garçom
/ɡaʁˈsõ/Brazil, masculine
The Portuguese word for waiter is garçom.
The term refers to a person who serves customers in a restaurant or similar establishment.
Meaning: a server in a restaurant or similar (noun)
Which one should you use?
garçom is the masculine form used to refer to a male waiter, while garçonete is used to refer to a female waiter.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the term empregado de mesa is commonly used instead of garçom. In Mozambique, local variations may include using the word menino.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of garçom is garçons, and the feminine form is garçonete.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡaʁˈsõ/
Did you know?
- The word garçom shares a distant root with the English word 'wretch', as both derive from Proto-Germanic terms for those who were 'driven' or 'exiled'.
- In Brazil, calling a waiter garçom! is common, but some social etiquette guides suggest using 'com licença' (with excuse) to be more polite.
- The term garçom can be used as a general call to get a server's attention in a Brazilian restaurant without using their name.
Examples in context
- Sou o seu garçom.I'm your waiter.This sentence is useful for introducing yourself as a waiter using garçom.Tatoeba #4834843 by Ricardo14, translation #2248329 by CK
- Eu chamo o garçom.I'm calling the waiter.This sentence is useful for describing the action of calling a waiter using garçom.Tatoeba #5310906 by carlosalberto, translation #1985097 by Sbgodin
- Eu não sou garçom.I'm not a waiter.This sentence is useful for stating that you are not a waiter using garçom.Tatoeba #11172783 by carlosalberto, translation #11170579 by CK
- Garçom, poderia trazer o cardápio, por favor?Waiter, could you bring the menu, please?
- Garçom, pode me trazer mais um refrigerante, por favor?Waiter, can you bring me another soda, please?
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Camila are at a restaurant looking for their server.
- RodrigoOnde está o garçom?Where is the waiter?
- CamilaEle está vindo trazer o cardápio.He is coming to bring the menu.
- RodrigoAquele garçom é muito atencioso.That waiter is very attentive.
- CamilaSim, o serviço dele é ótimo.Yes, his service is great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “waiter” translations and entries garçom, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries garçom, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
