Portuguese Phrase
Preciso de um novo.
Meaning
Literally ‘I need a new one.’ The speaker is indicating that the current item is no longer satisfactory and a replacement is required. The noun is understood from context (e.g., ‘carro’, ‘celular’, ‘sapato’).
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to ask for or request a replacement for something you already have, whether in a store, at work, or in everyday conversation. It works in both formal and informal settings, but the tone can be softened with a polite particle like ‘por favor’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Precisodeumnovo.
Preciso (verb)
First‑person singular of the verb precisar ‘to need’; it is a regular -ar verb in the present indicative.
de (preposition)
Introduces the object of need; after precisar we use the preposition de.
um (indefinite article)
Masculine singular indefinite article, used because novo is a masculine noun (implied noun).
novo (adjective)
Means ‘new’; it agrees in gender and number with the implied noun (e.g., ‘carro’, ‘celular’).
🗨In Conversation
Meu celular está quebrado. Preciso de um novo.
My phone is broken. I need a new one.
Claro, vamos ver as opções na loja.
Sure, let's look at the options in the store.
✕Common Mistakes
Preciso a um novo.
The verb precisar is followed by the preposition de, not a.
Preciso de uma novo.
‘Novo’ must agree in gender with the article; use ‘uma nova’ for feminine nouns.
Preciso de novo.
Without the article the sentence sounds incomplete unless the noun is explicitly mentioned later.
↔Alternatives
Preciso de outro.
I need another one.
Preciso comprar um novo.
I need to buy a new one.
Quero um novo.
I want a new one.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, it’s common to specify the item after the phrase if the context isn’t clear (e.g., ‘Preciso de um carro novo’). When speaking to sales staff, adding ‘por favor’ or ‘poderia me ajudar?’ makes the request sound more courteous. The adjective ‘novo’ always matches the gender of the noun, so for a feminine object you would say ‘Preciso de uma nova.’