Aceita?
Would you like some? / Care for one? (offering something)
Wörtlich: Do you accept?
In 15 Sekunden
- A polite way to offer food, drinks, or a seat.
- Short for 'Would you like to accept this?'.
- Essential for showing good manners in social situations.
Bedeutung
It is a polite way to offer something to someone, like a snack or a seat. It literally asks 'Do you accept?' but functions like 'Would you like some?' or 'Care for one?'
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 7Offering coffee to a coworker
Acabei de fazer café. Aceita?
I just made coffee. Would you like some?
Sharing a snack with a friend
Esse bolo está uma delícia. Aceita um pedaço?
This cake is delicious. Care for a piece?
A waiter offering wine to a customer
Mais um pouco de vinho? Aceita?
A little more wine? Do you accept?
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Cafezinho' is a social institution. Refusing it without a polite excuse can sometimes be seen as being 'distante' (distant/cold). Distinction between 'tu' and 'você' is much stricter. Use 'Aceitas?' with friends and 'Aceita?' with elders or strangers. Hospitality is deeply communal. Offering food ('Aceita?') is often followed by 'Estamos juntos' (We are together), emphasizing solidarity. Similar to other Lusophone African countries, the offer is often for 'chá' (tea) or local snacks, and 'Aceita?' is the standard polite opener.
The Double Offer
In Brazil, if someone says 'não, obrigado' the first time, ask one more time. It's a cultural habit to refuse once to be polite.
Intonation is Key
Make sure your voice goes UP at the end. If it goes down, you sound like you're ordering someone to take something.
In 15 Sekunden
- A polite way to offer food, drinks, or a seat.
- Short for 'Would you like to accept this?'.
- Essential for showing good manners in social situations.
What It Means
Aceita? is the ultimate Portuguese gesture of hospitality. It comes from the verb aceitar. You are essentially asking if the person accepts your offer. It is short, sweet, and incredibly common. It turns a simple action into a social invitation.
How To Use It
You use it when you have something to share. This could be a cup of coffee or a piece of cake. You don't need a long sentence. Just hold out the item and say Aceita? with a rising intonation. It works for physical objects and sometimes for gestures. If you are sitting and see an elderly person, you can offer your seat.
When To Use It
Use it constantly in social settings. At a dinner party, use it for the last brigadeiro. At the office, use it when you grab a fresh espresso. It is perfect for breaking the ice with neighbors. If you are eating in public and make eye contact, it is polite to ask. Even if you know they will say no, it shows you have good manners.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for big, life-changing favors. You wouldn't ask Aceita? when offering someone a job or a car. It is for small, immediate things. Also, avoid using it if you aren't actually willing to share. Brazilians and Portuguese people are generous, so they might actually take that last fry! Don't use it in a demanding way. It should always sound like an open invitation, not a command.
Cultural Background
In Lusophone cultures, food is a love language. Offering what you have is a deeply ingrained social rule. There is an old tradition called cerimônia. This is the polite dance of offering and refusing. Often, people will say não, obrigado first. You should usually ask a second time just to be sure. It shows you are genuinely happy to share your space and resources.
Common Variations
You can make it more specific. Aceita um cafezinho? is a classic. In more formal settings, you might hear O senhor aceita? or A senhora aceita?. If you are with very close friends, you might just say Quer? (Want?). However, Aceita? remains the gold standard for being polite without being stuffy. It bridges the gap between a stranger and a friend.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is highly versatile. While it is technically the third-person singular, it is the standard way to address 'you' (você) in Brazil. In Portugal, it is also used frequently in the same context.
The Double Offer
In Brazil, if someone says 'não, obrigado' the first time, ask one more time. It's a cultural habit to refuse once to be polite.
Intonation is Key
Make sure your voice goes UP at the end. If it goes down, you sound like you're ordering someone to take something.
Portugal vs Brazil
If you are in Lisbon, try using 'Aceitas?' with people your age. It sounds much more 'local'.
Beispiele
7Acabei de fazer café. Aceita?
I just made coffee. Would you like some?
A very common office interaction.
Esse bolo está uma delícia. Aceita um pedaço?
This cake is delicious. Care for a piece?
Adding 'um pedaço' makes the offer specific.
Mais um pouco de vinho? Aceita?
A little more wine? Do you accept?
Waiters use this to be professional yet welcoming.
Tenho um ingresso sobrando para hoje. Aceita?
I have an extra ticket for today. Want it?
Works well for digital offers too.
O senhor está cansado? Aceita sentar?
Are you tired, sir? Would you like to sit?
A polite gesture of respect.
Você está me olhando comer... aceita um brócolis?
You're watching me eat... do you want some broccoli?
Using a formal offer for a dog who clearly wants meat.
Você parece triste. Aceita um abraço?
You look sad. Would you like a hug?
Offers emotional support through the same structure.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the dialogue with the most natural form of 'Aceita'.
Maria: 'Fiz um bolo de chocolate agora mesmo. ______?' João: 'Claro! Adoro bolo.'
Maria is offering the cake to João (você), so she uses the 3rd person singular 'Aceita?'.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Phrase: 'Aceitam entrar?'
'Aceitam' is plural, so it must be directed at more than one person.
Which response is the most polite way to decline an 'Aceita?' offer?
Host: 'Aceita um cafezinho?' Guest: '__________'
'Não, obrigado' is the standard polite way to decline.
Fill in the blank for a formal situation in Portugal.
O senhor ______ um copo de vinho?
Even in Portugal, 'aceita' is used for formal 'você/o senhor' addresses.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenMaria: 'Fiz um bolo de chocolate agora mesmo. ______?' João: 'Claro! Adoro bolo.'
Maria is offering the cake to João (você), so she uses the 3rd person singular 'Aceita?'.
Phrase: 'Aceitam entrar?'
'Aceitam' is plural, so it must be directed at more than one person.
Host: 'Aceita um cafezinho?' Guest: '__________'
'Não, obrigado' is the standard polite way to decline.
O senhor ______ um copo de vinho?
Even in Portugal, 'aceita' is used for formal 'você/o senhor' addresses.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, it's very common. 'Aceita uma água?' is perfect.
Not at all! In fact, it's more natural and friendly in most situations.
The plural is 'Aceitam?'. Use it when offering to two or more people.
You can say 'Aceito, obrigado' or simply 'Sim, por favor'.
Yes! 'Aceita uma carona?' is the standard way to offer a lift.
'Quer?' is more informal. Use 'Aceita?' if you want to be slightly more polite or if you don't know the person well.
Technically yes ('Aceita se casar comigo?'), but usually you'd use the full sentence for such a big moment!
Yes, for example: 'Aceita marcar uma reunião?' (Would you accept/agree to a meeting?).
Use 'Aceitas?' for friends and 'Aceita?' for people you'd call 'o senhor' or 'a senhora'.
Yes, for offering coffee to clients or accepting terms in a negotiation.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Servido?
synonymAre you served?
Quer?
informalWant?
Vai um...?
similarGoes a...?
Está a fim?
slangAre you up for it?
Aceito!
contrastI accept!
