Portuguese Phrase
Pergunta na recepção do hotel.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to go to the front desk of the hotel and ask for whatever they need – a key, information, a service, etc. It is a short, direct instruction commonly used when guiding travelers.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving a traveler a quick direction, for example after they ask where to get a taxi, a map, or extra towels. It works in both formal and informal settings, but a friendly tone (e.g., ‘Por favor, pergunta…’) is always appreciated.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Perguntanarecepçãodohotel
Pergunta (imperative/3rd person)
‘Pergunta’ can be the 2nd‑person singular imperative of ‘perguntar’ (ask) or the 3rd‑person singular present indicative (he/she asks). In this phrase it functions as a command.
na = em + a
‘na’ is the contraction of the preposition ‘em’ (in/at) and the feminine definite article ‘a’, used because ‘recepção’ is feminine.
recepção (feminine noun)
‘recepção’ means ‘reception’ (the front desk of a hotel). It is a feminine noun, hence the article ‘a’ in ‘na recepção’.
do = de + o
‘do’ contracts the preposition ‘de’ (of) with the masculine article ‘o’, referring to ‘hotel’, which is masculine.
hotel (masculine noun)
‘hotel’ is a masculine noun borrowed from French/English; it takes the article ‘o’.
🗨In Conversation
Preciso de um táxi para o aeroporto.
I need a taxi to the airport.
Pergunta na recepção do hotel.
Ask at the hotel reception.
✕Common Mistakes
Perguntar na recepção do hotel.
‘Perguntar’ is the infinitive; you need the imperative form ‘Pergunta’ (or ‘Pergunte’) to give a command.
Pergunta na recepção do hotéis.
‘Hotéis’ is plural; the phrase refers to a single hotel, so use the singular ‘hotel’.
Pergunta na recepção do Hotel.
In Portuguese, common nouns are not capitalized unless they start a sentence. Use ‘hotel’ in lower case.
↔Alternatives
Pergunte na recepção do hotel.
Ask at the hotel reception.
Dirija‑se à recepção do hotel.
Go to the hotel reception.
Solicite informações na recepção do hotel.
Request information at the hotel reception.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal, the hotel front desk is called ‘recepção’ and staff usually greet guests with a warm ‘Bom dia’ or ‘Boa tarde’. It’s polite to say a quick greeting before your request – e.g., ‘Bom dia, poderia me ajudar? Pergunte na recepção, por favor.’ Some smaller boutique hotels may use the term ‘balcão’ (counter) instead of ‘recepção’.