Printing, copies, repairs, hairdresser: what to say in Portuguese

💡 At a stationery shop (papelaria), files for printing are usually sent to their email or brought on a USB stick.

💡 The most reliable way is to send documents for printing as a PDF - that way they will definitely open on any computer.

💡 Frente e verso - both sides of the sheet; digitalizar - to scan.

💡 A cores - in colour, a preto e branco - black and white.

💡 Passport photos (fotografias tipo passe) are often taken right in the stationery shop or a photo studio; for AIMA, check the background requirements.

💡 It's easiest to show the shop assistant the school list: in September stationery shops are used to this.

💡 A women's and general hairdresser's is a cabeleireiro, a men's one is a barbearia.

💡 The simplest way is to show a photo of the haircut you want: Assim, como nesta fotografia - "Like this, as in this photo".

💡 It's easy to show the length with your fingers: só isto - just this much.

💡 For children hairdressers often have a separate chair and cartoons - ask whether they cut little ones' hair.

💡 Tenho marcação às três - "I have an appointment at three"; an appointment for a particular time is a marcação.

💡 Clipper length is given in millimetres: três milímetros is the first guard, seis milímetros the second.

💡 A wash at the hairdresser's is usually free.

💡 Tips (gorjeta) are very welcome at the hairdresser's: from 50 cents, and often 1-2 euros.

💡 Before handing over your phone, ask about the repair guarantee (garantia) and whether your data will be kept.

💡 For a repair they often ask for your phone passcode to test it; you can ask them to test it in front of you.

💡 A prepaid plan is pré-pago (carregamento - top-up), a contract is pós-pago (often with fidelização, a minimum commitment period).

💡 For a SIM card they often ask for an identity document, and for a contract also a NIF and an IBAN.

💡 Dry cleaning is limpeza a seco; a stain in Portuguese is nódoa.

💡 Keep the dry cleaner's receipt - the clothes are handed back against it.

💡 A clothes alteration shop is arranjos de costura; a zip in Portuguese is fecho.

💡 Keys are often cut at a cobbler's (sapateiro) or at a "shoes and keys" kiosk; a copy takes a few minutes.

💡 Heels are tacões, the sole is sola; meias-solas are half-soles.

💡 Fica pronto - it'll be ready: hoje ao fim do dia - this evening, amanhã - tomorrow.