Portuguese Phrase
Cadê o provador?
Meaning
Literally “Where is the fitting room?” It’s the most common way to ask a shop assistant where you can try on clothes in Brazil.
When to use
Use this phrase inside clothing stores, shoe shops, or any retail environment that offers a space to try items on. It’s informal but perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cadêoprovador?
Cadê
Colloquial contraction of "onde está" (where is). Used in informal spoken Portuguese.
o
Definite article "the". Must agree in gender and number with the noun.
provador
Masculine noun meaning "fitting room" or "changing room" in a store.
🗨In Conversation
Cadê o provador?
Where is the fitting room?
Fica ali à esquerda, ao lado dos cabides.
It’s over there on the left, next to the coat racks.
✕Common Mistakes
Onde está o provador?
"Onde está" is grammatically correct but sounds overly formal and a bit stiff in a shop context; native speakers prefer "Cadê".
Provador está onde?
Word order is wrong; Portuguese does not place the verb after the noun in questions like this.
O provador onde?
Missing the verb; you need a verb or a contraction like "Cadê" to form a proper question.
↔Alternatives
Onde fica o provador?
Where is the fitting room?
Pode me indicar o provador?
Can you point me to the fitting room?
Tem provador aqui?
Is there a fitting room here?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, "Cadê" is a very informal, spoken‑language shortcut; you’ll hear it in everyday chatter, TV shows, and even in some casual written contexts like text messages. In more formal settings (e.g., a high‑end boutique), you might opt for "Onde fica o provador?". Also note that in Portugal the word for fitting room is usually "balcão de prova" or "provadores", so the phrase changes regionally.