Laundry in a Shared Home: Portuguese for Taking Turns with Roommates — Practice

Check whether the machine is free

Máquina de lavar is washing machine and roupa is clothes or laundry. In a shared home, ask whether someone is using the machine and how long their cycle has left before moving anything.

A quick check also matters when the home has one drying rack or limited space. Ask where clean clothes should go rather than assuming a surface is available.

Suggest a fair turn

If everyone does laundry on the same day, suggest a simple schedule or ask how people prefer to take turns. Use minha vez (my turn) and sua vez (your turn) for an informal sequence, but confirm dates when the plan repeats weekly.

If you have an urgent load, say why and ask whether a swap works. An invitation gives the other person room to say no or suggest another time.

Coordinate a delay or finished load

If your cycle is taking longer, let the next person know and give an updated estimate. If someone else's clothes are finished, send a message before touching or moving them, especially if you do not know the household routine.

Use assim que terminar (as soon as it finishes) to set a clear expectation. The goal is to coordinate the shared equipment, not to police how someone does laundry.

Remember: Check before using a shared machine, agree on turns, and message the next person if your timing changes.

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. Is the washing machine free?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A máquina de lavar está livre?

2. Do you know what time the laundry will be ready?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você sabe que horas a roupa fica pronta?

3. Can I do my laundry after six?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Posso lavar minha roupa depois das seis?

4. Do you mind if I swap my time for yours?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você se importa se eu trocar meu horário pelo seu?

5. The machine is still running. I will let you know as soon as it finishes.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A máquina ainda está ligada. Aviso assim que terminar.

6. Your laundry is done. Would you like me to leave it in the basket?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Sua roupa já terminou. Quer que eu deixe no cesto?

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.

Check before using a shared machine, agree on turns, and message the next person if your timing changes.

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 Laundry in a Shared Home: Portuguese for Taking Turns with Roommates 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.