Portuguese Phrase
Diz a eles educadamente que tens outra oferta.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘Tell them politely that you have another offer.’ It is a courteous way to inform someone—often a potential employer, client, or business partner—that you are considering a different opportunity.
When to use
Use this phrase in professional negotiations, job‑hunting conversations, or sales situations when you need to let the other party know you have a competing offer without sounding aggressive. It works best when you are speaking informally (using ‘tu’) with someone you already have a friendly rapport with.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dizaeleseducadamentequetensoutraoferta
Imperative (Diz)
‘Diz’ is the informal singular imperative of ‘dizer’ (to say/tell). Use it when speaking to a peer or someone you address with ‘tu’.
Preposition + Personal Pronoun (a eles)
When the indirect object is a personal pronoun, Portuguese requires the preposition ‘a’ before it (e.g., ‘a ele’, ‘a eles’).
Adverb Placement (educadamente)
Adverbs of manner like ‘educadamente’ normally follow the indirect object and precede the clause they modify.
Conjunction ‘que’
‘Que’ introduces a subordinate clause that explains what you want the listener to say.
Second‑person singular verb (tens)
‘Tens’ is the present indicative of ‘ter’ for ‘tu’. It matches the informal imperative ‘diz’.
Adjective‑Noun Agreement (outra oferta)
‘Outra’ (feminine singular) agrees with the noun ‘oferta’.
🗨In Conversation
Diz a eles educadamente que tens outra oferta.
Tell them politely that you have another offer.
Claro, vou dizer que estou a considerar outra proposta.
Sure, I’ll say that I’m considering another proposal.
✕Common Mistakes
Diga a eles educadamente que tens outra oferta.
‘Diga’ is the formal imperative (você). It clashes with the informal verb ‘tens’. Use ‘Diz’ for a consistent informal tone.
Diz eles educadamente que tens outra oferta.
The preposition ‘a’ is mandatory before a personal pronoun; omitting it sounds ungrammatical.
Diga a eles educadamente que tem outra oferta.
If you choose the formal register, the verb should be ‘tem’ (you have). Mixing ‘Diga’ with ‘tens’ is incorrect.
Diz a eles que tens outra oferta educadamente.
Placing the adverb after the subordinate clause (‘...oferta educadamente’) changes the meaning and sounds awkward.
↔Alternatives
Fala a eles de forma cortês que tens outra proposta.
Speak to them courteously that you have another proposal.
Comunica a eles, com educação, que recebeste outra oferta.
Communicate to them, with politeness, that you received another offer.
Diz a eles, por favor, que tens outra oportunidade.
Please tell them that you have another opportunity.
Cultural Tip
In Portuguese‑speaking cultures, adding ‘educadamente’ or ‘por favor’ softens a request and shows respect, especially in business contexts. However, over‑using formal pronouns (e.g., ‘diga’) with a casual ‘tu’ can sound inconsistent. Match the level of formality throughout the sentence: if you use the informal imperative ‘diz’, keep the rest informal (e.g., ‘tens’).