Portuguese Phrase
São vinte dólares.
Meaning
This sentence states the price or amount: ‘It is twenty dollars.’ It is used to tell someone how much something costs or the total amount of money.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to give a price, quote a cost while shopping, discuss a bill, or answer the question ‘Quanto custa?’ (How much does it cost?).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sãovintedólares
Ser (São) for quantities
Use the verb ser in the third‑person plural (são) when talking about amounts greater than one, such as prices or measurements.
Cardinal numbers
‘vinte’ is the cardinal number twenty; numbers from 21 onward also trigger the plural verb.
Currency plural
‘dólares’ is the plural of ‘dólar’; always match the noun number with the verb.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto custa o ingresso?
How much does the ticket cost?
São vinte dólares.
It’s twenty dollars.
✕Common Mistakes
É vinte dólares.
Use the plural verb ‘São’ for amounts greater than one; ‘É’ is only for singular.
São vinte dolar.
The noun must be plural and carry the accent: ‘dólares’.
São vinte dólar.
Both the verb and the noun must agree in number; ‘dólares’ is the correct plural form.
↔Alternatives
Custa vinte dólares.
It costs twenty dollars.
São vinte dólares americanos.
It’s twenty US dollars.
O preço é vinte dólares.
The price is twenty dollars.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘dólar’ always refers to the US dollar unless another currency is specified. When mentioning a single unit you say ‘É um dólar’, but for any amount above one you must use the plural verb ‘São’. Also, Brazilians often add the adjective ‘americano’ for clarity when speaking with other Portuguese speakers.