Common mistake: Mixing formal and informal registers. Use você for most casual interactions and senhor/senhora for formal service contexts if needed.

How to practice these phrases

Use them in simple, real situations: order food, ask for directions, or request help in a store. Start by memorizing a few core phrases like Você pode explicar isso, por favor? and Pode falar mais devagar, por favor? Then try swapping words to make new requests.

Listen for the replies listed above and repeat the short dialogues aloud to build confidence. Pair these phrases with the practical vocabulary so you can follow explanations about menus, schedules, and basic procedures.

Conclusion

Mastering these 30 phrases to ask someone to explain in Brazilian Portuguese will make daily interactions much easier and more enjoyable. Use the polite requests, travel and service expressions, and short dialogues in real situations to improve comprehension and build vocabulary. With a few simple phrases and practice, you will be able to ask for clarification confidently and learn faster from native speakers.