Portuguese Phrase
São 15 dólares.
Meaning
This sentence tells the listener that the price of an item is fifteen US dollars. It uses the verb ser to express a fixed price, and the plural form of the currency because the amount is more than one.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to state the cost of something in a shop, market, online listing, or any situation where a price is being quoted in dollars.
✦Grammar Breakdown
São15dólares
Ser for price
In Portuguese, the verb ser is used to state the price of something. Use 'É' for singular amounts and 'São' for plural.
Number‑noun agreement
When the amount is plural, the noun (dólares) must also be plural; the verb agrees with the plural subject.
Currency name
Currency names are treated like regular nouns: dólar (singular), dólares (plural).
🗨In Conversation
Quanto custa?
How much does it cost?
São 15 dólares.
It's fifteen dollars.
✕Common Mistakes
É 15 dólares.
Use 'É' only for singular amounts; for plural amounts you must use 'São'.
São 15 dólar.
The noun must agree in number with the amount; 'dólar' is singular.
São quinze dolar.
Missing accent on 'dólar' and the noun should be plural.
↔Alternatives
Custa 15 dólares.
It costs fifteen dollars.
O preço é 15 dólares.
The price is fifteen dollars.
São quinze dólares.
It's fifteen dollars.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, speakers usually say 'É' for a single unit (e.g., 'É 1 dólar') and 'São' for any amount greater than one. When quoting prices, the currency name follows the number and stays in the same number form (dólar/dólares). In informal speech, the numeral is often spoken as the word (quinze) rather than '15'.