Introduction
Learning how to ask about colors is a small but essential skill for shopping and daily life in Brazil. This article explains how to say Do you have this in another color? in Brazilian Portuguese, explores useful variations, polite phrasing, pronunciation tips, and short dialogues you can use in stores, markets, and online. By the end you’ll feel confident to ask for colors naturally and understand common responses.
Basic phrase to ask for another color
The simplest and most direct way to ask Do you have this in another color? is to say Você tem isto em outra cor?
Breakdown:
Você tem = You have
isto = this (neutral, used for objects in general)
em = in
outra cor = another color
Use this phrase when pointing at an item or showing a photo on your phone. It is polite and widely understood across Brazil.
Alternative, more natural options
Brazilian Portuguese often favors slightly different word choices depending on region and register. These alternatives sound more natural in everyday conversation.
Tem deste em outra cor?
Tem = short for você tem in informal speech
deste = of this (masculine) — use when referring to a masculine noun like casaco or sapato
em outra cor = in another color
Tem dessa em outra cor?
dessa = of this (feminine) — use when referring to a feminine noun like blusa or bolsa
Tem desse em outra cor? and Tem dessa em outra cor? are very natural and commonly heard in stores. They are slightly less formal than Você tem isto em outra cor? and are good for everyday shopping.
Choosing the right demonstrative
Brazilian Portuguese has different demonstratives depending on distance and gender. Choosing the correct one makes your question sound fluent.
Isto, isso, and aquilo are neutral demonstratives often used when you do not mark gender. However, when you know the noun’s gender, use forms like deste, dessa, or desse.
Examples:
When pointing to a feminine noun (a blusa):
Tem dessa em outra cor?
When pointing to a masculine noun (o sapato):
Tem desse em outra cor?
If you simply point to the item without naming it, Tem isso em outra cor? or Tem isto em outra cor? also work.
Politeness and adding softeners
For polite shopping, Brazilians often add a polite opener or softeners. These make the interaction friendly and are useful in formal stores.
Examples:
Com licença, você tem isso em outra cor?
Por favor, tem desse em outra cor?
Desculpa, tem dessa em outra cor?
Com licença means excuse me and is a polite opener when approaching a salesperson. Por favor and desculpa are simple softeners that make the phrase gentler.
Specifying the color you want
Sometimes you want to ask if a specific color is available. You can combine the basic phrase with a color name.
Structure: Tem/Você tem/Tem desse(a) em [color]?
Examples with common color words:
Tem desse em vermelho?
Tem dessa em azul?
Você tem isto em preto?
Tem isso em branco?
Color vocabulary (quick list):
vermelho = red
azul = blue
preto = black
branco = white
verde = green
amarelo = yellow
rosa = pink
roxo = purple
marrom = brown
cinza = gray
Asking for multiple color options
If you want to ask whether there are several color choices, use:
Tem em outras cores?
This asks generally if the item comes in other colors. You can also say:
Quais cores têm?
Quais cores vocês têm?
Quais cores têm asks which colors are available and is a good follow-up question to see all options.
Short dialogues for real-life situations
Here are short, realistic dialogues to model and memorize. Each uses natural, conversational language.
Scenario 1: Clothing store
Client: Com licença, tem dessa em outra cor?
Salesperson: Temos sim. Quer ver as outras cores?
Client: Sim, por favor.
Scenario 2: Shoe store
Client: Tem desse em preto?
Salesperson: Só temos no azul e no marrom. Quer experimentar?
Client: Quero, por favor.
Scenario 3: Market or stall
Client: Tem isso em várias cores?
Vendor: Temos. Qual cor você quer?
Client: Você tem em vermelho?
Usage notes: gender agreement and contractions
Remember that Portuguese nouns have gender. Use dessa for feminine and desse for masculine. When referring to an item directly by name, match the demonstrative to the noun:
a camisa (feminine): Tem dessa em outra cor?
o casaco (masculine): Tem desse em outra cor?
Informal speech often drops the personal pronoun and uses Tem alone. This is normal in shops and is not rude.
Pronunciation tips
Pronunciation matters when asking questions in a noisy store. Stress and intonation will help you be understood.
Key points:
Você tem isto em outra cor?
Pronounce você like voh-SEH with an open o and stress on the second syllable.
Tem is pronounced like chem with a soft t, often sounding like tem.
Isto and isso are short: ISS-to, EE-so.
Outra cor: say OH-trah KOR. The r at the end of cor is often pronounced like an English r or like a guttural h depending on region.
When making it a question, raise your pitch at the end of the sentence: Tem desse em outra cor? with a rising intonation.
Common responses and how to reply
Learning typical answers helps you respond quickly during a shopping interaction.
Common salesperson responses:
Sim, temos. = Yes, we have.
Não, desculpe. = No, sorry.
Tem só neste tom. = We only have it in this shade.
Tem em outras cores na parte de trás. = We have other colors in the back.
How to reply:
Great, I’ll try it on: Ótimo, vou experimentar.
If you prefer a different color: Prefiro em azul, por favor.
If it’s not available: Tudo bem, obrigado/obrigada.
Note: obrigado is used by men, obrigada by women when saying thank you.
Useful phrases to extend the interaction
Beyond asking about colors, these phrases are practical during shopping.
Posso experimentar? = May I try it on?
Tem outro tamanho? = Do you have another size?
Onde ficam as variações de cor? = Where are the color variations?
Vocês entregam em casa? = Do you deliver to the home?
Using these phrases with your color question creates smooth, natural conversations: Por favor, tem desse em azul e posso experimentar?
Online shopping and messaging
When shopping online or chatting with sellers, slightly different phrasing is common because context is textual.
Examples for chat:
Olá, tem esse produto em outra cor?
Boa tarde, vocês têm desse em vermelho?
Short and direct messages work best online. Include photos when possible and use the noun because demonstratives can be ambiguous in text: Tem a blusa azul no tamanho M?
Regional variations and colloquial shortcuts
Brazil is large and expressions vary. Here are a few regional or colloquial shortcuts you might hear:
Tá? = short for está? People sometimes say Tá com outra cor? meaning Is there another color?
Tem não = colloquial negative meaning We don’t have it.
Tem não, só nessa = We don’t have it, only in this one.
These forms are casual and common in markets and smaller shops. Use them if you want to sound more colloquial, but stick to the polite forms in nicer stores.
Practice tips for real-world use
Small, realistic practice will improve your confidence faster than long drills.
Tip 1: Memorize one basic phrase and one polite opener. Example: Com licença, tem dessa em outra cor?
Tip 2: Learn the gender of common clothing and accessory nouns so you can use dessa and desse correctly.
Tip 3: Practice saying color names aloud with rising intonation to sound like a question.
Tip 4: Role-play quick shopping dialogues with a friend or language partner so responses become automatic.
Conclusion
Asking Do you have this in another color? in Brazilian Portuguese is straightforward and highly useful. Master one basic phrase like Você tem isto em outra cor?, learn the gendered demonstratives dessa and desse, and practice color vocabulary and polite openers. With these tools you will be ready to shop confidently across Brazil.
