Portuguese Phrase
Tem nozes?
Meaning
A short, direct way to ask whether nuts are available – either in a shop, a restaurant, or even at a friend’s house. It can refer to any type of nut (walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, etc.).
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to check the presence of nuts before ordering a dish, buying a snack, or confirming an ingredient for a recipe. It works in casual conversation and in more formal settings like a market stall.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Temnozes?
Ter (tem)
‘Ter’ is the verb ‘to have’. In the third‑person singular present it becomes ‘tem’, used both for possession and existence.
Plural noun – nozes
‘Nozes’ is the plural of ‘noz’ (nut). Portuguese nouns do not change form for case, only for number.
Question intonation
When a statement is turned into a yes/no question, Portuguese often just raises the intonation at the end; the word order stays the same.
🗨In Conversation
Tem nozes?
Do you have nuts?
Sim, temos. São 2 reais o pacote.
Yes, we have them. They’re 2 reais per pack.
✕Common Mistakes
Há nozes?
‘Há’ means ‘there is/are’ but does not convey possession; use ‘tem’ when you’re asking if the place *has* nuts for you to take.
Temos nozes?
‘Temos’ is first‑person plural (we have). The correct form for a question to the seller is ‘tem’.
Tem nozes.
Missing the question mark or rising intonation can make it sound like a statement. In writing, always keep the ‘?’ to signal a question.
↔Alternatives
Há nozes?
Are there nuts?
Vocês têm nozes?
Do you (plural) have nuts?
Tem nozes aqui?
Are there nuts here?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘nozes’ most often means walnuts, but the word can also cover Brazil nuts (castanhas do Brasil) and cashews, depending on the region. When you’re at a bakery or a snack bar, it’s polite to ask “Tem nozes?” before ordering a pastry, because many sweets contain hidden nuts that can trigger allergies. In the South of Brazil, people sometimes say ‘castanhas’ for larger nuts like Brazil nuts, so you might hear both terms.