Portuguese Phrase
Podemos ter uma mesa longe da cozinha?
Meaning
A polite request asking whether it’s possible to be seated at a table that is far away from the kitchen. The speaker is usually concerned about noise, heat, or food aromas that come from the cooking area.
When to use
Use this sentence in restaurants, cafés, banquet halls, or any event where seating is assigned and you prefer a quieter spot away from the kitchen’s hustle and bustle.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Podemosterumamesalongedacozinha?
Podemos (poder)
First‑person plural present of the modal verb poder, used to ask permission or possibility.
ter (infinitive)
The infinitive verb ‘to have/obtain’; after poder it expresses a potential action.
uma (indefinite article)
Feminine singular indefinite article, matching the noun mesa.
longe (adverb)
Means ‘far’ and works as an adverb modifying the location of the table.
da (de + a)
Contraction of the preposition de + the feminine singular article a, meaning ‘from the’.
cozinha (noun)
Feminine noun meaning ‘kitchen’; the object of the preposition da.
🗨In Conversation
Podemos ter uma mesa longe da cozinha?
Can we have a table far from the kitchen?
Claro, temos uma mesa perto da janela que fica bem longe da cozinha.
Sure, we have a table near the window that’s well away from the kitchen.
✕Common Mistakes
Temos ter uma mesa longe da cozinha?
‘Temos’ means ‘we have’; the correct modal is ‘podemos’ for asking permission.
Podemos ter uma mesa longe da a cozinha?
Do not add an extra article (e.g., ‘longe da a cozinha’). The contraction da already includes the article.
Podemos ter uma mesa muito longe da cozinha?
If you want to emphasize the distance, you can use ‘bem longe’ or ‘muito longe’, but ‘mesa longe da cozinha’ is already correct.
↔Alternatives
Será que podemos sentar longe da cozinha?
Could we sit far from the kitchen?
Gostaríamos de uma mesa afastada da cozinha, por favor.
We would like a table away from the kitchen, please.
Tem alguma mesa distante da cozinha?
Is there any table distant from the kitchen?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, diners often ask to be seated away from the kitchen to avoid the strong aromas and the clatter of pots. It’s perfectly normal to make this request, and most staff will gladly accommodate you, especially in larger restaurants. However, in very small, family‑run eateries the kitchen may be open‑plan, so the request might be limited by space.