How to Say ‘Pay Attention’ in Portuguese: Prestar Atenção — Practice

Use prestar atenção instead of translating ‘pay’ literally

The common phrase for paying attention is prestar atenção. Prestar changes with the subject: eu presto, você presta, nós prestamos. In a casual request, presta atenção sounds direct; por favor can soften it.

Use the preposition that fits the next phrase

Brazilian speakers commonly use atenção a or atenção em, with contractions such as ao, à, no, and na depending on the next noun and the sentence. Learn the phrase together with its example instead of trying to map one English preposition to every case.

Ask someone to listen or look carefully

If you mean listening closely, prestar atenção no que alguém diz is useful. For a gentler request, use dá uma olhada (take a look) or escuta só (just listen) when those actions match what you want.

Remember: The core expression is prestar atenção; practice it with the noun and preposition that follow.

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.

1. Pay attention to the signal before crossing.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Presta atenção no sinal antes de atravessar.

2. Can you pay attention to this part?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você pode prestar atenção nesta parte?

3. Pay attention to the time on the notice.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Preste atenção ao horário no aviso.

4. Pay attention to the pronunciation of this word.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Presta atenção na pronúncia desta palavra.

5. Pay attention to what she is going to explain.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Presta atenção no que ela vai explicar.

6. Please pay attention to your surroundings as you leave.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Por favor, preste atenção à sua volta ao sair.

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.

The core expression is prestar atenção; practice it with the noun and preposition that follow.

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 How to Say ‘Pay Attention’ in Portuguese: Prestar Atenção 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.