The Conditional Mood
Making everything softer and more polite
The conditional mood transforms direct requests into elegant suggestions. "Eu quero" becomes "Eu gostaria" - I want becomes I would like. In professional São Paulo, this isn't optional - it's how we show consideration for others.
São Paulo Pattern: Poderia + infinitive + por favor/por gentileza + clear deadline
Example: "Poderia me enviar o relatório, por favor, até amanhã às 17h?"
Example: "Poderia me enviar o relatório, por favor, até amanhã às 17h?"
Essential Conditional Forms
Eu gostaria de...
I would like...
↻
gohs-tah-REE-ah jee
Most useful form
Você poderia...
Could you...
↻
poh-deh-REE-ah
Polite request
Seria possível...
Would it be possible...
↻
seh-REE-ah poh-SEE-vehl
Very formal
Você consegue...
Can you manage to...
↻
kohn-SEH-gee
SP business standard
Ficaria melhor
It would be better
↻
fee-kah-REE-ah meh-LYOHR
Gentle suggestion
Agradeceria
I would appreciate
↻
ah-grah-deh-seh-REE-ah
Grateful tone
Request Escalation Ladder
1. Será que você pode...? (softest)
2. Você poderia...? (standard polite)
3. Consegue... até [deadline]? (time-boxed)
4. Preciso que... (direct - use only when necessary)
Polite Requests
The art of asking without demanding
Place "por favor" at the end, not the beginning. With peers, "por favor" is enough - save "por gentileza" for clients or written requests. Never say "Me dá" in professional settings - always "Poderia me fornecer, por favor?"
Professional Request Phrases
Por gentileza
If you would be so kind
↻
pohr zhen-chee-LEH-zah
Formal/written
Consegue me confirmar?
Can you confirm?
↻
kohn-SEH-gee mee kohn-feer-MAR
Common in SP
Poderia me colocar em cópia?
Could you CC me?
↻
koh-loh-KAR ayn KOH-pee-ah
Email essential
Quando for melhor pra você
When it's best for you
↻
KWAN-doo fohr meh-LYOHR prah voh-SEH
Flexibility
Se não for incômodo
If it's not a bother
↻
see nãw fohr een-KOH-moh-doo
Considerate
Desculpe incomodar
Sorry to bother
↻
dehs-KOOL-pee een-koh-moh-DAR
Opening softener
Como posso ajudar?
How may I help?
↻
KOH-moo POH-soo ah-zhoo-DAR
Service opener
Ficaria mais confortável?
Would you be more comfortable?
↻
fee-kah-REE-ah mahys kohn-fohr-TAH-vehl
Spa context
Me avise se precisar
Let me know if you need
↻
mee ah-VEE-zee see preh-see-SAR
Open offer
Você vs O Senhor/A Senhora:
With clients/seniors: "o senhor/a senhora" + conditional. With peers in SP: "você" + conditional is the norm. Don't over-formalize with colleagues.
Professional Euphemisms
Saying difficult things gracefully
Professional euphemisms require care. Never use diminutives like "gordinho" or "velhinho" at work - they can offend. For HR situations, use "foi desligado" (was let go), not informal expressions. For loss, "faleceu" with "meus sentimentos."
Business-Safe Euphemisms
Foi desligado
Was let go (fired)
↻
foy dehs-lee-GAH-doo
HR appropriate
Reestruturação
Restructuring (layoffs)
↻
hee-ehs-troo-too-rah-SÃW
Corporate term
Faleceu / Meus sentimentos
Passed away / My condolences
↻
fah-leh-SEH-oo
Bereavement
Situação delicada
Delicate situation
↻
see-too-ah-SÃW deh-lee-KAH-dah
Problem softener
Precisa melhorar
Needs improvement
↻
preh-SEE-zah meh-lyoh-RAR
Performance issue
Mais experiente
More experienced (older)
↻
mahys ehs-peh-ree-EN-chee
Age respect
Oportunidade de crescimento
Growth opportunity
↻
oh-pohr-too-nee-DAH-jee
Challenge reframe
Recolocação
Outplacement
↻
hee-koh-loh-kah-SÃW
Job transition
Professional Warning
AVOID at work: gordinho, cheinho, velhinho (can read as patronizing)
USE instead: Professional, neutral terms that maintain dignity
Professional Register
Language for business and formal settings
Modern São Paulo business prefers "Segue anexo" over "Segue em anexo." Skip archaic phrases like "Venho por meio desta" - use "Conforme alinhado" or "Escrevo para." End with "Agradeço desde já" instead of "antecipadamente."
Modern Business Phrases
O senhor/A senhora
Sir/Madam (clients)
↻
oo seh-NYOHR/ah seh-NYOH-rah
Formal address
Conforme alinhado
As aligned/agreed
↻
kohn-FOHR-mee ah-leen-YAH-doo
Modern opener
Segue anexo
Attached
↻
SEH-gee ah-NEK-soo
Preferred form
Boa tarde, [Nome]
Good afternoon, [Name]
↻
BOH-ah TAR-jee
Email greeting
Agradeço desde já
Thank you in advance
↻
ah-grah-DEH-soo DEHS-jee zhah
Modern thanks
Fico à disposição
I remain available
↻
FEE-koo ah jees-poh-zee-SÃW
Email closing
Prezado Sr./Prezada Sra.
Dear Mr./Mrs.
↻
preh-ZAH-doo/dah
With surnames
Atenciosamente
Sincerely
↻
ah-ten-see-oh-zah-MEN-chee
Formal close
Cordialmente
Cordially
↻
kohr-djee-ahl-MEN-chee
Warmer close
Email Structure:
Subject: Action + object + deadline | Opening: Boa tarde, [Nome] | Body: Conforme alinhado... | Request: Poderia enviar até [date]? | Close: Agradeço desde já. Atenciosamente,
Formal Conversation Flow
Maintaining elegance in spoken Portuguese
Always acknowledge before disagreeing: "Entendo seu ponto; no entanto..." or "Faz sentido. Ao mesmo tempo..." Use subjunctive for business: "É importante que enviemos hoje." End meetings clearly: "Ficamos combinados assim?"
Meeting & Conversation Management
Entendo seu ponto; no entanto...
I see your point; however...
↻
en-TEN-doo; noo en-TAN-too
Polite counter
Faz sentido
Makes sense
↻
fahz sen-CHEE-doo
Agreement
A meu ver
In my view
↻
ah MEH-oo vehr
Opinion marker
Ficamos combinados assim?
Are we agreed?
↻
fee-KAH-moosh kohm-bee-NAH-doosh
Meeting close
É importante que enviemos
It's important we send
↻
eh een-pohr-TAN-chee kee en-vee-EH-moosh
Subjunctive
Caso haja mudanças
If there are changes
↻
KAH-zoo AH-zhah moo-DAN-sahs
Subjunctive conditional
Sugiro que consideremos
I suggest we consider
↻
soo-ZHEE-roo kee kohn-see-deh-REH-moosh
Team approach
Pode me confirmar por e-mail?
Can you confirm by email?
↻
POH-jee mee kohn-feer-MAR
Follow-up request
Ready to Master Professional Portuguese?
"Remember - elegance in Portuguese comes from choosing words that honor both speaker and listener. Practice these forms until they feel natural. Soon you'll navigate any professional situation with confidence and grace. Vamos praticar juntos!" - Gabriela