fale inglês
The Portuguese phrase to say "speak english" is fale inglês.
This phrase is used as a request or command for someone to use the English language.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form fale inglês uses the imperative mood of the verb falar in the third-person singular (você), which serves as a polite or standard command. If you need to express the infinitive "to speak English" (for example, in the sentence "I want to speak English"), you should use the form falar inglês.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly add the definite article o before inglês. Instead of saying fale o inglês, you should say fale inglês.
Did you know?
- When asking someone if they speak English, a Portuguese speaker might use the verb saber (to know) instead of falar (to speak) to ask você sabe inglês?
- Portuguese has a specific word estrangeirismo to describe the phenomenon of using 'English' words or phrases within a Portuguese sentence, which happens frequently in business and tech.
- In Brazil, using the imperative fale is standard, but in Portugal, a speaker would more likely use fale only in very formal settings, often preferring the infinitive falar preceded by por favor.
Examples in context
- Por favor, fale Inglês.Please speak English.This sentence shows how to use fale inglês with "por favor" (please).Tatoeba #5889465 by sergiomelo, translation #5579390 by CK
- Fale Inglês com quem entende.Speak English with those you understand.This sentence illustrates using fale inglês to suggest speaking with those who understand.Tatoeba #8205044 by josivangoncalves, translation #8205124 by josivangoncalves
- Não fale Inglês com quem não entende.Don't speak English with those who don't understand.This sentence shows how to use fale inglês in a negative command to avoid speaking English with those who do not understand.Tatoeba #8205037 by josivangoncalves, translation #8205156 by josivangoncalves
- Um pouco, eu posso tentar.A little, I can try.
- Só um pouquinho.Just a little bit.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Mariana are at a tourist center.
- GabrielDesculpe, você pode me ajudar?Sorry, can you help me?
- MarianaSim, mas eu não entendo bem.Yes, but I don't understand well.
- GabrielPor favor, fale inglês comigo.Please, speak English with me.
- MarianaTudo bem, vamos tentar.All right, let's try.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
