Portuguese Phrase
Aceitas cartões?
Meaning
Literally, ‘Do you accept cards?’, usually referring to credit or debit cards. It’s a quick way to check whether a business can process electronic payments.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re at a shop, restaurant, market stall, hotel reception, or any place where you might need to pay. It works both in casual conversation (with ‘tu’) and in more formal settings if you switch to ‘aceita’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aceitascartões?
Verb conjugation (aceitar)
‘Aceitas’ is the second‑person singular (tu) present indicative of ‘aceitar’, meaning ‘you accept’. In Brazil the informal ‘tu’ is common in some regions, while ‘você’ uses ‘aceita’.
Noun plural (cartões)
‘Cartões’ is the plural of ‘cartão’ (card). The tilde on the ‘ã’ signals a nasal vowel.
Question mark placement
Portuguese uses an opening ‘¿’‑like sign: ‘?’ is placed only at the end, but the intonation rises.
🗨In Conversation
Boa tarde! Aceitas cartões?
Good afternoon! Do you accept cards?
Sim, aceitamos Visa e Mastercard.
Yes, we accept Visa and Mastercard.
✕Common Mistakes
Aceita cartões?
‘Aceita’ matches ‘você’, not the informal ‘tu’. If you’re using ‘tu’, you must say ‘aceitas’. Mixing them sounds unnatural.
Aceitas cartão?
‘Cartão’ is singular; the question is about any cards, so the plural ‘cartões’ is required.
Aceita‑nos cartões?
The pronoun ‘nos’ is unnecessary here; the verb already includes the subject.
↔Alternatives
Aceita cartões?
Do you accept cards? (formal / ‘você’)
Vocês aceitam cartões?
Do you (plural) accept cards?
Posso pagar com cartão?
Can I pay with a card?
Aceitam cartões de crédito?
Do you accept credit cards?
Cultural Tip
In most Brazilian cities credit‑card acceptance is the norm, but in smaller towns or at street vendors cash is still king. When you’re unsure, it’s polite to ask ‘Aceitas cartões?’ or simply ‘Aceita cartão?’ If the answer is no, be ready with exact change, as many places don’t give change for large bills.