When you travel to a new country, you often need to cambiar your money. This verb specifically means to exchange one type of currency for another. For instance, if you have US dollars and you're going to Brazil, you'll need to cambiar your dollars for Brazilian Reais. It's a very practical word for travelers!
When traveling to a new country, you'll often need to cambiar your home currency for the local one. This verb is straightforward and refers specifically to the act of exchanging money.
For instance, if you have American dollars and you're in Brazil, you would cambiar dollars for Brazilian Reais. You might look for a 'casa de câmbio' (exchange house) to do this. Remember, it's not used for exchanging other things, only currency.
cambiar en 30 segundos
- exchange currency
- money exchange
- convert money
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
The Portuguese verb cambiar (pronounced: kahm-bee-AHR) directly translates to 'to exchange' or 'to change,' specifically when talking about currency. If you're traveling to a Portuguese-speaking country, knowing this word is incredibly practical. You'll use it when you need to swap your home currency for the local money, whether that's at an airport, a bank, or a dedicated exchange office.
- DEFINITION
- To exchange one currency for another.
Think of any situation where money changes hands, not for goods or services, but purely for a different type of money. That's when cambiar comes into play. For example, if you arrive in Brazil with US dollars and need Brazilian Reais, you'll say you want to cambiar dollars for reais.
Preciso cambiar dólares por euros. (I need to exchange dollars for euros.)
It's less common to use cambiar for exchanging non-currency items. For those, you'd typically use other verbs like trocar (to swap, to exchange goods) or mudar (to change something generally). So, remember, when you're talking about money, especially foreign money, cambiar is your go-to word.
You'll often see signs in airports or financial districts that say 'Câmbio' (KAHM-bee-oo). This noun form means 'exchange' or 'money exchange' and refers to the place or the act itself. So, if you're looking for where to exchange your money, look for 'Câmbio'.
Onde posso cambiar meu dinheiro? (Where can I exchange my money?)
Understanding cambiar is a key survival phrase for any traveler. It allows you to confidently approach a currency exchange desk and clearly state your needs. Without it, you might struggle to get the right currency for your trip.
Here are a few common scenarios where you'd use cambiar:
- When you land in a new country and need local currency.
- When you're leaving a country and want to convert leftover local money back to your home currency.
- When comparing exchange rates at different locations.
- When asking about the feasibility of exchanging a specific currency.
For example, if you're asking about the exchange rate, you might hear a phrase that includes cambiar or its related noun form. The noun 'câmbio' is also essential. Let's look at an example using 'câmbio'.
Qual é a taxa de câmbio hoje? (What is the exchange rate today?)
This shows how deeply integrated the concept of 'exchange' is with this word. Remember this distinction: use cambiar for the action of exchanging currency, and 'câmbio' for the exchange itself or the exchange rate.
In summary, if you're navigating financial transactions during your travels in a Portuguese-speaking country, the verb cambiar and its noun form 'câmbio' are indispensable. Master these, and you'll handle your money exchanges like a local.
§ Cambiar: Definition and Use
You're learning Portuguese and need to talk about exchanging money. The verb you're looking for is cambiar. It's an A2 level verb, so it's quite common and useful.
- DEFINITION
- To exchange one currency for another.
Think of it simply as 'to exchange currency'. You won't use it for exchanging clothes or ideas; it's specifically for money.
§ How to Use 'Cambiar' in a Sentence
Using cambiar is straightforward. It's a regular -ar verb, so its conjugations follow the standard pattern. You'll typically use it with prepositions like por (for) or para (to/for) when specifying the currency you're exchanging into.
§ Basic Structure
The most common way to use cambiar is: Subject + cambiar + amount/currency + por + new currency.
Eu preciso cambiar dólares por euros. (I need to exchange dollars for euros.)
Onde posso cambiar reais? (Where can I exchange reais?)
§ Using 'Cambiar' with Locations
When you're talking about where you can exchange money, you'll often hear phrases like casa de câmbio (exchange house) or simply a bank.
- Casa de câmbio: This is the most direct translation for 'currency exchange office'.
- Banco: A bank is also a common place to exchange money.
Posso cambiar dinheiro no banco? (Can I exchange money at the bank?)
Vou à casa de câmbio para cambiar libras. (I'm going to the exchange house to exchange pounds.)
§ Prepositions with 'Cambiar'
The most common prepositions you'll see with cambiar when referring to currencies are por and para.
