Portuguese Phrase
Me dá notas de 20 dólares?
Meaning
Literally, “Can you give me 20‑dollar bills?” It is a polite, informal way to ask someone (usually a cashier or a friend) for banknotes of a specific denomination.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need cash in a foreign currency while traveling, when you’re at a bank, a hotel front desk, or even a fellow traveler who might have spare bills. It works best in informal contexts; in very formal settings you might prefer “Poderia me dar…”.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Medánotasde20dólares?
Clitic pronoun placement
In affirmative commands, object pronouns (me, te, nos, etc.) are placed before the verb, as in “Me dá”.
Verb form – dá
“Dá” is the third‑person singular present indicative of dar, which also serves as the informal imperative for “you give”.
Denomination with de
When specifying the value of a banknote, Portuguese uses the preposition “de”: “notas de 20 dólares”.
Plural of dólar
The plural of “dólar” is “dólares”; the noun agrees with the number (20) and the plural noun “notas”.
Question intonation
Adding a question mark turns the polite request into a question; the intonation rises at the end.
🗨In Conversation
Me dá notas de 20 dólares?
Can you give me $20 bills?
Claro, aqui estão duas notas de 20.
Sure, here are two $20 bills.
✕Common Mistakes
Me dá notas de 20 dólar?
The noun must agree with the plural number; use “dólares” when talking about more than one bill.
Me dá notas de 20 dólares.
Without the question mark it becomes a statement, not a request.
Me dá nota de 20 dólares?
“Nota” should be plural when you’re asking for more than one bill; use “notas”.
↔Alternatives
Pode me dar notas de 20 dólares?
Could you give me $20 bills?
Você tem notas de 20 dólares?
Do you have $20 bills?
Me passa uma nota de 20 dólares, por favor.
Please hand me a $20 bill.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the word “nota” is commonly used for any banknote, regardless of the currency. When dealing with foreign money, locals often say “cédula de 20 dólares”. Keep in mind that many Brazilians are more comfortable handling the local real, so you might need to explain why you need the foreign bills, especially in small shops.