Portuguese · Supermercado
Self-checkout: call an assistant: what to say in Portuguese
Something has gone wrong at the self-checkout, and you need to call a member of staff.
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How it's done. At a self-checkout, alcohol or an unusual item often has to be confirmed by a staff member: that's normal, just call them over.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
Desculpe, pode ajudar-me?
Dish-KOOLP, pod uh-zhoo-DAHR-m?
Sorry, can you help me?
Or say:A máquina não funciona.
Uh MAH-kee-nuh now foon-SYOH-nuh.
THEY SAY
Diga, o que se passa?DEE-guh, oo k s PAH-suh?
Go ahead, what's happened?
They might also say:
Já vou.
Zhah voh.
I'm coming.
2
YOU REPLY
Tenho uma bebida alcoólica.
TEH-nyoo OO-muh bih-BIH-duh uhl-koo-OH-lee-kuh.
I have an alcoholic drink.
Or say:Não consigo passar este artigo.
Now kohn-SIH-goo puh-SAHR esht uhr-TEE-goo.
THEY SAY
Tenho de confirmar a idade.TEH-nyoo d kohn-feer-MAHR uh ee-DAHD.
I need to confirm your age.
3
YOU REPLY
Aqui está o meu passaporte.
Uh-KEE shtah oo meh-oo puh-suh-PORT.
Here is my passport.
THEY SAY
Deixe ver. Pronto, já está.Daysh vehr. PROHN-too, zhah shtah.
Let me see. There, it's done.
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
Desculpe
Dish-KOOLP
verb
sorry, excuse me
pode
pod
verb
can
ajudar-me
uh-zhoo-DAHR-m
verb
to help me
Diga
DEE-guh
verb
say
passa
PAH-suh
verb
happens (o que se passa - what's going on)
Tenho
TEH-nyoo
verb
(I) have
20 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
Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report