Portuguese Phrase
Avisa se tiveres pedidos especiais ao reservar.
Meaning
The sentence politely asks the listener to inform the speaker about any special needs or preferences at the moment they make a reservation. It is a common request in hospitality, travel, and event‑booking contexts.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are handling bookings for hotels, restaurants, flights, or any service that may need to accommodate dietary restrictions, accessibility needs, or other personalized requests.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Avisasetiverespedidosespeciaisaoreservar
Imperative (Avisa)
‘Avisa’ is the informal (tu) affirmative imperative of the verb ‘avisar’, used to give a direct instruction.
Conditional conjunction (se)
‘se’ introduces a conditional clause meaning ‘if’. It is followed by the subjunctive mood.
Present Subjunctive (tiveres)
‘tiveres’ is the second‑person singular present subjunctive of ‘ter’, required after ‘se’ to express a possible condition.
Noun + adjective order (pedidos especiais)
In Portuguese the noun comes before the adjective, so ‘pedidos especiais’ means ‘special requests’.
Preposition + article contraction (ao)
‘ao’ = ‘a’ (to) + ‘o’ (the). It introduces the infinitive verb that follows.
Infinitive after preposition (reservar)
After a preposition, the verb stays in its infinitive form: ‘ao reservar’ = ‘when booking’.
🗨In Conversation
Avisa se tiveres pedidos especiais ao reservar.
Let me know if you have any special requests when you book.
Claro, preciso de um quarto com cama extra.
Sure, I need a room with an extra bed.
✕Common Mistakes
Avise se tiveres pedidos especiais ao reservar.
When speaking to a customer formally, use ‘avise’ (formal imperative) instead of the informal ‘avisa’.
Avisa se tiver pedidos especiais ao reservar.
The subjunctive must agree with the informal ‘tu’; using ‘tiver’ (third‑person) is a common error.
Avisa se tiveres pedidos especiais a reservar.
Do not replace the contraction with ‘a reservar’; the correct preposition‑article contraction is ‘ao’.
↔Alternatives
Informe se tem pedidos especiais ao fazer a reserva.
Inform us if you have any special requests when making the reservation.
Diga‑nos se houver pedidos especiais ao reservar.
Tell us if there are any special requests when booking.
Avise caso tenha necessidades especiais ao reservar.
Notify us in case you have special needs when booking.
Cultural Tip
‘Avisa’ is informal and works well with friends or when the service staff uses a casual tone. In a more formal setting (e.g., a hotel front desk) you would use the formal imperative ‘avise’ or the polite form ‘por favor, avise…’. Also, Portuguese speakers often prefer the construction ‘se houver…’ for hypothetical conditions, which sounds slightly more formal.