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Portuguese Phrase

Tu me ajudas a preparar o jantar?

/tu ˈme aˈʒu.dɐʃ a pɾe.pɐˈɾaɾ u ʒɐ̃ˈtaɾ/
Meaning"Can you help me prepare dinner?"
💡

Meaning

Literally, 'You help me to prepare the dinner?' It is a polite request asking if the listener can assist in cooking the evening meal. The tone can be friendly or slightly urgent depending on context.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you need a hand in the kitchen, for example when you’re short on time, cooking for guests, or just want to share the task with a family member or roommate.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Tumeajudasaprepararojantar?

1

Pronoun 'Tu'

Used for informal 'you' in Portugal; in Brazil, 'você' is more common.

2

Clitic pronoun 'me'

Object pronoun placed before the verb in European Portuguese; in Brazil it often follows the verb.

3

Verb 'ajudar' + infinitive

The verb 'ajudar' is followed by the preposition 'a' and an infinitive verb.

4

Definite article 'o'

Used before masculine singular nouns like 'jantar' (dinner).

5

Question intonation

Rising intonation at the end signals a yes‑no question; the question mark is optional in spoken language.

🗨In Conversation

A

Tu me ajudas a preparar o jantar?

Can you help me prepare dinner?

Claro! O que preciso fazer?

Sure! What do I need to do?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Você me ajudas a preparar o jantar?

    If you use the formal 'você', the verb must be conjugated as 'ajuda'.

  • Tu me ajudas a fazer o jantar?

    In Brazil, people often say 'fazer o jantar' instead of 'preparar'.

  • Tu ajudas me a preparar o jantar?

    In Brazilian Portuguese the clitic usually follows the verb: 'ajuda‑me'.

↔Alternatives

  • Podes ajudar‑me a fazer o jantar?

    Can you help me make dinner?

  • Queres ajudar‑me a cozinhar o jantar?

    Do you want to help me cook dinner?

  • Ajudas‑me a preparar o jantar?

    Will you help me prepare dinner?

pt

Cultural Tip

In Portugal, meals are often a social event, and asking for help in the kitchen is common among family and close friends. Using 'tu' signals familiarity; with strangers or elders you would switch to 'você' (Brazil) or 'o senhor/a senhora' (Portugal). Also, dinner (jantar) is usually served later than in many other cultures, often around 8‑9 pm.