Portuguese · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Key" in Portuguese: chave
a chave
Key in Portuguese is a chave. Ask for a chave do quarto, chave do carro, or diga Perdi a chave. Brazilians also say chaveiro for a keychain.
Leaving home
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How to pronounce chave
Say it
SHAH-vee
/ˈʃa.vi/
SHAH-vee. Soft sh sound at the start in most of Brazil.
"Key" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| a chave | the key Doors, cars, hotels. | Doors, cars, hotels. |
| chave do carro | car key Everyday travel phrase. | Everyday travel phrase. |
| chave do quarto | room key Hotels and pousadas. | Hotels and pousadas. |
| o chaveiro | keychain / locksmith Context decides which meaning. | Context decides which meaning. |
| chaves | keys Plural form. | Plural form. |
How to use chave in real life
- 1Leaving home
Você pegou a chave da frente?
Did you grab the front-door key?
Chave da frente is common apartment talk.
- 2Hotel desk
Posso deixar a chave do quarto aqui?
Can I leave the room key here?
Standard hotel line.
- 3Car panic
Acho que perdi a chave do carro.
I think I lost the car key.
Perdi a chave is a useful emergency phrase.
Mistakes English speakers make with chave
Incorrect: O chave da porta.
Correct: A chave da porta.
Chave is feminine: a chave.
Incorrect: Cadê a chiave?
Correct: Cadê a chave?
Italian chiave is wrong. Portuguese is chave.
Good to know
In Brazilian apartments, people often juggle chave da portaria and chave do apartamento. At hotels you still hear chave even when the room uses a card. Chaveiro can mean the little keychain souvenir or the locksmith who copies keys.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Leaving an Airbnb
ChatPal
Você sabe onde está a chave?
Do you know where the key is?
You
A chave está em cima da mesa.
The key is on the table.
ChatPal
Ótimo. Deixo a chave com o porteiro?
Great. Should I leave the key with the doorman?
You
Isso. Deixa a chave com ele.
Yes. Leave the key with him.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Key" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Key" in Portuguese
Is chave feminine?
Yes: a chave, as chaves.
How do I say car key?
Chave do carro.
Room key?
Chave do quarto.
What is chaveiro?
Keychain, or a locksmith, depending on context.
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
