Portuguese for Renting an Apartment: Rooms, Repairs, and Building Basics — Practice

Name the rooms and basic apartment features

An apartment is an apartamento; a house is a casa. Common room words include quarto (bedroom), banheiro (bathroom), cozinha (kitchen), sala (living room), and varanda (balcony). Learn them with an article—o quarto, a cozinha—so you remember both the noun and its gender for later descriptions.

During a viewing, ask how many bedrooms there are, whether the unit has a parking space, and what appliances stay. In Brazil, vaga can refer to a parking space. Confirm details in writing before agreeing to a rental; vocabulary helps you ask, but it does not replace a careful review of the contract.

Ask about rent and what is included

Aluguel is rent, condomínio is the building or condominium fee, and contas are bills. Ask whether the rent includes any of these costs and what payment date applies. The exact arrangement depends on the listing and agreement, so ask the landlord or agent to explain the amount and conditions clearly.

For a short-term or long-term rental, confirm the move-in date, minimum stay, deposit, and whether utilities are included. Repeat the amount and date back in Portuguese to check that you understood them correctly.

Report a repair or building problem

A simple repair report names the item, describes what is happening, and says when you noticed it. The words vazamento (leak), tomada (outlet), chuveiro (shower), and chave (key) are useful around a home. If something is unsafe, explain the problem directly and contact the responsible person or local service promptly.

Ask who handles a repair and when someone can inspect it. Avoid describing a technical cause unless you know it; say what you observe, such as water coming from under the sink or the shower not heating.

Practice questions for a rental viewing

Make a checklist of the three details you need to verify. Ask one question about the apartment itself, one about the monthly costs, and one about maintenance. If an answer is fast, ask the person to repeat the amount or write it down. Clear questions are more valuable than trying to understand every word in a long explanation.

Use this guide alongside Real Life Portuguese lessons on numbers, asking questions, and home vocabulary. If you are moving to Brazil, ask a trusted local to review important rental documents and current rules. I Speak Portuguese teachers can help you rehearse the conversation so you can ask confidently during a viewing.

Remember: Learn room names, aluguel, condomínio, contas, and a few repair words. Confirm costs, dates, and responsibilities in writing before you sign an agreement.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. How many bedrooms does the apartment have?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Quantos quartos tem o apartamento?

2. Does the apartment have a balcony and a parking space?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O apartamento tem varanda e vaga de garagem?

3. Does the kitchen already have a refrigerator?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A cozinha já tem geladeira?

4. Is the building fee included in the rent?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O condomínio está incluído no aluguel?

5. Which bills will I be responsible for?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Quais contas ficam por minha conta?

6. What is the rent due date?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Qual é a data de vencimento do aluguel?

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Learn room names, aluguel, condomínio, contas, and a few repair words. Confirm costs, dates, and responsibilities in writing before you sign an agreement.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Portuguese for Renting an Apartment: Rooms, Repairs, and Building Basics lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.