Moving Into an Apartment in Brazil: Portuguese for the First Check — Practice

Ask about the move-in inspection

Vistoria is an inspection or condition check. Ask when the apartment should be inspected and how you should share notes or photos of an issue.

Lease processes and responsibilities vary by contract and location. Use these phrases to clarify instructions with the property manager; check your agreement for binding terms.

Describe an existing issue

Describe the location and what you observe without guessing at the cause. A parede (wall), torneira (faucet), and tomada (outlet) are useful words for a basic walkthrough.

If something is not working, say that directly and ask what the next step is. Avoid attempting repairs until you know who is responsible and what the property rules allow.

Confirm keys and utilities

Before finishing the handover, ask how many keys you should receive and whom to contact about a building issue. If you need to set up a utility account, ask which provider details the manager can share.

For ongoing repairs and building communication, use our separate guide to apartment maintenance phrases.

Remember: Walk through each room, note the location of anything you want to ask about, and request the manager’s process in writing.

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. When will the inspection be done?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Quando será feita a vistoria?

2. How should I document an issue?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Como devo registrar um problema?

3. Can I send photos by email?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Posso enviar fotos por e-mail?

4. The faucet is dripping.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A torneira está pingando.

5. There is a crack in this wall.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tem uma rachadura nesta parede.

6. This outlet isn’t working.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Esta tomada não está funcionando.

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.

Walk through each room, note the location of anything you want to ask about, and request the manager’s process in writing.

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 Moving Into an Apartment in Brazil: Portuguese for the First Check 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.