- Por: This preposition is often used to indicate 'for' or 'in exchange for'.
- Para: This can also be used to mean 'for' or 'to get'.
Você pode cambiar ienes por dólares americanos? (Can you exchange yen for US dollars?)
Gostaria de cambiar um pouco de dinheiro para euros. (I'd like to exchange some money for euros.)
§ Common Phrases with 'Cambiar'
Here are some useful phrases that incorporate cambiar:
- Cambiar dinheiro: To exchange money.
- Cambiar moeda estrangeira: To exchange foreign currency.
- Onde posso cambiar?: Where can I exchange (money)?
- Qual é a taxa de câmbio?: What is the exchange rate? (Note: 'câmbio' is the noun form, meaning 'exchange' or 'exchange rate').
Ele foi cambiar a moeda no aeroporto. (He went to exchange the currency at the airport.)
Precisamos cambiar os nossos dólares canadenses antes de viajar. (We need to exchange our Canadian dollars before traveling.)
§ Don't Confuse "Cambiar" with "Trocar"
Many English speakers learning Portuguese struggle with when to use cambiar versus trocar. While both can be translated as 'to exchange' in English, their usage in Portuguese is quite specific. Think of cambiar as almost exclusively for exchanging money, specifically currency.
- DEFINITION
- To exchange one currency for another.
On the other hand, trocar is a much broader verb. You use trocar when you're exchanging items, clothes, gifts, or even a service for another. It's the general 'to exchange' or 'to swap' verb. If you're not exchanging money, you're probably using trocar.
Preciso cambiar dólares para euros. (I need to exchange dollars for euros.)
Vou trocar este presente por outro. (I'm going to exchange this present for another.)
§ Incorrectly Using "Cambiar" for General Change
Another common mistake is to use cambiar when you mean 'to change' in a general sense, like changing clothes, changing your mind, or changing a plan. For these situations, Portuguese uses mudar.
- DEFINITION
- To exchange one currency for another.
Remember:
- Cambiar: Exchanging currency (money).
- Trocar: Exchanging or swapping non-currency items.
- Mudar: To change (general sense), to move, to alter.
Preciso cambiar reais para dólares. (I need to exchange Brazilian Reals for dollars.)
Vou trocar de camisa. (I'm going to change shirts – literally 'swap shirts').
Ele mudou de ideia. (He changed his mind.)
§ Using "Cambiar" in the Wrong Context
Sometimes, learners might try to use cambiar in contexts where 'exchange' in English has a different nuance than currency exchange. For example, 'exchanging pleasantries' or 'exchanging glances'. In these cases, cambiar is completely inappropriate. You would use different verbs or phrases depending on the specific context.
- DEFINITION
- To exchange one currency for another.
For 'exchanging pleasantries', you might say trocar cumprimentos. For 'exchanging glances', you'd say trocar olhares. Notice how trocar is used here, not cambiar.
Eles cambiaram seus dólares por pesos. (They exchanged their dollars for pesos.)
Os vizinhos trocaram cumprimentos na rua. (The neighbors exchanged pleasantries on the street.)
How Formal Is It?
"Onde posso cambiar euros por reais em Lisboa? (Where can I exchange euros for reais in Lisbon?)"
"Preciso trocar dólares por pesos para a viagem. (I need to exchange dollars for pesos for the trip.)"
"Vamos fazer câmbio no aeroporto antes de ir pro hotel. (Let's exchange money at the airport before going to the hotel.)"
"Você pode me ajudar a trocar minhas moedas de brinquedo? (Can you help me exchange my toy coins?)"
"Consegui virar uns dólares no mercado negro. (I managed to flip some dollars on the black market.)"
Nivel de dificultad
short
short
short
short
Qué aprender después
Requisitos previos
Aprende después
Avanzado
Ejemplos por nivel
Preciso cambiar dólares por euros.
I need to exchange dollars for euros.
First person singular of 'precisar' (to need) + infinitive 'cambiar'.
Onde posso cambiar dinheiro?
Where can I exchange money?
Interrogative adverb 'onde' (where) + present tense of 'poder' (can) + infinitive 'cambiar'.
Você vai cambiar seu dinheiro antes de viajar?
Are you going to exchange your money before traveling?
Present tense of 'ir' (to go) + infinitive 'cambiar' for future intention.
