Portuguese Phrase
Mal passado, por favor.
Meaning
A short, polite way to tell a waiter that you want your meat (usually a steak) cooked rare – i.e., still red and juicy inside. The phrase can be used for any dish that can be cooked to different doneness levels.
When to use
Use this sentence at a Brazilian restaurant, churrascaria, or any place where you order grilled meat. It’s also handy when you’re ordering at a steakhouse in Portugal, although the exact cooking terms may vary slightly.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Malpassado,porfavor.
Mal (adverb)
Used as an adverb meaning ‘rarely’ or ‘undercooked’ when describing how a dish is prepared.
passado (past participle)
The past participle of the verb *passar*; together with *mal* it forms a fixed expression for ‘rare’ (as in steak).
por favor
Polite phrase meaning ‘please’; placed after the request.
🗨In Conversation
Mal passado, por favor.
Rare, please.
Claro, um bife mal passado. Mais alguma coisa?
Sure, a rare steak. Anything else?
✕Common Mistakes
Mau passado, por favor.
‘Mau’ means ‘bad’; the correct adverb is ‘mal’.
Mal passado, porfavor.
‘Por favor’ is always two separate words.
↔Alternatives
Ao ponto, por favor.
Medium, please.
Bem passado, por favor.
Well‑done, please.
Mal passado, obrigado.
Rare, thank you.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, many people prefer their meat ‘mal passado’, but some traditional churrascarias may refuse to serve it for health‑safety reasons. If a restaurant hesitates, you can say *um bife ao ponto* (medium) as a compromise. Also, remember that *mal* (adverb) is different from *mau* (adjective meaning ‘bad’).