Portuguese · Visita ao apartamento
Ask about the deposit (caução) and advance payment: what to say in Portuguese
You want to understand how much you have to pay at the start: deposit and payment in advance.
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How it's done. At the start you often pay a deposit (caução) and several months in advance (rendas adiantadas); everything should be set out in the contract.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
YOU START
Quanto é a caução?
KWAHN-too eh uh kow-SOW?
How much is the deposit?
Or say:Quantas rendas tenho de pagar adiantadas?
KWAHN-tuhsh RAYN-duhsh TEH-nyoo d puh-GAHR uh-dee-ahn-TAH-duhsh?
THEY SAY
Um mês de caução e um mês adiantado.Oon mezh d kow-SOW ee oon mezh uh-dee-ahn-TAH-doo.
One month's deposit and one month in advance.
They might also say:
Peço duas rendas de caução.
PEH-soo DOO-uhzh RAYN-duhzh d kow-SOW.
I ask for two months' rent as a deposit.
2
YOU REPLY
A caução é devolvida no fim?
Uh kow-SOW eh dih-vool-VEE-duh noo feen?
Is the deposit returned at the end?
THEY SAY
Sim, se a casa estiver em bom estado.Seen, s uh KAH-zuh shtee-VEHR ayn bohn SHTAH-doo.
Yes, if the flat is in good condition.
3
YOU REPLY
Fica escrito no contrato?
FEE-kuh SHKREE-too noo kohn-TRAH-too?
Will that be written in the contract?
THEY SAY
Claro, fica tudo no contrato.KLAH-roo, FEE-kuh TOO-doo noo kohn-TRAH-too.
Of course, it will all be in the contract.
4
YOU FINISH
Muito obrigado!
MWEE-too oh-bree-GAH-doo!
Thank you very much!
Or say:Obrigado, até logo!
oh-bree-GAH-doo, uh-TEH LOH-goo!
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
é
eh
verb
is
caução
kow-SOW
noun
deposit (a deposit for housing)
mês
mezh
noun
month
adiantado
uh-dee-ahn-TAH-doo
adjective
in advance
devolvida
dih-vool-VEE-duh
adjective
returned (feminine)
fim
feen
noun
end
20 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Pode repetir, por favor?
Pod rih-pih-TEER, poor fuh-VOR?
Can you repeat that, please?
Pode escrever, por favor?
Pod shkrih-VEHR, poor fuh-VOR?
Can you write it down, please?
Similar situations
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