Ele precisa cambiar reais por pesos.
He needs to exchange reais for pesos.
Third person singular of 'precisar' (to need) + infinitive 'cambiar'.
Vamos cambiar algum dinheiro no banco.
Let's exchange some money at the bank.
First person plural of 'ir' (to go) + infinitive 'cambiar' for an informal suggestion.
Eu não quero cambiar todo o meu dinheiro agora.
I don't want to exchange all my money now.
First person singular of 'querer' (to want) + infinitive 'cambiar'.
É melhor cambiar dinheiro no aeroporto?
Is it better to exchange money at the airport?
Impersonal expression 'é melhor' (it is better) + infinitive 'cambiar'.
Ela sempre cambia dinheiro antes das viagens.
She always exchanges money before trips.
Third person singular of 'cambiar' in the present tense.
Preciso cambiar dólares por euros.
I need to exchange dollars for euros.
Literally: 'I need to exchange dollars for euros.'
Onde posso cambiar dinheiro?
Where can I exchange money?
Literally: 'Where can I exchange money?'
Você pode cambiar estes pesos?
Can you exchange these pesos?
Literally: 'You can exchange these pesos?'
Ele vai cambiar seu dinheiro no banco.
He will exchange his money at the bank.
Literally: 'He goes to exchange his money at the bank.'
Eu cambiei ienes por reais no aeroporto.
I exchanged yen for reais at the airport.
Literally: 'I exchanged yen for reais at the airport.'
Vamos precisar cambiar algumas libras.
We will need to exchange some pounds.
Literally: 'We go to need to exchange some pounds.'
É melhor cambiar dinheiro antes de viajar.
It's better to exchange money before traveling.
Literally: 'It is better to exchange money before to travel.'
Muitos turistas precisam cambiar moeda estrangeira.
Many tourists need to exchange foreign currency.
Literally: 'Many tourists need to exchange foreign currency.'
Se eu for viajar para os Estados Unidos, terei de cambiar os meus euros por dólares.
If I travel to the United States, I will have to exchange my euros for dollars.
Future tense, 'ter de' (to have to)
Onde posso cambiar dinheiro aqui no aeroporto? Preciso de reais.
Where can I exchange money here at the airport? I need Brazilian Reals.
Present tense, interrogative
É sempre bom pesquisar as taxas de câmbio antes de cambiar uma grande quantia.
It's always good to research exchange rates before exchanging a large amount.
Infinitive as a noun, 'antes de' (before)
Ele cambou seus dólares por pesos argentinos assim que chegou a Buenos Aires.
He exchanged his dollars for Argentine pesos as soon as he arrived in Buenos Aires.
Past tense (pretérito perfeito simples), 'assim que' (as soon as)
Para evitar taxas altas, é melhor cambiar dinheiro em bancos do que em casas de câmbio no centro turístico.
To avoid high fees, it's better to exchange money at banks than at exchange offices in the tourist center.
Infinitive as a noun, comparative structure ('melhor... do que')
Você já cambou seus euros para a moeda local? Precisamos disso para o táxi.
Have you already exchanged your euros for the local currency? We need it for the taxi.
Present perfect, 'precisar de' (to need)
A operadora de turismo nos aconselhou a cambiar apenas o necessário para os primeiros dias.
The tour operator advised us to exchange only what was necessary for the first few days.
Past tense (pretérito perfeito simples), 'aconselhar a' (to advise to)
Quando viajamos, geralmente cambamos uma parte do dinheiro antes de sair e o resto no destino.
When we travel, we usually exchange part of the money before leaving and the rest at the destination.
Present tense (habitual action), 'antes de' (before), 'o resto' (the rest)
Cómo usarlo
When traveling to a Portuguese-speaking country, you'll need to cambiar dinheiro (exchange money) to the local currency. This verb is straightforward and refers specifically to the act of swapping one currency for another. You can also use it in a broader sense to mean 'to change' or 'to swap' something else, but its primary and most frequent use is related to currency.
A common mistake is to confuse 'cambiar' with other verbs that mean 'to change' or 'to alter' in a general sense, such as mudar or alterar. While 'cambiar' can sometimes be used for general changes, its most direct and common application is for currency exchange. If you want to say 'change clothes,' you would use mudar de roupa, not 'cambiar roupa.'
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Imagine a 'cam' (camera) taking a picture of money being 'bi' (by) a 'jar'. You're exchanging the money in the jar.
