Portuguese Phrase
Respeita as regras dos assentos prioritários.
Meaning
A direct, informal command telling someone to follow the rules that apply to priority seats. It is often seen on signs in buses, trains, and other public transport vehicles.
When to use
Use this phrase on signage, in announcements, or when politely reminding a fellow passenger that priority seats must be respected. It is appropriate in informal contexts where the speaker addresses a single person (tu).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Respeitaasregrasdosassentosprioritários
Imperative (tu) form
Respeita is the informal singular imperative of the verb respeitar, used to give a direct command or request.
Definite article agreement
as agrees with the feminine plural noun regras; Portuguese articles must match gender and number.
Contraction dos
dos = de + os, the preposition de combined with the masculine plural article os.
Adjective agreement
prioritários is a masculine plural adjective that must agree with the noun assentos.
🗨In Conversation
Desculpe, eu sentei aqui sem perceber.
Sorry, I sat here without noticing.
Respeita as regras dos assentos prioritários, por favor.
Please respect the rules of the priority seats.
✕Common Mistakes
Respeitar as regras dos assentos prioritários.
The infinitive ‘respeitar’ cannot be used as a command; you need the imperative form ‘Respeita’.
Respeita as regras de assentos prioritários.
When the article is plural masculine, ‘de’ contracts to ‘dos’.
Respeita as regras dos assentos prioritária.
The adjective must agree in gender and number with ‘assentos’ (masculine plural).
↔Alternatives
Siga as normas dos assentos reservados.
Follow the rules of the reserved seats.
Observe as regras dos lugares prioritários.
Observe the rules of the priority places.
Cumpre as regras dos assentos de prioridade.
Comply with the rules of priority seats.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, priority seats (assentos prioritários) are reserved for elderly people, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and those with reduced mobility. Ignoring these seats is considered rude and can even result in fines. When you see this sign, it’s not just a rule—it’s a sign of respect for vulnerable passengers.