Questions & Answers about Um café, por favor.
Why is it um and not uma?
Because café is a masculine noun in Portuguese. We use the masculine word for a or one, which is um. If you were ordering a feminine noun like água (water), you would say uma água.
What does the little mark on café do?
The accent mark on the letter e tells you to put the main stress of the word on that last syllable (ca-FÉ). It also tells you to pronounce the e with an open sound, like the e in the English word pet.
If I order um café in Portugal, what exactly will they serve me?
In Portugal, asking for um café gets you a standard espresso. It is small and strong. If you want a larger coffee or coffee with milk, you need to use different words, such as um galão (a tall glass of milk with espresso).
Does por favor literally mean please?
It literally translates to for favor, but it is the standard, most common way to say please in Portuguese.
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