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Portuguese Phrase

Cadê o marcador do quadro branco?

/kaˈde u maʁkaˈdoʁ du ˈkwadɾu ˈbɾɐ̃ku/

Meaning"Where is the whiteboard marker?"

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Meaning

The speaker is asking where the whiteboard marker is. It’s a practical, everyday request you’d hear in classrooms, offices, or meeting rooms when someone needs to write on a whiteboard.

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When to use

Use this phrase in informal spoken contexts with classmates, coworkers, or friends. It’s perfect for a quick, casual request, but avoid it in formal written Portuguese or in very formal meetings.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Cadêomarcadordoquadrobranco?

1

Cadê

Colloquial contraction of "onde está", used to ask where something is; informal and very common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.

2

Definite article "o"

Specifies a particular noun; here it points to a specific marker.

3

Preposition + article "do"

"do" = de + o, meaning "of the" or "from the"; links the marker to the whiteboard.

4

Adjective placement

In Portuguese adjectives usually follow the noun, as in "quadro branco" (whiteboard).

5

Question mark

The whole sentence is a question; the intonation rises at the end.

🗨In Conversation

A

Cadê o marcador do quadro branco?

Where’s the whiteboard marker?

Está na gaveta ao lado da lousa.

It’s in the drawer next to the board.

B

✕Common Mistakes

Cadê o marcador de quadro branco?
Using "de" instead of "do" changes the meaning to "marker of a whiteboard" (as if the marker belongs to the board) rather than "the marker for the whiteboard".
Cadê marcador do quadro branco?
The definite article "o" before "marcador" is required in standard Portuguese.
Onde está o marcador do quadro branco?
While grammatically correct, using "onde está" sounds overly formal for a quick spoken request; "cadê" is the natural choice in casual conversation.

↔Alternatives

Onde está o marcador do quadro branco?
Where is the whiteboard marker?
Você viu o marcador do quadro branco?
Did you see the whiteboard marker?
Tem o marcador do quadro branco?
Do you have the whiteboard marker?

Cultural Tip

In Brazil, "cadê" is a staple of everyday speech, especially among younger speakers. It’s perfectly natural in a classroom or office, but you’ll hear "onde está" in more formal settings. Also note that while "quadro branco" is the standard term for a whiteboard, some regions still say "lousa branca" – both are understood.