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Portuguese Phrase

Posso usar meu celular durante a visita?

/ˈpɔ.su uˈzaʁ ˈme.u se.luˈlaʁ duˈɾɐ̃.tʃi a viˈzi.ta/
Meaning"Can I use my cell phone during the visit?"
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Meaning

A polite request asking whether it is allowed to use your mobile phone while you are visiting a place – for example a museum, a doctor’s office, or a friend’s home. The structure ‘Posso + infinitive’ is the standard way to ask permission in Portuguese.

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When to use

Use this sentence in formal or semi‑formal contexts where phone use might be restricted or considered rude. It works well with staff, teachers, or hosts who set the rules for the visit.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Possousarmeucelularduranteavisita?

1

Posso (poder)

First‑person singular present of poder, used to ask for permission.

2

usar (infinitive)

After poder, the main verb stays in the infinitive.

3

meu (possessive adjective)

Matches the gender and number of the noun it modifies (celular – masculine singular).

4

celular (noun)

Common Brazilian Portuguese word for ‘cell phone’; masculine.

5

durante (preposition)

Means ‘during’; it is followed by a noun phrase without an article change.

6

a visita (definite article + noun)

Specifies the particular visit you are talking about.

🗨In Conversation

A

Posso usar meu celular durante a visita?

Can I use my phone during the visit?

Claro, mas só para emergências, ok?

Sure, but only for emergencies, okay?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Pode usar meu celular durante a visita?

    ‘Pode’ is third‑person singular; you need ‘posso’ for ‘I can’. Using ‘pode’ changes the subject to ‘you/he/she’.

  • Posso usar meu telefone durante a visita?

    ‘Telefone’ is understood, but in Brazil ‘celular’ is the everyday term for a mobile phone.

  • Posso usar meu celular durante o visita?

    ‘Visita’ is feminine, so the article must be ‘a’, not ‘o’.

↔Alternatives

  • Posso mexer no meu celular durante a visita?

    Can I fiddle with my phone during the visit?

  • É permitido usar o celular aqui?

    Is it allowed to use the phone here?

  • Posso ligar no meu celular enquanto estou aqui?

    May I make a call on my phone while I'm here?

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil, phone etiquette varies by setting. Museums, churches, and some restaurants expect silence, while cafés and public transport are more relaxed. When you’re unsure, ask politely – as in the example – and respect the answer. Using ‘celular’ is more colloquial; in formal writing you might hear ‘telefone móvel’.