Portuguese Phrase
Tem um mapa da cidade?
Meaning
Literally, “Is there a map of the city?” or “Do you have a city map?” It’s a polite way to ask a shopkeeper, receptionist or a passer‑by if a map is available.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re traveling, looking for directions, or need a quick overview of the streets. It works in both formal (e.g., at a tourist office) and informal (e.g., asking a local on the street) settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Temummapadacidade?
Ter (presente)
‘Tem’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘ter’, often used impersonally to ask if something exists or is available.
Indefinite article ‘um’
‘Um’ means ‘a/an’ and agrees in gender (masculine) with ‘mapa’.
Contraction ‘da’
‘Da’ = de + a, meaning ‘of the’; it links ‘mapa’ with ‘cidade’.
Question intonation
In spoken Portuguese the rising intonation at the end signals a yes/no question; the written question mark is optional in informal speech.
🗨In Conversation
Tem um mapa da cidade?
Do you have a city map?
Sim, aqui está. É bem detalhado.
Yes, here it is. It’s very detailed.
✕Common Mistakes
Há um mapa da cidade?
‘Há’ means ‘there is/are’ but it sounds more like a statement; using ‘Tem’ makes the request sound more natural in conversation.
Temos um mapa da cidade?
‘Temos’ is first‑person plural (we have); it does not fit a question directed at someone else.
Tem mapa da cidade?
Leaving out the article ‘um’ makes the phrase sound incomplete; Portuguese requires the indefinite article before singular countable nouns.
↔Alternatives
Você tem um mapa da cidade?
Do you have a city map?
Existe um mapa da cidade?
Is there a city map?
Pode me dar um mapa da cidade?
Can you give me a city map?
Tem um mapa da cidade aqui?
Is there a city map here?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil most tourist information centers, hotels and larger cafés keep free city maps at the front desk. In smaller towns you might need to ask a local shopkeeper, and they’ll often hand you a folded paper map or point you to a municipal office. Remember that “tem” can sound a bit informal; if you’re speaking to a receptionist, “Você tem um mapa da cidade?” sounds slightly more courteous.