Portuguese Phrase
Devo usar o app deles pra reclamar?
Meaning
The speaker is asking whether it is appropriate or advisable to use the company’s mobile application to file a complaint. The tone is inquisitive and slightly informal because of the use of ‘pra’.
When to use
Use this question when you are unsure if a company’s app is the right channel for a complaint, especially in casual conversation with friends or colleagues about customer‑service experiences.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Devousaroappdelesprareclamar?
Devo (verbo dever)
‘Devo’ is the first‑person singular present of ‘dever’, used to express obligation or recommendation, equivalent to ‘should I’.
Infinitivo após dever
When ‘dever’ is followed by another verb, that verb stays in the infinitive (e.g., ‘devo usar’).
Artigo + empréstimo linguístico
‘app’ is an English loanword; in Portuguese it takes the masculine article ‘o’ (o app).
Pronome possessivo depois do substantivo
‘deles’ (their) follows the noun it modifies, a typical Portuguese word order.
‘pra’ vs ‘para’
‘pra’ is the colloquial contraction of ‘para’, common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Infinitivo após ‘pra’
After ‘pra/para’, the following verb remains in the infinitive (e.g., ‘pra reclamar’).
🗨In Conversation
Devo usar o app deles pra reclamar?
Should I use their app to complain?
Sim, costuma ser mais rápido e eles respondem por lá.
Yes, it’s usually faster and they reply there.
✕Common Mistakes
Eu devo usar o app deles pra reclamar.
The subject ‘eu’ is redundant because ‘devo’ already indicates ‘I’.
Devo usar app deles pra reclamar?
When ‘app’ is used as a noun, it needs the article ‘o’ (o app).
Devo usar o app deles pra reclama?
After ‘pra’ you need the infinitive ‘reclamar’, not the conjugated form ‘reclama’.
↔Alternatives
Posso usar o aplicativo deles para fazer uma reclamação?
Can I use their app to make a complaint?
É melhor usar o app deles para reclamar?
Is it better to use their app to complain?
Devo abrir uma reclamação no app deles?
Should I open a complaint in their app?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, most large retailers, banks and telecom companies have dedicated apps for customer service. Using the app is often seen as the most efficient way to register a complaint, and many companies prioritize responses that come through the digital channel. The contraction ‘pra’ is perfectly natural in everyday speech, but in formal writing you would use ‘para’.