Unit 15 · Services and paperworkA2Lesson 2 of 5: At the counter
At the service counter in European Portuguese
This is lesson 2 of 5 in Unit 15, Services and paperwork (Serviços e burocracia), an A2 unit in which you deal with Finanças, the bank, the post office and your landlord: tickets, forms and appointments. It teaches 8 words and phrases, including a senha (ticket number), a fila (queue) and esperar (to wait), and uses them in 10 example sentences. Building on Offices and IDs, it gets you to sentences like Eu tenho marcação às dez (“I have an appointment at ten”). The unit’s grammar notes cover “Senhas, filas and marcações” and “Polite requests: Queria… and Podia…?”.
Words in this lesson
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
a senha | ticket numberThe numbered ticket you take at an office. It also means "password". |
a fila | queueEstar na fila = to be in the queue. |
esperar | to waitWith or without por: esperar o autocarro or esperar pelo autocarro = to wait for the bus. Estar à espera de = to be waiting for. |
a marcação | appointmentFor offices and services: Tem marcação? = Do you have an appointment? |
o balcão | counterAt offices the counters have numbers: o balcão três. |
a vez | turnÉ a minha vez = it's my turn. Uma vez = once. |
abertoalso aberta | open |
fechadoalso fechada | closed |
Example sentences
- Onde é que eu tiro a senha?Where do I get a ticket?To take a ticket is tirar uma senha.
- A fila está muito grande.The queue is very long.A long queue is uma fila grande or uma fila comprida.
- Eu estou à espera da minha vez.I'm waiting for my turn.Estar à espera de is a very common way to say "to be waiting for" in Portugal.
- Tem marcação?Do you have an appointment?You will hear this at many offices. Tem on its own is the polite "you have".
- Eu tenho marcação às dez.I have an appointment at ten.
- O balcão três está fechado.Counter three is closed.
- É a sua vez.It's your turn.A sua vez adds extra respect. To a friend: a tua vez.
- Quem é o último?Who's last in the queue?Ask this when there is no ticket machine, so you know who you are after.
- As Finanças estão abertas hoje?Is the tax office open today?As Finanças is plural: estão abertas.
- Eu estou à espera há uma hora!I've been waiting for an hour!Há + time with the present tense means "for", when something is still going on.
Grammar notes
The grammar notes for this lesson are on the page for Unit 15: Services and paperwork: