Question 1

Does Que tal always mean "How about" for making a suggestion?

Accepted Answer

Not always! While here it is used to propose an idea, it is also very commonly used to ask for an opinion or to ask how something went. For example, Que tal o trabalho? would mean "How was work?" Context tells you which meaning is intended.

Question 2

Could I include a verb here, like "How about having a coffee"?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can. Adding a verb like tomar (to have/drink) or beber (to drink) is completely correct, such as Que tal tomarmos um café? However, Portuguese speakers often drop the verb in casual suggestions, making Que tal um café? sound very natural and punchy.

Question 3

Why is it depois do trabalho instead of just depois de trabalho?

Accepted Answer

We use do (de + o) because we are referring to a specific, definite thing: the person's workday that is about to end. If you used just the preposition de, it would act more like an adjective describing a noun, as in um dia de trabalho (a workday) or uma reunião de trabalho (a work meeting).

Question 4

I sometimes hear people start this phrase with E que tal. Is there a difference?

Accepted Answer

Adding E (And) at the start just makes the suggestion flow from a previous thought or pause in the conversation, similar to "So, how about..." in English. Both are perfectly fine, but E que tal um café? sounds slightly more spontaneous, as if the idea just popped into your head.

Que tal um café depois do trabalho?

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