Portuguese Phrase
Você tem algo proibido?
Meaning
Literally ‘Do you have anything prohibited?’, this question is used to ask whether a person is in possession of something illegal or forbidden by law, such as drugs, weapons, or contraband. The tone can range from formal (e.g., a police officer) to informal (e.g., a friend jokingly asking about a secret stash).
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to inquire about the presence of illegal or restricted items – at customs, during a police stop, or in a casual conversation where the speaker suspects the other person might be hiding something. It is direct, so be mindful of the register; in very polite contexts you might soften it with ‘por favor’ or a conditional form.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vocêtemalgoproibido?
Você (pronoun)
Second‑person singular subject pronoun. In Brazil it’s the most neutral way to address someone you don’t know well.
tem (verb ter)
Present‑tense 3rd‑person singular of ter ‘to have’. Conjugates as ‘eu tenho, tu tens, ele/ela tem, nós temos…’
algo (indefinite pronoun)
Means ‘something, anything’. It does not change for gender or number.
proibido (past participle used as adjective)
Literally ‘prohibited, illegal’. When used after a noun it agrees in gender and number (proibida, proibidos, proibidas).
Question mark placement
In Portuguese the question mark is placed only at the end of the sentence, unlike Spanish which uses opening and closing marks.
🗨In Conversation
Boa tarde, senhor. Você tem algo proibido na bagagem?
Good afternoon, sir. Do you have anything prohibited in your luggage?
Não, nada. Só minhas roupas e um livro.
No, nothing. Just my clothes and a book.
✕Common Mistakes
Você tens algo proibido?
‘tens’ is the second‑person singular form used with ‘tu’, but the sentence starts with ‘Você’, which requires ‘tem’.
Você tem alguma coisa proibida?
While grammatically correct, it changes the nuance; ‘alguma coisa’ sounds more specific, whereas ‘algo’ is the usual indefinite pronoun in this quick‑check question.
Você tem algo proibida?
The adjective must agree with the gender of the noun it modifies. Since ‘algo’ is neuter, the correct form is ‘proibido’.
↔Alternatives
Você tem algo ilícito?
Do you have anything illicit?
Tem algo proibido?
Do you have anything prohibited?
Você está carregando algo proibido?
Are you carrying anything prohibited?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, police and customs agents often use this exact phrasing when inspecting luggage or personal belongings. The question is considered very direct, so a calm and respectful tone helps avoid escalation. In some regions, especially in the South, you might hear the more colloquial ‘Tá com alguma coisa proibida?’ which is less formal but still understood. Remember that refusing to answer can be taken as suspicious, so a brief, honest reply is usually the safest approach.