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Portuguese Phrase

Você pode cortar os legumes?

/voˈse ˈpɔ.dʒi koɾˈtaɾ us leˈɡu.mes/
Meaning"Can you cut the vegetables?"
💡

Meaning

A polite request asking someone if they are able to cut the vegetables. It can be used in a casual kitchen setting or when you need help preparing a meal.

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When to use

Use this phrase while cooking with friends, family, or a colleague in a kitchen. It works well when you need a quick favor and want to keep the tone friendly and respectful.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Vocêpodecortaroslegumes?

1

Você

Second‑person singular pronoun; in Brazil it is the default informal 'you' and takes third‑person verb forms.

2

pode

Present indicative of poder (to be able). Conjugated in third‑person singular to agree with 'você'.

3

cortar

Infinitive verb meaning ‘to cut’. After a modal verb like poder, the infinitive follows directly.

4

os legumes

Definite article 'os' + plural noun 'legumes' (vegetables). The article is required when you refer to specific vegetables.

5

Question mark

In Portuguese, the interrogative tone is indicated by a question mark; the sentence structure stays declarative.

🗨In Conversation

A

Você pode cortar os legumes?

Can you cut the vegetables?

Claro, eu corto agora.

Sure, I’ll cut them now.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Você pode cortar o legume?

    ‘Legume’ is singular; the sentence refers to multiple vegetables, so use the plural ‘legumes’.

  • Você podes cortar os legumes?

    ‘Podes’ is the second‑person singular form used with ‘tu’, not with ‘você’.

  • Você pode cortá os legumes?

    The infinitive must be ‘cortar’, not the truncated ‘cortá’.

↔Alternatives

  • Você pode picar os legumes?

    Can you chop the vegetables?

  • Você poderia cortar os legumes?

    Could you cut the vegetables?

  • Pode cortar os legumes, por favor?

    Could you cut the vegetables, please?

pt

Cultural Tip

In most of Brazil, 'você' is the go‑to pronoun for informal conversation, even with strangers. In more formal contexts (e.g., a restaurant staff), you might hear 'o senhor' or 'a senhora' instead. Also, Brazilians often add 'por favor' after the request to increase politeness, especially with people you don’t know well.