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Portuguese Phrase

O que tem nesse prato?

/u ˈke ˈtẽ ˈnesi ˈpɾatu/

Meaning"What is in this plate?"

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Meaning

Literally “What has in that plate?” It is the natural way in Brazilian Portuguese to ask about the ingredients, components, or contents of a dish that you can see.

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When to use

Use it in a restaurant when you want to know what’s inside a dish, at a friend’s house when you’re curious about a homemade preparation, or in a market while examining a plated sample.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Oquetemnesseprato?

1

O (definite article)

Masculine singular article used before nouns; here it introduces the interrogative phrase.

2

que (interrogative pronoun)

Means “what” and is used to ask for information about something.

3

tem (verb ter)

Third‑person singular present of “ter” (to have). In questions it works like “is/are there”.

4

nesse (em + esse)

Contraction of the preposition “em” (in) + demonstrative “esse” (that). Refers to something close to the listener.

5

prato (noun)

Masculine singular noun meaning “plate” or “dish”.

🗨In Conversation

A

O que tem nesse prato?

What’s in this dish?

Tem arroz, feijão, carne de panela e salada.

It has rice, beans, stewed meat, and salad.

B

✕Common Mistakes

O que é nesse prato?
Using “tem” is correct for informal speech; beginners sometimes replace it with “é” (O que é nesse prato?) which is wrong because “ser” is used for identity, not for contents.
O que tem neste prato?
Mixing up “nesse” (that) with “neste” (this) can change the reference. Use “nesse” when the plate is closer to the listener, “neste” when it’s closer to the speaker.

↔Alternatives

O que há neste prato?
What is in this dish?
O que contém este prato?
What does this dish contain?
Quais são os ingredientes desse prato?
What are the ingredients of this dish?

Cultural Tip

In Brazil people often ask about the contents of a dish before eating, especially if they have dietary restrictions (vegetarian, gluten‑free, etc.). Using “tem” sounds informal and friendly, while “há” feels a bit more formal. Also, pointing with your hand while saying the phrase helps the listener understand you’re referring to the specific plate in front of you.