Portuguese Phrase
Tem o teu cartão de embarque à mão, por favor.
Meaning
The speaker is asking the listener to have their boarding pass ready, typically before a security check or boarding gate. The tone is friendly but polite thanks to the inclusion of *por favor*.
When to use
Use this phrase at the airport when a staff member or a fellow traveler reminds you to keep your boarding pass handy. It works best in informal contexts (e.g., with a young attendant or a travel companion). For formal situations, switch *teu* to *seu* and consider the more formal imperative *Tenha*.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Temoteucartãodeembarqueàmão,porfavor.
Imperative of *ter* (tu)
‘Tem’ is the affirmative imperative for the second‑person singular (tu) of the verb *ter* ‘to have’. It is used for direct, friendly commands.
Possessive adjective *teu*
*Teu* agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (masculine singular *cartão*). It is informal; use *seu* in formal contexts.
Prepositional phrase *à mão*
Literally ‘to the hand’, the idiom *à mão* means ‘ready, within reach’. It is common in service settings (e.g., airports, restaurants).
Polite formula *por favor*
Adding *por favor* softens the command, making it courteous. It can appear at the beginning or end of the sentence.
🗨In Conversation
Tem o teu cartão de embarque à mão, por favor.
Have your boarding pass ready, please.
Claro, aqui está.
Sure, here it is.
✕Common Mistakes
Tem o seu cartão de embarque à mão, por favor.
Using *seu* makes the sentence formal; it’s not wrong, but it changes the register. If you intend an informal tone, keep *teu*.
Tenha o teu cartão de embarque à mão, por favor.
The formal imperative *Tenha* is correct for *você*, but pairing it with the informal *teu* creates a register clash.
Tem o teu cartão de embarque na mão, por favor.
The idiom is *à mão* (at hand), not *na mão* (in the hand). *Na mão* would sound literal and unnatural.
↔Alternatives
Tenha o seu bilhete de embarque pronto, por favor.
Please have your boarding ticket ready.
Por favor, mantenha o cartão de embarque à mão.
Please keep the boarding pass at hand.
Não se esqueça do seu cartão de embarque, por favor.
Don’t forget your boarding pass, please.
Cultural Tip
In Portuguese‑speaking airports, staff often use the informal *tu* form with younger travelers, but with older passengers or in official announcements they switch to the formal *você*/*seu* and the more formal imperative *Tenha*. The expression *à mão* is widely used beyond travel – you’ll hear it in shops, banks, and restaurants when something should be readily available.