Portuguese Phrase
Levanta a mão para falar.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Raise the hand to speak.’ It’s a polite command often used by teachers or meeting facilitators to signal that the listener should lift their hand before speaking.
When to use
Use this phrase in classrooms, workshops, or any group setting where participants are asked to indicate they want to talk. It’s informal and fits a ‘tu’ relationship, typical in Brazil.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Levantaamãoparafalar
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Levanta’ is the affirmative imperative of the verb ‘levantar’ used with ‘tu’ (informal you).
Definite article with body parts
In Portuguese, body parts normally take the definite article – ‘a mão’ (the hand).
Purpose ‘para + infinitive’
‘para’ introduces the purpose of the action, followed by an infinitive verb – ‘para falar’ (to speak).
Pronunciation of nasal vowels
The word ‘mão’ contains a nasal vowel /ɐ̃w̃/; keep the nasal quality without adding a separate ‘n’ sound.
🗨In Conversation
Levanta a mão para falar, por favor.
Raise your hand to speak, please.
Claro, já levanto.
Sure, I’ll raise it now.
✕Common Mistakes
Levanta a mão para falar, professor.
If you’re speaking to a teacher or using formal ‘você’, use the formal imperative ‘levante’ instead of ‘levanta’.
Levanta a mao para falar.
Don’t drop the accent; ‘mão’ without the tilde changes the meaning.
Levanta a mão para falando.
Avoid using ‘para’ with a gerund; the correct construction is ‘para falar’, not ‘para falando’.
↔Alternatives
Erga a mão para falar.
Raise your hand to speak.
Levante a mão para falar.
Raise your hand to speak.
Levanta a mão se quiser falar.
Raise your hand if you want to speak.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian classrooms, raising the hand is the standard way to ask a question or contribute. In Portugal, students often say ‘posso falar?’ (May I speak?) instead of physically raising a hand, especially in informal settings. Adjust the level of formality (Levanta vs. Levante) depending on whether you’re speaking to a peer or a teacher.