Portuguese Phrase
Me passa o senhor Smith?
Meaning
A polite request meaning ‘Could you pass it to Mr. Smith?’ or ‘Can you hand it over to Mr. Smith?’ It is used when you want someone to give an object, a document, or a message to a person addressed as ‘senhor Smith’. The phrase is formal because of the honorific ‘senhor’.
When to use
Use this sentence in formal or semi‑formal settings such as offices, restaurants, or meetings when you need to ask a colleague, waiter, or assistant to give something to a man you refer to as ‘senhor Smith’. It sounds courteous and respects the addressee’s status.
✦Grammar Breakdown
MepassaosenhorSmith?
Me (indirect object pronoun)
‘Me’ replaces the indirect object ‘to me’ and is placed before the verb in affirmative sentences.
passa (present indicative)
Third‑person singular of ‘passar’, used here as a polite request; the verb stays in the indicative mood.
o (definite article)
The masculine singular article that agrees with the noun ‘senhor’.
senhor (honorific)
A formal way to address a man, similar to ‘Mr.’; it adds respect and is common in Brazil and Portugal.
Smith (proper name)
A foreign surname kept unchanged; capitalised because it is a name.
🗨In Conversation
Me passa o senhor Smith?
Could you pass it to Mr. Smith?
Claro, aqui está.
Sure, here it is.
✕Common Mistakes
Me passe o senhor Smith?
‘Passe’ is subjunctive; the request is normally made with the indicative ‘passa’ in everyday speech.
Me passa o senhor smith?
Names should be capitalised; ‘Smith’ must start with a capital ‘S’.
Me passa senhor Smith?
The article ‘o’ is required before ‘senhor’ to keep the phrase grammatically correct.
↔Alternatives
Pode passar para o senhor Smith?
Can you pass it to Mr. Smith?
Você poderia entregar ao senhor Smith?
Could you deliver it to Mr. Smith?
Passe ao senhor Smith, por favor.
Pass it to Mr. Smith, please.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘senhor’ is used with a person’s last name to show respect, especially in business or service contexts. In Portugal the same honorific is common, but you’ll also hear ‘o Sr. Smith’. Avoid over‑using ‘senhor’ with friends or peers, as it can sound overly formal. When speaking to a foreign‑named person, keep the surname unchanged and pronounce it as close to the original as possible.