Portuguese Phrase
Eles podem te dizer como chegar.
Meaning
Literally, “They can tell you how to get there.” The sentence is used when a third‑person group (people, staff, locals) is able to give you directions. In Brazil the pronoun *te* makes the statement informal and friendly.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need directions and want to point out that someone else (e.g., a receptionist, a friend’s family, a tour guide) can give you the route. It works both in spoken conversation and in written advice.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Elespodemtedizercomochegar
Eles (subject pronoun)
Third‑person plural pronoun meaning “they”. In Portuguese the subject pronoun is often optional because the verb ending already indicates the subject.
podem (poder, 3rd pl present)
The verb *poder* means “can / be able to”. In the present indicative it conjugates as *posso, podes, pode, podemos, podem*.
te (object pronoun)
Informal second‑person singular object pronoun used in Brazil. It replaces “you” as the indirect object of the verb.
dizer (infinitive)
The infinitive of the verb “to say / to tell”. After a modal verb like *poder*, the main verb stays in the infinitive.
como (conjunction)
Introduces a subordinate clause meaning “how”. It is equivalent to English “how”.
chegar (infinitive)
Infinitive of the verb “to arrive / to get (to a place)”. Often used after *como* to ask for directions.
🗨In Conversation
Desculpe, como faço para chegar ao museu?
Excuse me, how do I get to the museum?
Eles podem te dizer como chegar.
They can tell you how to get there.
✕Common Mistakes
Eles pode te dizer como chegar.
The verb *poder* must agree with the plural subject; use *podem* not *pode*.
Eles podem você dizer como chegar.
After a modal verb the following verb stays infinitive; the object pronoun should be *te* (Brazil) or *lhe* (Portugal), not the full pronoun *você*.
Eles podem te dizer como chegar lá.
Adding *lá* is not wrong, but it changes the nuance; the original phrase is neutral about the destination. Use *lá* only when the destination has already been mentioned.
↔Alternatives
Eles podem lhe dizer como chegar.
They can tell you how to get there. (formal/Portugal)
Eles podem te orientar sobre o caminho.
They can guide you on the way.
Eles sabem como chegar lá e podem te ajudar.
They know how to get there and can help you.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil the informal object pronoun *te* is the norm when speaking with friends, strangers of the same age group, or in casual settings. In Portugal, the polite form *lhe* is preferred, especially with people you don’t know well. When giving directions, Brazilians often use landmarks (e.g., “virar à esquerda na padaria”) rather than street numbers alone.