Portuguese Phrase
Você precisa de lápis de cor novos?
Meaning
A polite question asking whether the listener needs new colored pencils. It can be used when you’re offering supplies, checking inventory, or simply being curious about someone’s art materials.
When to use
Use this sentence in a classroom, art store, or at home when you notice someone’s pencils are worn out. It’s also handy for role‑plays about buying school supplies in a Portuguese‑learning app.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vocêprecisadelápisdecornovos?
Você (pronoun)
Second‑person singular pronoun used in formal or neutral contexts in Brazil.
precisar (verb)
Verb ‘to need’ conjugated in present indicative, third‑person singular, requires the preposition de before the object.
de (preposition)
Introduces the object of need; after precisar you always use de, not a or para.
lápis de cor (noun phrase)
‘Colored pencil’; lápis is masculine, singular and plural have the same form, so the adjective must agree in number.
novos (adjective)
Plural masculine form of ‘new’, matching the plural noun lápis.
🗨In Conversation
Você precisa de lápis de cor novos?
Do you need new colored pencils?
Sim, meus lápis estão quase acabando.
Yes, my pencils are almost finished.
✕Common Mistakes
Você precisa **para** lápis de cor novos?
After ‘precisar’ you must use ‘de’, not ‘para’.
Você precisa de lápis de cor **novo**?
The adjective must agree in number with ‘lápis’, which is plural here, so use ‘novos’.
Você precisa de lápis de **cores** novos?
The correct expression is ‘lápis de cor’, not ‘lápis de cores’.
↔Alternatives
Você quer lápis de cor novos?
Do you want new colored pencils?
Precisa de novos lápis de cor?
Do you need new colored pencils?
Você precisa comprar lápis de cor novos?
Do you need to buy new colored pencils?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘lápis de cor’ is the standard term for colored pencils; the word lápis is masculine, so adjectives like ‘novos’ must be masculine plural. Unlike some European Portuguese varieties, Brazilians rarely say ‘lápis de cores’. When speaking politely, you can also add ‘por favor’ after the question.