Portuguese Phrase
É o café pequeno ou o grande?
Meaning
The speaker is asking for clarification: “Is it the small coffee or the large one?” It is a direct, neutral‑tone question used when the size of the coffee is uncertain.
When to use
Use this sentence in a café, restaurant, or at a colleague’s desk when you need to confirm which coffee size the other person wants or has ordered.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Éocafépequenoouogrande?
É (ser)
The verb 'ser' in the third‑person singular is used for identification or definition, not for temporary states.
Definite article 'o'
Portuguese uses the masculine singular article 'o' before masculine nouns like 'café'.
Adjectives after the noun
In Portuguese, descriptive adjectives usually follow the noun (café pequeno, café grande).
Coordinating conjunction 'ou'
‘ou’ means ‘or’ and links two alternatives; it does not change the verb form.
🗨In Conversation
É o café pequeno ou o grande?
Is it the small coffee or the large one?
É o grande, por favor.
It’s the large one, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Está o café pequeno ou o grande?
Use ‘é’ (ser) for identification, not ‘está’, which describes temporary states.
É a café pequeno ou a grande?
‘Café’ is masculine; the article must be ‘o’, not ‘a’.
É o café pequena ou o grande?
The adjective must match the gender of ‘café’ (masculine).
↔Alternatives
Você quer o café pequeno ou o grande?
Do you want the small coffee or the large one?
Qual tamanho de café você prefere, pequeno ou grande?
Which coffee size do you prefer, small or large?
É o café pequeno ou o grande?
Is it the small coffee or the large one?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, coffee is often served in two standard sizes: ‘café pequeno’ (a small cup, roughly 100 ml) and ‘café grande’ (about 200 ml). The word ‘café’ is masculine, so the adjectives must agree in gender (pequeno, grande). In some regions you may also hear ‘café curto’ (short) for an espresso‑style shot.