Portuguese · Supermercado
The cashier asks if you have small change: what to say in Portuguese
The cashier asks whether you have small change, to make it easier to give change.
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How it's done. Cashiers often ask for small change (moedas); if you don't have any, it's enough to say "no, sorry".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 moedas?Tayn moo-EH-duhsh?
Do you have any coins?
They might also say:
Tem os vinte cêntimos?
Tayn oozh veent SAYN-tee-moosh?
Do you have twenty cents?
Tem trocado?
Tayn troo-KAH-doo?
Do you have any change?
YOU REPLY
Não, desculpe.
Now, dish-KOOLP.
No, sorry.
Or say:Sim, um momento.
Seen, oon moo-MAYN-too.
Or say:Só tenho notas.
Soh TEH-nyoo NOH-tuhsh.
THEY SAY
Pronto, obrigado.PROHN-too, oh-bree-GAH-doo.
Right, thank you.
2
YOU FINISH
De nada!
d NAH-duh!
You're welcome!
Or say:Não tem de quê!
now tayn d keh!
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
moedas
moo-EH-duhsh
noun
coins, small change
Não
Now
adverb
no
desculpe
dish-KOOLP
verb
sorry, excuse me
Pronto
PROHN-too
adjective
ready
3 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?
Similar situations
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