Portuguese · Travel & Getting Around
"Cash" in Portuguese: dinheiro vivo
o dinheiro vivo
Note: "in cash": em dinheiro
Cash in Portuguese is o dinheiro vivo. To pay in cash say em dinheiro. In casual talk dinheiro alone often already means cash.
At a market stall
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How to pronounce dinheiro vivo
Say it
jee-NYEH-roo VEE-voo
/dʒi.ˈɲej.ɾu ˈvi.vu/
jee-NYEH-roo VEE-voo. Em dinheiro is ẽỹ jee-NYEH-roo.
"Cash" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o dinheiro vivo | cash (bills/coins) Explicit physical cash. | Explicit physical cash. |
| em dinheiro | in cash How you pay. | How you pay. |
| só dinheiro | cash only Shop signs and questions. | Shop signs and questions. |
| troco em dinheiro | change in cash After a card or Pix payment question. | After a card or Pix payment question. |
How to use dinheiro vivo in real life
- 1At a market stall
Vocês aceitam só dinheiro vivo?
Do you take cash only?
Dinheiro vivo stresses physical bills.
- 2Choosing how to pay
Prefiro pagar em dinheiro nesta feira.
I prefer to pay in cash at this market.
Em dinheiro is the payment phrase.
- 3ATM plan
Vou sacar dinheiro vivo antes do almoço.
I'm going to withdraw cash before lunch.
Sacar dinheiro vivo = withdraw cash.
Mistakes English speakers make with dinheiro vivo
Incorrect: Pago com cash.
Correct: Pago em dinheiro. / Pago com dinheiro vivo.
Use dinheiro / dinheiro vivo, not English cash.
Incorrect: A dinheiro vivo acabou.
Correct: O dinheiro vivo acabou.
Dinheiro is masculine: o dinheiro vivo.
Good to know
Pix and cards are everywhere in Brazil, so asking em dinheiro still matters at street stalls, tips, and small towns. Dinheiro vivo makes it clear you mean bills, not a balance on your phone.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Paying a street vendor
ChatPal
Aqui na barraca é melhor com dinheiro vivo.
At this stall cash is better.
You
Beleza. Tenho dinheiro vivo na carteira.
Okay. I have cash in my wallet.
ChatPal
Se precisar, tem caixa perto para sacar dinheiro vivo.
If you need it, there's an ATM nearby to withdraw cash.
You
Por enquanto o dinheiro vivo chega.
For now the cash is enough.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Cash" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Cash" in Portuguese
How do I say pay in cash?
Pagar em dinheiro.
Is dinheiro alone enough?
Often yes casually. Say dinheiro vivo when you must stress physical cash.
How do I ask cash only?
É só dinheiro? or Aceitam só dinheiro vivo?
What about change?
Tem troco? for do you have change.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
