Portuguese Phrase
Quem fala?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the identity of the person who is currently speaking. It is equivalent to “Who is speaking?” or “Who’s talking?” in English. It is short, direct, and often used when the speaker’s voice is heard but the name is unknown.
When to use
Use this phrase on the phone when you answer a call, in a meeting when you didn’t catch who started talking, or in any situation where you need to know who is speaking without interrupting the flow of conversation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quemfala?
Interrogative pronoun "Quem"
"Quem" means "who" and is used to ask about a person’s identity. It does not change form for gender or number.
Verb "falar" in present indicative
"fala" is the third‑person singular present indicative of "falar" (to speak). In questions the verb stays in the same form; only intonation or a question mark signals the interrogative.
No subject‑verb inversion needed
Unlike English, Portuguese does not require moving the verb before the subject to form a question; the pronoun alone signals the question.
🗨In Conversation
Quem fala?
Who is speaking?
Sou eu, a Maria.
It’s me, Maria.
✕Common Mistakes
Quem é?
"Quem é?" asks "Who is it?" (identity of a person or thing) and is not the same as asking who is currently speaking.
Quem fala‑se?
The reflexive form "fala‑se" is not used for this purpose; it would mean "Is it spoken?" rather than asking for the speaker’s identity.
↔Alternatives
Quem está falando?
Who is speaking?
Quem é?
Who is it?
Quem está ao telefone?
Who is on the phone?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil it is common to answer a call with "Alô?" followed by "Quem fala?" – a polite way to ask the caller’s name. In Portugal people often say "Quem está a falar?" The phrase is informal; in a very formal setting you might say "Com quem tenho o prazer de falar?" (With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?).