Portuguese Phrase
Sim, coloca na bandeja, por favor.
Meaning
The speaker is confirming a request and then politely asks the listener to put something on the tray. It combines affirmation (Sim) with an informal imperative (coloca) and the courtesy phrase ‘por favor’.
When to use
Use this sentence in informal settings such as a family kitchen, a casual café, or when you’re helping a friend. It’s perfect when you’ve already agreed to do something and you want to give a short, polite instruction about where to place an item.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sim,colocanabandeja,porfavor.
Sim
A simple affirmative word meaning “yes”. It can be used alone or before a statement to confirm agreement.
coloca
Imperative form of the verb *colocar* for the informal ‘tu’ subject. It means “put/place”.
na
Contraction of the preposition *em* + the feminine article *a*, translating to “on the/in the”.
bandeja
A feminine noun meaning “tray”. Commonly used in cafés, restaurants, and at home for serving food.
por favor
A polite expression equivalent to “please”. It softens commands and makes them courteous.
🗨In Conversation
Você pode colocar o sanduíche na bandeja?
Can you put the sandwich on the tray?
Sim, coloca na bandeja, por favor.
Yes, put it on the tray, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Sim, coloque na bandeja, por favor.
‘Coloque’ is the formal imperative (você). Using it with ‘Sim’ in a casual conversation can sound overly stiff.
Sim, coloca na bandeira, por favor.
‘Bandeira’ means ‘flag’, not ‘tray’. The correct noun is ‘bandeja’.
Sim, coloca na bandeja.
Leaving out ‘por favor’ makes the command sound abrupt; it’s best to keep it for politeness.
↔Alternatives
Claro, coloque na bandeja, por favor.
Sure, place it on the tray, please.
Sim, põe na bandeja, por favor.
Yes, put it on the tray, please.
Combinado, deixa na bandeja, por favor.
Agreed, leave it on the tray, please.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, adding ‘por favor’ after an imperative is considered very polite, even among friends. The informal imperative (coloca) is common when speaking to someone you know well or a peer. If you need to be more formal—e.g., speaking to a stranger or a service employee—use the formal imperative ‘coloque’. Also, Brazilians often say ‘sim’ before a request to show willingness, which softens the command.