Portuguese · AIMA
You did not understand a requirement: ask them to write it down: what to say in Portuguese
The officer explains a requirement, and you don't understand what exactly is needed. You ask for it in writing.
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How it's done. Asking for the requirement to be written down is normal and polite; you can translate it calmly at home.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Tem de apresentar o registo criminal apostilado.Tayn d uh-prih-zayn-TAHR oo rih-ZHEESH-too kree-mih-NAHL uh-poosh-tee-LAH-doo.
You have to submit a criminal record certificate with an apostille.
They might also say:
Precisa da declaração de meios de subsistência.
Prih-SIH-zuh duh dih-kluh-ruh-SOW d MAY-oozh d soob-seesh-TAYN-syuh.
You need a declaration of means of subsistence.
YOU REPLY
Desculpe, não percebi. Pode escrever?
Dish-KOOLP, now pir-sih-BEE. Pod shkrih-VEHR?
Sorry, I didn't understand. Can you write it down?
Or say:Pode explicar mais devagar?
Pod shplee-KAHR mighzh dvuh-GAHR?
THEY SAY
Claro, escrevo aqui num papel.KLAH-roo, SHKREH-voo uh-KEE noon puh-PEL.
Of course, I'll write it here on a piece of paper.
They might also say:
Está tudo na lista do site.
Shtah TOO-doo nuh LEESH-tuh doo sight.
It's all in the list on the website.
2
YOU FINISH
Muito obrigado pela paciência.
MWEE-too oh-bree-GAH-doo PEH-luh puh-see-AYN-syuh.
Thank you very much for your patience.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Portuguese for life in Portugal”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Tem
Tayn
verb
have
apresentar
uh-prih-zayn-TAHR
verb
to submit
registo
rih-ZHEESH-too
noun
registration
criminal
kree-mih-NAHL
adjective
criminal
apostilado
uh-poosh-tee-LAH-doo
adjective
with an apostille
Desculpe
Dish-KOOLP
verb
sorry, excuse me
15 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Pode escrever, por favor?
Pod shkrih-VEHR, poor fuh-VOR?
Can you write it down, please?
Pode falar mais devagar, por favor?
Pod fuh-LAHR mighzh dvuh-GAHR, poor fuh-VOR?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Fala inglês?
FAH-luh een-GLESH?
Do you speak English?
Similar situations
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