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Portuguese Phrase

Você já lavou a louça?

/voˈse ʒa laˈvoʊ a ˈlow.sɐ/
Meaning"Have you already washed the dishes?"
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Meaning

Literally, ‘Have you already washed the dishes?’ The question checks whether the listener has completed the chore of washing the dishes, often after a meal. The word ‘já’ adds the nuance of ‘by now’ or ‘already’, implying the speaker expected the task to be done.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you want to confirm if someone has taken care of the dishes, for example after dinner, when you’re sharing kitchen duties, or when you’re politely reminding a roommate or family member.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Vocêjálavoualouça?

1

Você (pronoun)

Second‑person singular pronoun used in most of Brazil; conjugates verbs in the third‑person singular form.

2

já (adverb)

Means ‘already’; placed before the verb in questions to ask about a completed action.

3

lavou (preterite)

Preterite (simple past) of the verb lavar ‘to wash’; agrees with the subject ‘você’ (third‑person singular).

4

a (definite article)

Feminine singular article that matches the noun ‘louça’.

5

louça (noun)

Collective noun for dishes, plates, cutlery – anything that needs washing after a meal.

🗨In Conversation

A

Você já lavou a louça?

Have you already washed the dishes?

Ainda não, mas vou fazer agora.

Not yet, but I’ll do it now.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Você lavou já a louça?

    Placing ‘já’ after the verb (e.g., ‘lavou já’) sounds unnatural in questions.

  • Já lavou a louça?

    Dropping ‘você’ is fine in informal speech, but beginners often forget to keep subject‑verb agreement.

  • Você já lavou o louça?

    ‘Louça’ is feminine; using the masculine article ‘o’ would be incorrect.

↔Alternatives

  • Já fez a louça?

    Did you already do the dishes?

  • Você já limpou a louça?

    Have you already cleaned the dishes?

  • A louça já está lavada?

    Is the dishware already washed?

pt

Cultural Tip

In many Brazilian households, washing dishes is a shared responsibility, but it’s common for the person who cooked to be asked if they’ve already taken care of the ‘louça’. Using ‘já’ can sound a bit impatient, so tone matters – a friendly smile softens the reminder. In the South of Brazil, you might hear ‘lavou a louça?’ without ‘já’, which is more neutral.