Portuguese · Estafeta
The parcel is damaged: refuse it: what to say in Portuguese
The courier hands over the parcel, but the box is clearly damaged.
💡
How it's done. If the box is damaged, you can refuse it on the spot or ask for the damage to be recorded on receipt.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
Aqui tem a sua encomenda.Uh-KEE tayn uh SOO-uh ayn-koo-MAYN-duh.
Here's your parcel.
They might also say:
É para si. Assine aqui, se faz favor.
Eh pruh see. Uh-SEEN uh-KEE, s fahsh fuh-VOR.
This is for you. Sign here, please.
YOU REPLY
Desculpe, mas a caixa está danificada.
Dish-KOOLP, mahz uh KIGH-shuh shtah duh-nih-fee-KAH-duh.
Sorry, but the box is damaged.
Or say:Esta caixa está aberta.
ESH-tuh KIGH-shuh shtah uh-BEHR-tuh.
THEY SAY
Quer recusar a encomenda?Kehr rih-koo-ZAHR uh ayn-koo-MAYN-duh?
Do you want to refuse the parcel?
They might also say:
Prefere recusar a encomenda?
Prih-FEHR rih-koo-ZAHR uh ayn-koo-MAYN-duh?
Would you rather refuse the parcel?
2
YOU REPLY
Sim, prefiro recusar.
Seen, prih-FEE-roo rih-koo-ZAHR.
Yes, I'd rather refuse it.
Or say:Vou abrir primeiro.
Voh uh-BREER pree-MAY-roo.
THEY SAY
Muito bem.MWEE-too bayn.
Very good.
They might also say:
Perfeito.
pir-FAY-too.
Perfect.
3
YOU FINISH
Obrigado!
oh-bree-GAH-doo!
Thank you!
Or say:Muito obrigado!
MWEE-too oh-bree-GAH-doo!
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
Aqui
Uh-KEE
adverb
here
tem
tayn
verb
have
encomenda
ayn-koo-MAYN-duh
noun
parcel
Desculpe
Dish-KOOLP
verb
sorry, excuse me
caixa
KIGH-shuh
noun
till, cashier's desk
está
shtah
verb
is, is located (now)
11 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Desculpe, não percebi.
Dish-KOOLP, now pir-sih-BEE.
Sorry, I didn't understand.
Similar situations
The courier cannot find the addressEstafeta · A2 in the app
→The courier calls: "I have a parcel for you, I'll be there in 10 minutes"Estafeta · A1 in the app
→The courier calls: "I'm at your door, are you home?"Estafeta · A1 in the app
→You are not at home: ask them to leave it with a neighbourEstafeta · A2 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report