Portuguese Phrase
Me explica esse prato?
Meaning
A direct request for someone to describe or clarify what a particular dish consists of, how it’s prepared, or its cultural background. It’s informal and usually used among friends, classmates, or in a casual restaurant setting.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re looking at a menu, at a buffet, or when a friend points out a dish you don’t recognize and you want a quick, informal explanation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Meexplicaesseprato?
Me (pronome objeto indireto)
‘Me’ is the clitic pronoun for ‘to me’, placed before the verb in affirmative sentences.
explica (imperativo informal)
‘Explica’ is the informal imperative of ‘explicar’ (tu form). It works like ‘explain!’ in English.
esse (pronome demonstrativo)
‘Esse’ points to something close to the listener; it agrees in gender and number with ‘prato’.
prato (substantivo masculino)
‘Prato’ means ‘dish’ or ‘plate’; it is a masculine singular noun.
🗨In Conversation
Me explica esse prato?
Can you explain this dish to me?
Claro! É uma moqueca de peixe com leite de coco, dendê e coentro.
Sure! It’s a fish stew with coconut milk, palm oil and cilantro.
✕Common Mistakes
Me explicas esse prato?
‘Explicas’ is the second‑person singular present indicative; the correct informal imperative is ‘explica’. Use ‘Me explica’ for a direct request.
Me explica esse prato
In written Portuguese a question mark is needed to signal the request; without it the sentence reads like a statement.
Me explica esse prato, por favor?
Mixing a statement with a question mark is acceptable, but the more natural order is ‘Me explica esse prato, por favor?’ or simply ‘Me explica esse prato, por favor.’
↔Alternatives
Pode me explicar esse prato?
Could you explain this dish to me?
Você pode me dizer o que tem nesse prato?
Can you tell me what’s in this dish?
Me conta mais sobre esse prato.
Tell me more about this dish.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, food is a conversation starter. ‘Me explica’ is informal; if you’re speaking to a waiter or someone you don’t know well, switch to the polite form ‘Pode me explicar…’ or ‘Você poderia me explicar…’. Also, Brazilians love to share the story behind a dish, so be ready for a detailed description that may include regional origins and family traditions.