Portuguese Phrase
Tem máquinas de lavar self-service?
Meaning
This question asks whether there are self‑service washing machines available, typically in a laundromat, hostel, or apartment building. It’s a practical phrase for travelers or anyone needing to do laundry without a private machine.
When to use
Use it when you arrive at a hotel, hostel, or apartment and need to know if you can wash your clothes on your own, or when you’re looking for a public laundry facility in a city.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Temmáquinasdelavarself-service?
Tem (existence)
The verb 'ter' in third‑person singular (tem) is commonly used in Brazilian Portuguese to ask if something exists, similar to 'há' in European Portuguese.
de + infinitive
The preposition 'de' links a noun to an infinitive verb, indicating the purpose of the noun (machines for washing).
self‑service (loanword)
‘self‑service’ is an English loanword used unchanged in Portuguese to describe services where the customer does the work themselves.
🗨In Conversation
Tem máquinas de lavar self-service?
Are there self‑service washing machines?
Sim, tem duas máquinas no andar de baixo.
Yes, there are two machines on the ground floor.
✕Common Mistakes
Tem máquinas de lavar de self-service?
Do not add an extra preposition after ‘self‑service’; the correct order is ‘máquinas de lavar self‑service’.
Há tem máquinas de lavar self-service?
Using ‘há’ is correct, but many learners mistakenly pair it with ‘tem’ (e.g., ‘há tem máquinas…’). Choose one verb.
Tem máquinas de lavagem self-service?
The infinitive ‘lavar’ must stay; replacing it with the noun ‘lavagem’ changes the meaning.
↔Alternatives
Há máquinas de lavar self-service?
Are there self‑service washing machines?
Existe máquinas de lavar self-service?
Do self‑service washing machines exist?
Tem máquinas de lavar automáticas?
Are there automatic washing machines?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, self‑service laundries (lavanderias self‑service) are very common in big cities and often operate 24 hours. The term ‘self‑service’ is used as‑is, but you’ll also hear ‘lavanderia automática’ or simply ‘lavanderia’. When speaking formally, you might prefer ‘há’ instead of ‘tem’, but ‘tem’ is perfectly natural in everyday conversation.