What to say in Portuguese when using a printer

Introduction

If you are learning Brazilian Portuguese and need to use a printer at work, school, or a copy shop, knowing the right phrases makes the interaction smoother and more professional. This article covers common vocabulary, handy expressions, and sample dialogues for printing, copying, scanning, and troubleshooting a printer in Brazil. Learn what to say to request help, describe a problem, and confirm settings.

Basic vocabulary for printers

Start with the essential nouns and verbs you will hear and use. The first time each Portuguese term appears it is bolded for clarity; later appearances use emphasis.

impressora — the machine you use to print documents.
imprimir — to print.
impressão — the act or result of printing, also used for a printed copy.
xerox — photocopy, commonly used in Brazil to mean copy or photocopying service.
copiar — to copy.
digitalizar — to scan (also escaneamento for scanning process).
scanner — the device or function for scanning (loanword).
folha — sheet, page.
tamanho — size (as in papel tamanho A4, Carta, etc.).
papel — paper.
qualidade — quality (draft, normal, high).

Common printer-related verbs and short phrases

Verbs you will use often:

ligar — to turn on.
desligar — to turn off.
carregar — to load (paper, ink, toner).
recarregar — to refill or recharge (toner, cartridge).
trocar — to replace (a cartridge, paper).

How to ask to print something

When you want to request a print job at a copy shop, office, or from a colleague, these polite phrases help you sound natural and clear.

Polite request to print a few pages:

Por favor, você pode imprimir estas páginas para mim?
São cinco folhas, frente e verso, em A4.

Asking how much it costs at a copy shop:

Quanto custa para fazer uma xerox desta folha?
É por página ou por lado?

Requesting specific print quality and size:

Preciso que fique em alta qualidade, papel couché, tamanho A4.
É possível imprimir colorido?

Usage notes

In Brazil, many people say xerox to mean photocopy even though Xerox is a brand. For printing from a file, use imprimir. If you need both sides, say frente e verso. If you prefer black-and-white, say preto e branco; for color, say colorido.

How to give printing instructions

When you control the computer or when handing a USB or file to someone, be precise. Here are common instructions and how to say them in Portuguese.

Telling the printer to print multiple copies:

Por favor, imprime três cópias deste documento.
Imprima três cópias, por favor.

Specifying single- or double-sided:

Imprimir frente e verso, por favor.
Só um lado, por favor.

Choosing color or black-and-white:

Imprimir em colorido.
Imprimir em preto e branco para economizar tinta.

Selecting paper tray or size:

Use o papel do bandeja 1, por favor.
É papel A4, ok?

Usage notes

When speaking with colleagues, the informal suis (tu) is less common in Brazil; the polite você and imperative form like imprima or por favor, imprime is acceptable among friends or coworkers. In a formal setting or with a service attendant, use por favor and the third-person imperative for politeness.

How to scan or digitize documents

Scanning is common for sending documents by email or saving a copy. Use these phrases to ask someone to scan or to say you will scan.

Requesting a scan:

Você pode digitalizar este documento e me enviar por e-mail?
Preciso em PDF e em alta resolução.

Explaining what you need:

Preciso de um arquivo em PDF, tamanho 300 DPI.
Pode salvar em PDF e mandar para meu e-mail?

When using a machine yourself:

Vou digitalizar agora.
Selecione PDF e escolha cor ou preto e branco.

Usage notes

Ask about resolution (DPI) if quality matters: para alta qualidade diga 300 DPI ou 600 DPI. If scanning multiple pages to a single file, say juntar as páginas no mesmo arquivo.

Troubleshooting phrases: when the printer doesn’t work

Printers often have jams, out-of-paper, or low ink. These phrases help you describe the problem and ask for help.

Reporting a paper jam:

A impressora travou, tem um papel preso.
Consegue me ajudar a tirar o papel?

When the machine says out of paper:

Acabou o papel. Preciso repor mais folhas A4.
Onde está o papel reserva?

Low ink or toner messages:

A tinta acabou. Tem cartucho reserva?
A máquina mostra falta de toner.

Printer not responding to print job:

Enviei para impressora, mas não está imprimindo.
Está na fila de impressão ou travou?

Useful follow-up questions

Where is the paper tray: onde fica a bandeja do papel?
Do you have replacement cartridges: vocês têm cartuchos de reposição?
Can you reset the printer: consegue reiniciar a impressora?

Short dialogues for common situations

Here are practical mini-dialogues you can use or memorize. Each uses natural phrasing you will hear in Brazil.

At a copy shop — asking to print and pay:

Cliente: Por favor, pode imprimir estas 10 páginas em colorido?
Atendente: Pode sim. Vai querer frente e verso?
Cliente: Não, só um lado. Quanto fica?
Atendente: R$ 0,80 por página. Ficaria R$ 8,00 no total.

At the office — printer jam:

Você: A impressora travou, tem um papel preso.
Colega: Vou abrir a tampa e puxar com cuidado. Depois eu reinicio a impressora.

Asking to scan and send:

Você: Pode digitalizar e me mandar em PDF?
Atendente: Claro. Qual e-mail eu uso?
Você: Use meu e-mail profissional, por favor.

Politeness and formality

Use por favor and obrigada/o when appropriate. Say obrigada if you are female and obrigado if you are male when thanking someone. In service interactions, use senhor/senhora to be extra polite: senhor, a impressora está com problema.

Specific phrases for office settings

In an office you might need to explain print settings or restrictions. Here are phrases for those cases.

Explaining printing policies:

Por favor, imprima apenas o essencial para economizar papel.
As impressões em colorido precisam de autorização do gerente.

Requesting confirmation before printing many pages:

Este documento tem 100 páginas. Confirma que quer imprimir tudo?
Posso imprimir um rascunho primeiro para revisar?

Scheduling or batch printing:

Vou deixar os arquivos na fila para imprimir à noite.
Amanhã cedo eu recolho as cópias.

Technical terms and display messages

Knowing a few technical terms and messages helps when reading the printer display or messages from IT.

Common display messages:

Erro de impressão — print error.
Papel atolado — paper jam.
Sem papel — no paper.
Toner baixo — low toner.
Conectar ao servidor de impressão — connect to the print server.

When IT tells you to check the queue:

Veja a fila de impressão no computador.
Cancele o trabalho e tente enviar novamente.

Useful expressions for pay and prices

If you are using a copy shop, you will often ask about price and payment. Here are typical phrases.

Asking price per page:

Quanto é a cópia por página em preto e branco?
E em colorido?

Payment methods:

Aceitam cartão ou é só dinheiro?
Posso pagar com PIX?

Requesting a discount for large jobs:

Tenho 200 páginas para imprimir. Tem desconto para grande quantidade?

Cultural tips and practical advice

Brazilian copy shops often offer fast, walk-in service and may expect cash, card, or PIX. Many places are informal: bring your file on pen drive, email it, or send via WhatsApp. If you need high-quality prints, call ahead and confirm paper type and price. When handing a file, use polite language and say obrigado/obrigada after they help you.

Safety and etiquette

Don’t leave sensitive documents unattended on shared printers. When collecting prints in a communal office, pick them up quickly and avoid using the printer for large personal jobs without permission. If you are unsure about settings, ask politely: Como devo configurar para não usar muita tinta?

Conclusion

With these words, phrases, and dialogues you will be ready to handle most printer situations in Brazil, from asking to print and copy to solving jams and scanning documents. Practice the sample sentences aloud and adapt them to your needs — whether at a copy shop, office, or school — to build confidence and speak naturally when using a impressora.