Portuguese Phrase
Tem café ou chá?
Meaning
A short question asking whether coffee or tea is available. It can be used in cafés, restaurants, offices, or at a friend's house to find out which hot beverage you can order or be served.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know the beverage options before ordering, or when you are offering a drink and want to confirm what the other person prefers. It works in both informal and neutral settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Temcaféouchá?
Tem (3ª pessoa singular de ter)
Used to ask if something exists or is available; informal equivalent of 'há'.
café
Noun meaning 'coffee'; masculine, singular.
ou
Coordinating conjunction meaning 'or' (exclusive or, but context often implies choice).
chá
Noun meaning 'tea'; masculine, singular.
Interrogative intonation
Rising intonation at the end of the sentence signals a yes‑no question.
🗨In Conversation
Tem café ou chá?
Do you have coffee or tea?
Tem, temos café e chá. Qual você prefere?
Yes, we have both coffee and tea. Which do you prefer?
✕Common Mistakes
Há café ou chá?
Using "Tem" is informal; in formal writing or very polite speech, use "Há".
Tem café e chá?
If you want to offer both options, use "e" (and) instead of "ou".
Tem o café ou o chá?
Do not add an article unless you need it: "Tem o café?" changes the meaning to a specific coffee.
↔Alternatives
Você tem café ou chá?
Do you have coffee or tea?
Há café ou chá?
Is there coffee or tea?
Existe café ou chá?
Is coffee or tea available?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, coffee (café) is a daily staple and is often served strong and sweet. Tea (chá) is less common but still popular, especially in the South. When you ask "Tem café ou chá?" you’re using a casual, conversational tone; in a very formal setting you might prefer "Há café ou chá?". Also, "café" can refer both to the drink and to the place where you get it, so context matters.