At a Luggage Repair Shop in Brazil: Fix a Suitcase Wheel or Handle — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Describe what stopped working
A suitcase is a mala. The wheel is rodinha, the handle is alça, and the zipper is zíper. Show the damaged part and say whether it broke, got stuck, or came loose.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Uma rodinha da mala quebrou. | One of the suitcase wheels broke. |
| A alça retrátil ficou presa. | The retractable handle got stuck. |
Ask about a repair before traveling
Ask whether the part can be repaired or needs to be replaced. Tell the shop when you travel so the employee can say honestly whether the repair can be completed in time; do not assume same-day service.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Dá para trocar esta rodinha antes de sexta-feira? | Can you replace this wheel before Friday? |
| Quanto custa o orçamento? | Is there a charge for the estimate? |
Confirm the price and collection details
Ask the total estimate and whether the replacement part is included. Confirm how the shop will contact you and whether you need a receipt to collect the suitcase.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| O valor já inclui a peça e a mão de obra? | Does the price include the part and labor? |
| Como vocês vão me avisar quando ficar pronto? | How will you let me know when it’s ready? |
Remember: Describe the exact suitcase part, share your travel deadline, and confirm the full estimate.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
One of the suitcase wheels broke.
Show a Portuguese answer
Uma rodinha da mala quebrou.
The retractable handle got stuck.
Show a Portuguese answer
A alça retrátil ficou presa.
Can you replace this wheel before Friday?
Show a Portuguese answer
Dá para trocar esta rodinha antes de sexta-feira?
Is there a charge for the estimate?
Show a Portuguese answer
Quanto custa o orçamento?
Does the price include the part and labor?
Show a Portuguese answer
O valor já inclui a peça e a mão de obra?
How will you let me know when it’s ready?
Show a Portuguese answer
Como vocês vão me avisar quando ficar pronto?
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Describe the exact suitcase part, share your travel deadline, and confirm the full estimate.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our At a Luggage Repair Shop in Brazil: Fix a Suitcase Wheel or Handle lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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