Portuguese · Colegas
Ask a colleague for help: what to say in Portuguese
Something isn't working, and you ask a colleague for help.
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How it's done. The polite Desculpe incomodar - "sorry to bother you" - is a good way to start any request.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 incomodar. Pode ajudar-me?
Dish-KOOLP een-koo-moo-DAHR. Pod uh-zhoo-DAHR-m?
Sorry to bother you. Can you help me?
THEY SAY
Espere um bocadinho, já vou.Shpehr oon boo-kuh-DEE-nyoo, zhah voh.
Wait a moment, I'm coming.
They might also say:
Um momento, já vou.
Oon moo-MAYN-too, zhah voh.
One moment, I'm coming.
2
YOU REPLY
Não sei como funciona esta máquina.
Now say KOH-moo foon-SYOH-nuh ESH-tuh MAH-kee-nuh.
I don't know how this machine works.
THEY SAY
Claro! É só carregar aqui.KLAH-roo! Eh soh kuh-rih-GAHR uh-KEE.
Of course! You just press here.
3
YOU FINISH
Muito obrigado, é muito simpático.
MWEE-too oh-bree-GAH-doo, eh MWEE-too seem-PAH-tee-koo.
Thank you very much, that's very kind of you.
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
incomodar
een-koo-moo-DAHR
verb
to bother
Pode
Pod
verb
can
ajudar-me
uh-zhoo-DAHR-m
verb
to help me
Espere
Shpehr
verb
wait
bocadinho
boo-kuh-DEE-nyoo
noun
a little bit, a small piece
17 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Pode falar mais devagar, por favor?
Pod fuh-LAHR mighzh dvuh-GAHR, poor fuh-VOR?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Pode mostrar-me?
Pod moosh-TRAHRM?
Can you show me?
Similar situations
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