Portuguese Phrase
Que velocidade eu preciso?
Meaning
Literally, “What speed do I need?” It is used when the speaker wants to know the required speed for a specific situation – for example, the speed limit on a road, the bandwidth needed for streaming, or the pace required to finish a task on time.
When to use
Use this question when you need clarification about the appropriate speed for a vehicle, an internet connection, a treadmill, or any activity where a numeric speed value matters.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quevelocidadeeupreciso?
Que (interrogative adjective)
Used to ask about the nature or quality of something; here it asks about the type of speed needed.
velocidade (noun)
Means “speed”; it is a feminine noun, so adjectives that modify it must agree in gender.
eu (subject pronoun)
The first‑person singular pronoun; in Portuguese it is often optional because the verb ending already indicates the subject.
preciso (verb – precisar)
First‑person singular present of precisar, meaning “I need”. Note that preciso can also be an adjective meaning “precise”, but context makes it clear it’s a verb here.
Question mark
In Portuguese, the opening question mark (¿) is not used; only the closing ‘?’ is required.
🗨In Conversation
Que velocidade eu preciso?
What speed do I need?
Depende da estrada, mas geralmente 80 km/h.
It depends on the road, but usually 80 km/h.
✕Common Mistakes
Que velocidade eu preciso?
While grammatically correct, many learners use “Que” where native speakers would say “Qual”.
Preciso eu que velocidade?
Word order is unnatural; the subject pronoun usually comes before the verb, not after it.
Que velocidade eu preciso de?
The verb precisar does not need the preposition “de” when the object is a noun.
↔Alternatives
Qual velocidade eu preciso?
What speed do I need?
Que velocidade devo usar?
What speed should I use?
Qual a velocidade necessária?
What is the necessary speed?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, speed limits are posted in km/h and vary by road type (urban, rural, highway). When asking about speed, native speakers often prefer “Qual velocidade…?” because “qual” specifically asks for a choice among options, while “que” is more general. Also, remember to use the metric system when giving a numeric answer.