Portuguese Phrase
Pode ser caro.
Meaning
The phrase means ‘It could be expensive’ or ‘It may be costly’. It conveys a possibility rather than a certainty, often used when weighing options or warning someone about price.
When to use
Use this sentence when you’re discussing the price of an item, service, or experience and want to suggest that it might turn out to be pricey. It’s common in shopping, travel planning, or budgeting conversations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Podesercaro.
Poder (modal verb)
‘Pode’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘poder’, used to express possibility or permission (can/may).
Infinitive after modal
In Portuguese, a modal verb like ‘poder’ is followed by an infinitive verb (here ‘ser’).
Ser vs. Estar
‘Ser’ describes inherent qualities; for price we normally use ‘ser’ (e.g., ‘ser caro’) rather than ‘estar’.
Adjective agreement
‘Caro’ agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes (masc. singular here).
🗨In Conversation
Este carro novo? Pode ser caro.
This new car? It could be expensive.
Sim, mas tem um ótimo custo‑benefício.
Yes, but it has great value for the price.
✕Common Mistakes
Posso ser caro.
‘Posso’ means ‘I can’, which changes the subject; the correct third‑person form is ‘pode’.
Pode estar caro.
‘Estar’ is used for temporary states; price is considered an inherent quality, so ‘ser’ is preferred.
Pode ser cara.
‘Cara’ is the feminine form; the adjective must match the gender of the noun it describes.
↔Alternatives
Talvez seja caro.
Maybe it’s expensive.
Pode ser dispendioso.
It could be costly.
É possivelmente caro.
It is possibly expensive.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal people often soften price warnings with ‘pode ser caro’ to sound polite. Directly saying ‘É caro’ can feel blunt, especially with strangers or in a sales context. Adding ‘pode’ shows you’re considering the other person’s budget.