Unit 20 · Finding a homeA2Lesson 2 of 5: Viewing a flat
Viewing a flat in European Portuguese
This is lesson 2 of 5 in Unit 20, Finding a home (Arrendar casa), an A2 unit in which you find and rent a flat in Portugal: adverts and viewings, bills, repairs, neighbours and moving day. It teaches 8 words and phrases, including disponível (available), a partir de (from) and o fiador (guarantor), and uses them in 10 example sentences. The unit’s grammar notes cover “Há or tem?” and “Mandar arranjar: having things done”.
Words in this lesson
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
disponível | availablePlural: disponíveis. |
a partir de | fromFor a starting point in time: a partir de março = from March. |
o fiadoralso a fiadora | guarantorSomeone who promises to pay the rent if you don't. Many landlords ask for one. |
o bairro | neighbourhoodSome of Lisbon's old neighbourhoods: o Bairro Alto, Alfama, a Mouraria. |
luminosoalso luminosa | brightA favourite word in Portuguese flat adverts. |
sossegadoalso sossegada | quietFor places and people: um bairro sossegado. |
equipadoalso equipada | equippedIn adverts, cozinha equipada = a kitchen with an oven, a hob and a fridge. |
o aquecimento | heatingMany Portuguese homes have no central heating, so ask before the winter. |
Example sentences
- Posso ver o apartamento?Can I see the flat?Posso…? = Can I…? It comes from poder.
- Quando é que o apartamento está disponível?When is the flat available?
- Está disponível a partir de março.It's available from March.Months are written with a small letter: março.
- O senhorio pede um fiador.The landlord is asking for a guarantor.Pedir = to ask for. No extra word after it: pede um fiador.
- Eu não tenho fiador em Portugal.I don't have a guarantor in Portugal.
- A sala é muito luminosa.The living room is very bright.
- A cozinha está equipada?Is the kitchen equipped?Cozinha equipada in an advert means the kitchen comes with an oven, a hob and a fridge.
- O bairro é muito sossegado.The neighbourhood is very quiet.
- O apartamento tem aquecimento?Does the flat have heating?
- A caução é de dois meses de renda.The deposit is two months' rent.A deposit is usually counted in months of rent.
Grammar notes
The grammar notes for this lesson are on the page for Unit 20: Finding a home: