Portuguese at a Brazilian Library: Find and Borrow a Book — Practice

Ask where to find a book

Biblioteca is library, livro is book, and estante is bookshelf. If you know the title or subject you want, state it and ask where to look. A bibliotecário or bibliotecária can help you locate a section or search the catalog.

Use você pode me ajudar? for a simple request. If you only remember part of a title, explain what you do know instead of guessing at the exact wording.

Ask about borrowing and returning

Emprestar means to lend, and devolver means to return. Ask whether you can borrow the book and when it needs to be returned. Library policies vary, so confirm the specific dates and requirements with the staff.

Renovar means to renew. If you need more time, ask whether a renewal is possible before the return date. A short confirmation helps you avoid misunderstanding a number or date.

Check a detail before you leave

Repeat the key detail: the return date, whether you need a library card, or where to find the next book. If you missed a word, ask the person to say it again or write it down.

To talk about reading itself, use the expressions in our Real Life Portuguese guide to books and reading. This library guide focuses on the interaction at the desk and the practical steps around borrowing.

Remember: Practice asking for one book, confirming how long you can borrow it, and checking where to return it. Replace the sample details with what you actually need.

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. Where are the books about Brazilian history?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Onde ficam os livros de história do Brasil?

2. Can you help me find this book?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você pode me ajudar a encontrar este livro?

3. I’m looking for a book for beginners.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estou procurando um livro para iniciantes.

4. Can I borrow this book?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Posso levar este livro emprestado?

5. What is the return date?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Qual é a data para devolver?

6. Can I renew the loan?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Dá para renovar o empréstimo?

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.

Practice asking for one book, confirming how long you can borrow it, and checking where to return it. Replace the sample details with what you actually need.

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 at a Brazilian Library: Find and Borrow a Book 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.