Asociación visual
Picture a foreign exchange booth with a sign that says 'CAMBIAR'. You see different currencies being swapped back and forth.
Word Web
Desafío
Think about a time you exchanged money while traveling. How would you describe that experience in Portuguese using 'cambiar'?
Ponte a prueba 42 preguntas
Eu preciso ___ meus euros por reais.
The verb 'cambiar' means to exchange currency. In this sentence, the person needs to exchange euros for reais.
Onde posso ___ dólares americanos por pesos mexicanos?
To exchange one currency for another, the correct verb is 'cambiar'.
Você sabe onde eu posso ___ meu dinheiro?
When you want to convert money from one currency to another, you 'cambiar' it.
Você usa 'cambiar' quando você quer comprar pão.
You use 'cambiar' for exchanging currency, not for buying bread.
Se você tem dólares e quer reais, você precisa 'cambiar'.
Yes, 'cambiar' is the correct verb for exchanging one currency for another.
A palavra 'cambiar' significa comer.
'Cambiar' means to exchange currency, not to eat.
Choose the best translation for 'cambiar dinheiro'.
'Cambiar' means to exchange.
Which of these situations involves 'cambiar'?
Exchanging currencies is the core meaning of 'cambiar'.
You are traveling and need local currency. What would you do?
To get local currency, you need to exchange your current money.
If you 'cambiar' money, you are putting it in your wallet to save.
'Cambiar' means to exchange, not necessarily to save.
You can 'cambiar' Brazilian Reais for US Dollars.
This is an example of exchanging one currency for another.
When you 'cambiar' money, you are always spending it.
You are exchanging it, not necessarily spending it in a transaction.
This sentence means 'I need to exchange money at the bank.' The verb 'cambiar' comes after 'Preciso' (I need to).
This sentence means 'Where can I exchange my euros?' 'Onde' (where) starts the question, followed by 'posso' (can I) and then 'cambiar'.
This sentence means 'He is going to exchange the dollars.' 'Ele vai' (he is going to) indicates future action, followed by the infinitive 'cambiar'.
Se você vai viajar para outro país, você precisa ___ dinheiro.
To exchange currency, the most appropriate verb is 'cambiar'. 'Trocar' can mean to exchange in a general sense, but 'cambiar' is specific to money.
Onde posso ___ meus euros por reais aqui no aeroporto?
The question asks where to exchange euros for reals, making 'cambiar' the correct verb.
Antes de ir para a Argentina, preciso ___ meus dólares para pesos argentinos.
To convert one currency to another, 'cambiar' is the right choice.
A cotação para ___ dinheiro hoje está favorável.
The context is about currency exchange rates, so 'cambiar' fits best.
Você sabe se este banco ___ moedas estrangeiras?
The verb 'cambiar' conjugated in the third person singular is 'cambia', which means 'exchanges'.
É melhor ___ dinheiro em uma casa de câmbio do que no hotel.
This sentence advises where it's better to exchange money, so 'cambiar' is the appropriate verb.
This sentence means 'I need to exchange dollars for euros.' The verb 'cambiar' is used here to indicate the action of exchanging currency.
This question means 'Where can I exchange money here?' It's a common phrase when traveling and looking for a place to exchange currency.
This sentence means 'She always exchanges pounds at the bank.' 'Cambiar' is conjugated in the third person singular, present tense.
This sentence means 'I need to exchange dollars for euros.' The verb 'cambiar' is correctly placed after the subject and before the currencies.
This question means 'Where can I exchange money in this city?' The word order is typical for a question in Portuguese.
This sentence means 'He always exchanges his money at the bank.' 'Sempre' (always) comes after the subject and before the verb.
The speaker needs to exchange currency for a trip.
The speaker is looking for a place to exchange money.
The speaker is asking about currency exchange services at a local bank.
Read this aloud:
Eu preciso cambiar cem libras esterlinas por euros antes de ir para Portugal.
Focus: cambiar
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Qual é a melhor forma de cambiar dinheiro em Lisboa para evitar taxas altas?
Focus: cambiar, taxas
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Será que consigo cambiar dirhams dos Emirados Árabes Unidos aqui no aeroporto?
Focus: cambiar, aeroporto
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Use 'cambiar' when you need to exchange money, especially when traveling to a different country.
- exchange currency
- money exchange
- convert money
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