Learn How to Say: To Try Food & To Try on Clothes in Portuguese

In my previous lesson, I said that Tentar = to try, to attempt. I showed you examples of how to use the verb Tentar and how to avoid a common mistake. I also mentioned that we do not use the verb Tentar when we are talking about trying food or trying on clothes. For that you use the verb Provar or the verb Experimentar. 

Both Provar and Experimentar are regular verbs – great news 🙂

Here are examples of how to use these verbs and other useful vocabulary:

Provar = Experimentar = to try food

1)

Você acredita que Maria nunca provou feijoada? Hoje fiz uma feijoada, mas ela nem quis provar.

Translation: Can you believe that Maria has never tried feijoada? Today I cooked feijoada, but she didn’t even want to try it.

• Watch our video lesson: Three Different Ways to Use the Word Nunca
• Note the use of “nem” to say “not even”.
• Also observe the use of the verb “fazer” to say “to cook”.

Now go ahead and learn how to cook a delicious feijoada 🙂

2)

No restaurante:

Joana: O que você pediu?

Felipe: A moqueca de peixe. Quer experimentar?

Translation:

At the restaurant:

Joana: What did you order?

Felipe: The fish moqueca. Want to try it?

Here is a video on how to cook Moqueca, a traditional and delicious Brazilian fish stew:

3)

Quando Camilo foi a Recife pela primeira vez, ele experimentou todas as deliciosas sobremesas nordestinas.

Translation: When Camilo went to Brazil for the first time, he tried all the delicious Northeastern desserts.

4)

Ricardo está cozinhando. Ele pede a opinião da namorada:

“Ângela, prova essa sopa, por favor. Precisa de mais sal?”

Translation:

Ricardo is cooking. He asks his girlfriend’s opinion.

“Ângela, try this soup, please. Does it need more salt?”

• Learn how to say what you need. Whatch our lesson: Verbo Precisar

Provar = Experimentar = to try on clothes

1)

Fátima: O que você acha, esse vestido ficou bom em mim?

Silvana: Ficou lindo! Adorei! Mas prova o azul pra gente ver como fica.

Translation:

Fátima: What do you think, does this dress look good on me?

Silvana: It looks great! I love it! But try on the blue one so we can see how it looks.

• Speak like a Brazilian. Watch our lesson: Eu gosto or Eu Gostei? Express Your Opinions
• Notice how we use the verb Ficar in the sentences above.

2)

Está quase tudo pronto para o casamento de Patrícia. Amanhã ela vai experimentar o vestido de noiva.

Translation: Almost everything is ready for Patricia’s wedding. Tomorrow she will try on the wedding dress.

• Do you know how Brazilians wear their wedding bands? Check out the article: How Brazilians Wear Their Wedding Bands
   

3)

Ana: Adorei sua saia. Onde você gosta de fazer compras?

Laura: Compro tudo online. É mais fácil.

Ana: Eu não gosto de comprar roupa sem provar.

Translation:

Ana: I love your skirt. Where do you like to shop?

Laura: I buy everything online. It’s easier.

Ana: I don’t like to buy clothes without trying them on.

• Watch our lesson: Aonde or Onde? Learn How to Say It Right in Portuguese

4)

Na loja: Eu gostaria de experimentar esse vestido. Onde é o provador, por favor?

Translation: At the store: I’d like to try on this dress. Where is the fitting room, please?

I am confident that this lesson will help you in many social and professional situations. Wishing you fun with your Portuguese!

—————-

Schedule your Portuguese Demo Lesson.

Street Smart Brazil offers one-on-one and group classes online via webcam. We have a fantastic team of tutors, exclusive class materials, and complete programs from absolute beginner to fluent.  See what our customers are saying.