First Phrases

Winter home problems · Português

Winter home problems phrases in Portuguese: 15 phrases

Tell the landlord or agency that the heating, hot water or power has failed, report a leak, frozen pipe, damp or a window that will not close, ask them to send someone, book a plumber or electrician, ask when they can come, the cost and an invoice, and say it is urgent. Short, natural phrases for when something breaks at home in winter.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). In Portugal use the polite third person (the verb alone, as below) with the landlord ("senhorio"), the agency ("imobiliária") and tradespeople. A plumber is "canalizador", an electrician "eletricista", the boiler "caldeira" or "esquentador" (gas water heater). Phrases only: this card says nothing about who has to pay or fix what.

How to read the sounds: European Portuguese swallows unstressed vowels, so syllables sound shorter than they look. (n) = nasal vowel, don't sound the n. sh = the 'sh' of 'ship' for final s and x. Stress is in CAPITALS.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    O aquecimento não funciona.
    Say it like: oo ah-keh-see-MEN-too nowng foon-SYOH-nah
    The heating isn't working.
    Register: Add "desde ontem" (since yesterday).
  2. 02Neutral
    Não temos água quente.
    Say it like: nowng TAY-moosh AH-gwah KENT
    We have no hot water.
    Register: Many homes have an "esquentador" or a "termoacumulador": say which one fails.
  3. 03Neutral
    O radiador tem uma fuga de água.
    Say it like: oo rah-dyah-DOR tayng OO-mah FOO-gah duh AH-gwah
    The radiator has a water leak.
    Register: Also "O radiador está a pingar" (is dripping).
  4. 04Neutral
    A caldeira está a dar um código de erro.
    Say it like: ah kahl-DAY-rah shtah ah DAHR oong KOH-dee-goo duh eh-RROH
    The boiler is showing an error code.
    Register: Read out the code. Homes with a gas heater may say "esquentador" instead of "caldeira".
  5. 05Neutral
    Ficámos sem luz.
    Say it like: fee-KAH-moosh sayng loosh
    We have no power.
    Register: "Luz" means electricity here. Also "Foi-se a luz".
  6. 06Neutral
    Um cano congelou.
    Say it like: oong KAH-noo kon-zhuh-LOH
    A pipe has frozen.
    Register: Also "Há um cano gelado" (there is a frozen pipe).
  7. 07Neutral
    Há bolor e humidade na parede.
    Say it like: ah boo-LOR ee oo-mee-DAH-duh nah pah-RAY-duh
    There is mould and damp on the wall.
    Register: "Humidade" is damp, "bolor" is mould.
  8. 08Neutral
    A janela não fecha bem.
    Say it like: ah zhah-NEH-lah nowng FAY-shah bayng
    The window doesn't close properly.
    Register: Add "e entra ar" (and air comes in).
  9. 09Polite
    Pode mandar alguém para ver isto?
    Say it like: POH-duh mahn-DAR ahl-GAYNG PAH-rah vayr EESH-too
    Could you send someone to look at this?
    Register: Use it with the landlord or the agency.
  10. 10Polite
    Queria marcar um canalizador ou um eletricista.
    Say it like: kuh-REE-ah mar-KAR oong kah-nah-lee-zah-DOR oh oong eh-leh-tree-SEESH-tah
    I'd like to book a plumber or an electrician.
    Register: "Marcar" is to book an appointment.
  11. 11Polite
    Quando podem vir?
    Say it like: KWAN-doo POH-dayng veer
    When can they come?
    Register: Add "hoje" (today) or "amanhã" (tomorrow).
  12. 12Polite
    Quanto vai custar a reparação?
    Say it like: KWAN-too vye koosh-TAR ah rreh-pah-rah-SOWNG
    How much will the repair cost?
    Register: Also "Pode dar-me um orçamento?" (can you give me a quote?).
  13. 13Polite
    Pode passar-me uma fatura, por favor?
    Say it like: POH-duh pah-SAR-muh OO-mah fah-TOO-rah poor fah-VOR
    Could you give me an invoice, please?
    Register: In Portugal an invoice may ask for your NIF (tax number).
  14. 14Neutral
    É urgente.
    Say it like: eh oor-ZHEN-tuh
    It's urgent.
    Register: Add "por favor" to keep it polite.
  15. 15Neutral
    Tenho uma criança pequena e está muito frio.
    Say it like: TAYN-yoo OO-mah kree-AN-sah puh-KAY-nah ee shtah MWEEN-too FREE-oo
    I have a small child and it's very cold.
    Register: For a baby: "um bebé".

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Quick answers

How do you say the heating isn't working in Portuguese?

Say: "O aquecimento não funciona." (The heating isn't working.)

Should I use informal or formal Portuguese with a landlord or tradesperson?

In Portugal use the polite third person (the verb alone, as below) with the landlord ("senhorio"), the agency ("imobiliária") and tradespeople. A plumber is "canalizador", an electrician "eletricista", the boiler "caldeira" or "esquentador" (gas water heater). Phrases only: this card says nothing about who has to pay or fix what.

How do I ask someone to come and fix it in Portuguese?

Say: "Pode mandar alguém para ver isto?" (Could you send someone to look at this?)

How do I ask when they can come and how much it costs in Portuguese?

Try: "Quando podem vir?" (When can they come?) and "Quanto vai custar a reparação?" (How much will the repair cost?)

Winter home phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

Portuguese, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

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firstphrases.app/survival/winter-home-problems/pt/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint