SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to Go Shopping

Portuguese Phrase

Estou procurando molho para macarrão.

/isˈtoʊ pɾokuˈɾɐ̃du ˈmoʎu paɾa ma.kaˈʁɐ̃w̃/
Meaning"I am looking for sauce for pasta."
💡

Meaning

The speaker is currently looking for a sauce that can be used with pasta. It conveys a practical, everyday need, often said while shopping or cooking.

🎯

When to use

Use this sentence in a grocery store, a kitchen, or when asking a friend for help finding a sauce. It’s informal but perfectly polite for daily conversation.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Estouprocurandomolhoparamacarrão

1

Estar + Gerúndio

Use 'estar' followed by a gerund (procurando) to express an ongoing action, similar to the English present progressive.

2

Gerúndio de 'procurar'

The gerund of 'procurar' is 'procurando', indicating the act of looking for something.

3

Preposição 'para'

'Para' introduces the purpose or intended use, here linking the sauce to the pasta.

4

Substantivo 'macarrão'

In Brazilian Portuguese, 'macarrão' is a generic term for pasta, not limited to a specific shape.

🗨In Conversation

A

Estou procurando molho para macarrão.

I’m looking for sauce for pasta.

Temos molho de tomate e molho branco na prateleira ao lado.

We have tomato sauce and white sauce on the shelf next to this one.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Procuro molho para macarrão.

    Using the simple present 'procuro' sounds like a habit, not an ongoing action. The gerund with 'estou' is needed for 'I am looking for'.

  • Estou procurando molho para o macarrão.

    Adding the article 'o' is not wrong, but the more natural phrasing when speaking about sauce in general omits it.

  • Estou procurando sauce para macarrão.

    Mixing English 'sauce' with Portuguese sentence breaks fluency.

↔Alternatives

  • Preciso de molho para macarrão.

    I need sauce for pasta.

  • Estou à procura de molho para macarrão.

    I’m on the lookout for sauce for pasta.

  • Quero molho para macarrão.

    I want sauce for pasta.

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil, the most common pasta sauces are 'molho de tomate' (tomato sauce) and 'molho branco' (white sauce, often made with cream). When you say 'molho para macarrão' people will usually think of these two options. Also, Brazilians often add cheese or herbs to finish the dish.