Portuguese Phrase
Precisamos de uma cadeirinha para uma criança.
Meaning
The sentence means 'We need a small chair (or child car seat) for a child.' In Brazil, 'cadeirinha' most often refers to a child safety seat for a car, but it can also mean a tiny chair for a toddler.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are traveling, shopping, or arranging transport and you realize a child needs a proper seat. It’s common in families, day‑care centers, or when renting a vehicle.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Precisamosdeumacadeirinhaparaumacriança
Precisar + de
The verb precisar is followed by the preposition de when indicating a need for something.
Indefinite article agreement
Use 'uma' for feminine nouns (cadeirinha, criança) and 'um' for masculine nouns.
Para + noun
'Para' introduces the purpose or beneficiary of the need, similar to 'for' in English.
🗨In Conversation
Precisamos de uma cadeirinha para uma criança.
We need a child seat for a kid.
Claro, eu já tenho uma no carro.
Sure, I already have one in the car.
✕Common Mistakes
Precisamos de um cadeirinha para uma criança.
Cadeirinha is feminine; the article must be 'uma'.
Precisamos de uma cadeirinha para o criança.
The noun 'criança' is feminine; use 'a' or 'uma' as the article.
Precisamos de cadeirinha para uma criança.
The indefinite article is required in Portuguese.
↔Alternatives
Precisamos de um assento infantil para a criança.
We need an infant seat for the child.
Precisamos de uma cadeirinha infantil.
We need a child’s small chair.
Cultural Tip
Brazilian law requires children up to 10 years old (or up to 1.45 m in height) to travel in an appropriate child safety seat, called a 'cadeirinha' or 'assento infantil'. When speaking to locals, using the term 'cadeirinha' signals you are aware of safety regulations. In informal settings, people might also say 'cadeirinha de carro' to be explicit.