At a Car Wash in Brazil: Portuguese for Basic Services — 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.
Ask what service is available
Lava-rápido commonly refers to a car wash. Ask what services the business offers because the available options and names can vary.
Lavagem simples means a basic wash, while limpeza interna refers to interior cleaning. Confirm what a specific service includes before agreeing to it.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Que tipos de lavagem vocês oferecem? | What types of car wash do you offer? |
| O que está incluído na lavagem simples? | What is included in the basic wash? |
| Vocês fazem limpeza interna? | Do you do interior cleaning? |
Confirm the price and timing
Before leaving the car, ask how much the service costs and how long it usually takes. The answer can depend on the service and how busy the location is.
If you need the car by a certain time, say so before the work begins and ask whether that timing is possible.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Quanto custa esse serviço? | How much does this service cost? |
| Quanto tempo demora? | How long does it take? |
| Preciso do carro às três. Dá tempo? | I need the car at three. Is there enough time? |
Ask about pickup
Ask where to leave the keys and where to collect the car afterward. If you need to come back, confirm the expected pickup time and the best place to wait.
For fuel and rental-car questions, read our guide to renting a car in Brazil. This page focuses on asking for basic car-wash services.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Onde deixo a chave? | Where should I leave the key? |
| Onde retiro o carro depois? | Where do I pick up the car afterward? |
| Eu volto às quatro, tudo bem? | I’ll come back at four, is that okay? |
Remember: Ask what a service includes, how much it costs, and when the car will be ready before you leave.
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.
What types of car wash do you offer?
Show a Portuguese answer
Que tipos de lavagem vocês oferecem?
What is included in the basic wash?
Show a Portuguese answer
O que está incluído na lavagem simples?
Do you do interior cleaning?
Show a Portuguese answer
Vocês fazem limpeza interna?
How much does this service cost?
Show a Portuguese answer
Quanto custa esse serviço?
How long does it take?
Show a Portuguese answer
Quanto tempo demora?
I need the car at three. Is there enough time?
Show a Portuguese answer
Preciso do carro às três. Dá tempo?
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.
Ask what a service includes, how much it costs, and when the car will be ready before you leave.
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 Car Wash in Brazil: Portuguese for Basic Services 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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