Portuguese Phrase
Queria marcar uma reunião.
Meaning
Literally, “I wanted to schedule a meeting,” but in everyday Portuguese it functions as a courteous way to say “I would like to schedule a meeting.” The phrase softens the request, making it appropriate for professional and formal contexts.
When to use
Use this sentence when you are contacting a colleague, client, or supervisor to propose a meeting—whether by email, instant message, or phone. It works well in both formal business settings and more relaxed office environments.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Queriamarcarumareunião
Queria (imperfeito de querer)
Used as a polite way to express a desire or request, similar to “I would like”. It is the imperfect indicative of querer, not the conditional.
marcar (infinitivo)
The infinitive verb meaning “to set, to schedule, to arrange”. It follows the verb querer without a preposition.
uma (artigo indefinido)
Indefinite article for feminine singular nouns, equivalent to “a” or “an”.
reunião (substantivo feminino)
Means “meeting”. The tilde on the “ã” indicates a nasal vowel.
🗨In Conversation
Queria marcar uma reunião para discutir o novo plano de marketing.
I would like to schedule a meeting to discuss the new marketing plan.
Claro, que dia e horário seria melhor para você?
Sure, which day and time would be best for you?
✕Common Mistakes
Queria marcar um reunião.
‘Reunião’ is feminine, so the correct article is ‘uma’.
Queria para marcar uma reunião.
Some learners mistakenly add a preposition (e.g., ‘para marcar’). The verb ‘querer’ already governs the infinitive directly.
Queria marcar uma reunião de amanhã.
If you add a time reference, place it after the noun or use a preposition: ‘Queria marcar uma reunião amanhã’ is fine, but avoid ‘Queria marcar uma reunião de amanhã’ which sounds unnatural.
↔Alternatives
Gostaria de agendar uma reunião.
I would like to book a meeting.
Podemos marcar uma reunião?
Can we schedule a meeting?
Precisamos marcar uma reunião.
We need to schedule a meeting.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian business culture, using a polite form like “Queria…” or “Gostaria de…” shows respect and softens the request. While “marcar” is common in everyday speech, “agendar” sounds slightly more formal and is often preferred in written correspondence. Remember to follow up with a clear agenda and proposed times to keep the interaction efficient.