Portuguese Phrase
Você pode consertar?
Meaning
A polite request asking whether the listener is able to fix something. The speaker usually has an object that is broken and hopes the other person can repair it.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need help repairing an item – a phone, a bike, a piece of furniture, etc. It works in everyday conversation with friends, family, or service staff. In very formal contexts you might replace ‘você’ with ‘o senhor/a senhora’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vocêpodeconsertar?
Você
Second‑person singular pronoun that takes third‑person verb forms; common in Brazil for informal address.
pode
Present indicative of the verb poder (to be able). With ‘você’ it is conjugated as third‑person singular.
consertar
Infinitive meaning ‘to fix, to repair’. Used after ‘poder’ to ask about ability.
Question mark
In Portuguese the question mark is placed only at the end of the sentence (no opening ‘¿’).
🗨In Conversation
Você pode consertar o meu relógio?
Can you fix my watch?
Claro, eu dou uma olhada agora.
Sure, I'll take a look now.
✕Common Mistakes
Você podes consertar?
‘podes’ is the European Portuguese conjugation for ‘tu’; with ‘você’ you must use ‘pode’.
Você pode conserta?
After ‘poder’, the following verb stays in the infinitive, not in the present indicative.
Você pode conserto?
‘Conserto’ is a noun (repair) or first‑person present; it does not fit after ‘pode’.
↔Alternatives
Você consegue consertar?
Can you manage to fix?
Você sabe consertar?
Do you know how to fix?
Pode reparar?
Can you repair?
Consegue reparar isso?
Can you repair this?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil ‘você’ is the default way to address someone, even strangers, so the phrase sounds natural in most settings. In Portugal, speakers often use ‘tu’ with ‘podes’ or the more formal ‘o senhor/a senhora’ with ‘pode’. Also, Brazilians tend to soften requests with a smile or a brief explanation of the problem before asking.