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A1 · Beginner

Supermarket Survival: Shopping for Groceries in Portugal

Navigate Continente and Pingo Doce like a local. Take a senha at the deli counter, ask for prices, and survive the checkout questions.

📝 Vocabulary

PortugueseEnglishNotes
O supermercadoThe supermarket
O carrinhoThe shopping cartUsually needs a €0.50 or €1 coin
O cestoThe basket
A senhaThe numbered ticketTake one at the deli or butcher counter!
O talhoThe butcher counter
Quanto custa?How much does it cost?
Meio quilo de...Half a kilo of...
A caixaThe checkout / till
Quer saco?Do you want a bag?Bags cost money — bring your own
O trocoThe change

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💡 Grammar Notes

Ordering by Weight at the Counter

At the deli (a charcutaria) or the butcher (o talho), you order by weight:

  • "Queria meio quilo de queijo, se faz favor." (I'd like half a kilo of cheese, please.)
  • "Pode ser duzentos gramas de fiambre." (Two hundred grams of ham is fine.)

"Pode ser..." (literally "it can be...") is what locals actually say when deciding — soft and natural.

Quanto custa vs. Quanto custam

The verb agrees with what you are asking about:

  • "Quanto custa o queijo?" (singular)
  • "Quanto custam as maçãs?" (plural)

The Senha Ritual

Portuguese counters run on numbered tickets. Find the little machine, pull a senha, and wait for your number on the screen.

"Quem tem a senha quarenta e dois?" (Who has ticket forty-two?)

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