Portuguese Phrase

Onde a gente pega as malas?

/ˈõdʒi a ˈʒẽ.tʃi ˈpe.ɡa as ˈma.las/

Meaning"Where do we pick up the luggage?"

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Meaning

Literally, “Where does the group pick up the suitcases?” It’s the everyday way Brazilians ask where they should collect their luggage, whether at an airport, bus terminal, or hotel reception.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you’re traveling with friends or family and need to know the exact spot to retrieve your bags – after a flight, a bus ride, or when a concierge is holding them for you.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ondea gentepegaasmalas?

Onde

Interrogative adverb meaning 'where'. Used at the start of location questions.

a gente

Colloquial first‑person plural pronoun equivalent to 'we' (nós) but more informal.

pega

Third‑person singular present of the verb pegar ‘to take / to pick up’. With ‘a gente’ it agrees in third person.

as malas

Definite article + plural noun ‘the suitcases/luggage’. Note the plural agreement with ‘as’.

🗨In Conversation

Onde a gente pega as malas?

Where do we pick up the luggage?

Na esteira ao lado da saída 3, logo depois da imigração.

On the conveyor belt next to exit 3, right after immigration.

✕Common Mistakes

Onde a gente pego as malas?
‘Pego’ is first‑person singular; with ‘a gente’ you must use the third‑person form ‘pega’.
Onde a gente pega a mala?
If you have more than one suitcase, use the plural ‘as malas’. Using singular changes the meaning.
Onde é que a gente pega as malas??
Double question marks are unnecessary; one is enough. Also, avoid adding ‘é que’ if you already start with ‘onde’.

↔Alternatives

Onde podemos pegar as malas?
Where can we pick up the luggage?
Onde é que a gente pega as malas?
Where is it that we pick up the luggage?
Em que lugar a gente pega as malas?
In which place do we pick up the luggage?

Cultural Tip

In Brazil, ‘a gente’ is the go‑to informal way to say ‘we’, especially among younger speakers. In more formal settings (e.g., speaking with airline staff) you might switch to ‘nós’ – ‘Onde nós pegamos as malas?’. Also, at airports the word ‘bandeja’ (tray) is often used for the luggage carousel, so you may hear ‘na bandeja da esteira’.