Queria vs. Gostaria: Make Polite Requests in Brazilian Portuguese — Practice

Use queria for a warm everyday request

In a café or shop, queria + noun is a common way to say “I’d like…”: queria um café, por favor. The verb is in the imperfect form, but here it softens a present request rather than describing a past desire.

You may also hear queria + infinitive when requesting an action. Tone and please matter too: polite language does not depend on one verb alone.

Choose gostaria when you want a more formal tone

Gostaria de is another polite option and can sound a little more formal or careful, especially in customer-service situations and writing. Both forms are useful; you do not need to make every request sound formal.

After gostaria, include de before an infinitive or noun phrase: gostaria de falar (I’d like to speak) and gostaria de uma informação (I’d like some information).

Remember: Use queria for a friendly everyday request and gostaria de when a more careful tone suits the situation. Add por favor when it feels natural.

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. I’d like a coffee with milk, please.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Queria um café com leite, por favor.

2. I’d like to book a time for tomorrow.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Queria marcar um horário para amanhã.

3. I’d like to know whether you accept cards.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Queria saber se vocês aceitam cartão.

4. I’d like to speak with reception.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Gostaria de falar com a recepção.

5. I’d like to confirm the reservation.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Gostaria de confirmar a reserva.

6. I just wanted to ask one question.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Queria só tirar uma dúvida.

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.

Use queria for a friendly everyday request and gostaria de when a more careful tone suits the situation. Add por favor when it feels natural.

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 Queria vs. Gostaria: Make Polite Requests in Brazilian Portuguese 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.