Portuguese Phrase
Não temos reserva.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘We don’t have a reservation.’ It is a straightforward way to tell a staff member that you arrived without a prior booking, or that the establishment itself has no reservation for you.
When to use
Use this phrase at restaurants, cafés, hotels, or any venue where a reservation might be required. It works both when you are the customer explaining you have no booking, and when a host or employee informs you that there is no reservation on file.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nãotemosreserva.
Negação (Não)
‘Não’ is placed before the verb to negate the statement, equivalent to ‘not’ or ‘don’t’ in English.
Verbo ‘ter’ – 1ª pessoa do plural (temos)
‘Temos’ is the present‑indicative form of ‘ter’ (to have) for ‘nós’ (we). It must agree with the subject, even if the subject is implied.
Substantivo ‘reserva’
‘Reserva’ means ‘reservation’ (a booked table, room, etc.). It is a feminine noun, so no article is needed when used after ‘ter’.
🗨In Conversation
Boa noite! Temos mesa para quatro?
Good evening! Do you have a table for four?
Desculpe, não temos reserva.
Sorry, we don’t have a reservation.
✕Common Mistakes
Não tem reserva.
‘Tem’ is third‑person singular; the subject becomes ‘ele/ela’ (he/she) instead of ‘nós’ (we). Use ‘temos’ when you are speaking for yourself and others.
Não temos reservas.
‘Reservas’ (plural) changes the meaning to ‘We don’t have reservations (in general)’, which is less natural when referring to a single booking.
↔Alternatives
Não há reserva.
There is no reservation.
Não possuímos reserva.
We do not possess a reservation.
Ainda não temos reserva.
We don’t have a reservation yet.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil it’s common to call ahead for popular restaurants, especially on weekends. However, many casual places accept walk‑ins, so saying ‘Não temos reserva’ is perfectly polite. If you’re the staff, soften the statement with ‘Desculpe’ or offer alternatives like ‘Podemos esperar um pouco?’ (Can you wait a bit?).