Portuguese Phrase
Quanto custa o selo pra essa carta internacional?
Meaning
This phrase is a direct and practical way to inquire about the price of a postage stamp required for sending a letter to another country. It's essential for anyone needing to use postal services abroad.
When to use
You would typically use this phrase at a post office or a place that sells stamps when you need to send a letter or postcard to an international destination and want to know the exact cost of the required postage.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quantocustaoselopraessacartainternacional
Quanto custa
'Quanto' means 'how much', and 'custa' is the third-person singular conjugation of the verb 'custar' (to cost). This is the standard and most common way to ask for the price of something in Portuguese.
o selo
'O' is the masculine definite article ('the'), used here with 'selo' (stamp), which is a masculine noun. Always remember to use articles with nouns in Portuguese.
pra
'Pra' is a very common contraction of 'para a' or 'para' in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, meaning 'for' or 'to'. While 'para' is grammatically correct, 'pra' sounds more natural in informal contexts.
essa carta internacional
'Essa' is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'that', referring to something near the listener. 'Carta' means 'letter', and 'internacional' is an adjective meaning 'international', modifying 'carta'.
🗨In Conversation
Bom dia! Quanto custa o selo pra essa carta internacional?
Good morning! How much does the stamp cost for this international letter?
Bom dia! Para qual país? O valor varia.
Good morning! For which country? The price varies.
✕Common Mistakes
Quanto é o selo pra essa carta internacional?
While 'Quanto é?' means 'How much is it?', 'Quanto custa?' is more specifically used for asking the price or cost of something.
Quanto custa o selo para essa carta internacional?
While 'para' is grammatically correct, 'pra' is a very common and natural contraction of 'para a' or 'para' in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, making the phrase sound more authentic.
Quanto custa selo pra essa carta internacional?
Forgetting the definite article 'o' before 'selo' (the stamp) is a common error. In Portuguese, articles are often used where they might be omitted in English.
↔Alternatives
Qual o valor do selo para esta carta?
What is the value of the stamp for this letter?
Preciso de um selo para uma carta internacional, quanto fica?
I need a stamp for an international letter, how much is it?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the national postal service is called 'Correios'. When interacting with staff, politeness is appreciated. While digital communication is prevalent, sending physical letters or postcards, especially internationally, still occurs. Be prepared to specify the destination country, as international postage costs vary significantly.