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Portuguese Phrase

Quero reservar uma mesa.

/ˈkeɾu ʁezeʁˈvaʁ ˈũ.mɐ ˈme.za/
Meaning"I want to book a table."
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Meaning

‘Quero reservar uma mesa.’ means ‘I want to book a table.’ It is a straightforward way to tell a restaurant that you would like to have a table saved for you at a specific time.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you call a restaurant, send a message, or speak to the host/hostess to arrange a reservation. It works for both casual eateries and more formal dining establishments.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Queroreservarumamesa

1

Quero (verbo querer)

‘Quero’ is the first‑person singular present of the verb ‘querer’ (to want). It is used to express a desire or intention.

2

Reservar (infinitivo)

‘Reservar’ is the infinitive form of the verb ‘reservar’ (to book/reserve). After ‘querer’, Portuguese keeps the following verb in the infinitive.

3

uma (artigo indefinido)

‘uma’ is the feminine singular indefinite article, matching the gender of ‘mesa’.

4

mesa (substantivo)

‘mesa’ means ‘table’; in this context it refers to a table at a restaurant.

🗨In Conversation

A

Quero reservar uma mesa para quatro pessoas às 19h30.

I want to book a table for four people at 7:30 p.m.

Claro, qual é o seu nome?

Sure, what’s your name?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Quero reservar um mesa.

    ‘Mesa’ is feminine, so the correct indefinite article is ‘uma’, not ‘um’.

  • Quero reservar a mesa.

    Using the definite article ‘a’ changes the meaning to ‘the table’, which sounds odd when you haven’t specified a particular table yet.

  • Quero reservar mesa.

    Omitting the article makes the phrase sound incomplete in Portuguese.

↔Alternatives

  • Gostaria de reservar uma mesa.

    I would like to book a table.

  • Preciso de uma mesa para duas pessoas.

    I need a table for two people.

  • Posso fazer uma reserva?

    Can I make a reservation?

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil it is common to call ahead, especially for popular restaurants or weekends. Adding ‘por favor’ makes the request sound more polite: ‘Quero reservar uma mesa, por favor.’ When speaking on the phone, it’s courteous to give your name and the time you’d like to come. In some regions, people also ask if a specific “mesa de canto” (corner table) is available.