Portuguese at a Brazilian University: Ask a Professor and Join Class
Learn respectful classroom phrases for asking questions, following a lecture, and checking a deadline or assignment requirement.
Real Life Portuguese · 7 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
A class is aula, a course is curso or disciplina, and a professor may be called professor or professora. The level of formality varies across institutions and relationships, so follow the way the instructor introduces themself. A direct greeting plus your name is enough for a first introduction.
Introduce yourself and ask how to participate
If you are new to the class, ask where to find the syllabus, schedule, or course platform. These questions are useful whether you are studying as a visiting student or joining a local program.
Oi, professora. Meu nome é Alex e estou chegando agora à turma.
Hello, Professor. My name is Alex, and I’m new to the class.
Onde posso encontrar o programa da disciplina?
Where can I find the course syllabus?
As atividades ficam disponíveis na plataforma?
Are the assignments available on the platform?
Ask for a repeat or a different explanation
If you miss a point in a lecture, ask the professor to repeat a sentence, explain one term, or share where the topic appears in the reading. A precise request is easier to answer than “I didn’t understand anything.” You can also say which part you did follow and name the part that remains unclear.
Use poderia (could you) for a courteous request, or pode (can you) in a more direct everyday question. Either can be appropriate; tone and relationship matter as much as the verb form.
Poderia repetir a última instrução?
Could you repeat the last instruction?
O que significa este termo neste contexto?
What does this term mean in this context?
Entendi a primeira parte, mas pode explicar o exemplo de novo?
I understood the first part, but could you explain the example again?
Confirm an assignment and its deadline
Ask what to submit, how to submit it, and when it is due. Prazo is a deadline; entregar means to submit or hand in. If there are several requirements, repeat the key details back to confirm them and write them down after class.
A simple follow-up message can thank the instructor and confirm one point. For longer professional messages, our guide to Brazilian Portuguese email greetings and sign-offs offers more formal language.
O trabalho deve ser entregue até sexta-feira?
Is the assignment due by Friday?
Preciso enviar o arquivo em PDF?
Do I need to submit the file as a PDF?
Então a apresentação é em grupo e dura dez minutos?
So the presentation is in a group and lasts ten minutes?
Put it into practice
After class, write down the question you asked, the professor’s answer, and the deadline. This turns a short conversation into a clear next action.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “So the presentation is in a group and lasts ten minutes”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.