Portuguese Phrase
Um café preto, por favor.
Meaning
Literally, 'A black coffee, please.' It is a courteous way to order a plain black coffee at a café or restaurant.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want a simple black coffee without milk, sugar, or any other additions, especially in Portuguese‑speaking cafés, restaurants, or when ordering take‑away.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Umcafépreto,porfavor.
Indefinite article (Um)
Use 'um' for masculine singular nouns to mean 'a' or 'one'.
Noun gender (café)
'Café' is a masculine noun, so it takes the article 'um' and adjectives in masculine form.
Adjective agreement (preto)
Adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify; 'preto' is masculine singular.
Polite request phrase (por favor)
'Por favor' is a set phrase used to politely ask for something.
🗨In Conversation
Um café preto, por favor.
A black coffee, please.
Claro! Vai ser 2 euros.
Sure! That will be 2 euros.
✕Common Mistakes
Uma café preto, por favor.
Use 'um' because 'café' is masculine, not 'uma' which is feminine.
Um café preta, por favor.
Adjective must match the masculine noun 'café', so 'preto' not 'preta'.
Um café preto, porfa.
Use the full phrase 'por favor' for proper politeness.
↔Alternatives
Um café sem leite, por favor.
A coffee without milk, please.
Um café puro, por favor.
A plain coffee, please.
Um café preto, sem açúcar, por favor.
A black coffee, no sugar, please.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal, coffee culture is strong. Ordering 'um café preto' signals you want the traditional espresso‑style coffee served in a small cup. In Brazil, you might also hear 'um cafezinho' for a small, strong coffee. Adding 'por favor' is essential for politeness, especially in more formal settings.