Portuguese Phrase
O que vai pedir?
Meaning
Literally, “What are you going to ask for?” In a restaurant or café it is the common way to ask a customer what they would like to order.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are taking an order, offering a menu, or simply curious about someone’s upcoming choice. It works in both casual and semi‑formal settings, but you may want a more polite version with "você" in very formal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oquevaipedir
Interrogative pronoun "O que"
"O que" means "what" and is used to ask about an object or action.
Future periphrastic with "ir + infinitive"
"Vai" (from "ir") + infinitive ("pedir") expresses a near future action, similar to "going to" in English.
Verb infinitive "pedir"
"Pedir" means "to ask for" or "to order"; in a restaurant context it means "to order (food/drink)".
Question intonation
In spoken Portuguese the sentence ends with a rising intonation, signalling a question.
🗨In Conversation
O que vai pedir?
What are you going to order?
Vou querer a feijoada e um suco de maracujá, por favor.
I’ll have the feijoada and a passion‑fruit juice, please.
✕Common Mistakes
O que vai pedir?
When speaking to someone you address with "tu", use "vais pedir" (second‑person singular) instead of "vai".
O que vai pedindo?
The progressive form "pedindo" is not used for future intent; use the infinitive after "vai".
O que vai pedir?
In very formal settings, replace the informal "vai" with "irá" or add "você" for politeness.
↔Alternatives
O que você vai querer?
What would you like?
O que deseja?
What would you like? (more formal)
O que vai querer comer?
What are you going to eat?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, waitstaff often use "O que vai pedir?" as a friendly, informal way to take orders. If you want to sound more formal or respectful—especially with older customers or in upscale restaurants—add "você" ("O que você vai pedir?") or use "o que o senhor/a senhora deseja?". Remember that "pedir" can also mean "to ask for" in non‑food contexts, so the surrounding situation clarifies the meaning.