Lost Something in Brazil? Portuguese Phrases to Ask for Help
Use simple, calm questions to explain a lost item and request help at a hotel, station, or public place.
Real Life Portuguese · 7 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Use Perdi… (I lost…) to name an item. Then say where you last remember having it and when you noticed it was missing. Keep the first explanation short: item, place, approximate time. If you are not sure exactly when it happened, say when you last saw it rather than guessing.
Say what you lost and when you noticed
Useful words include carteira (wallet), mochila (backpack), celular (mobile phone), passaporte (passport), and documento (document). If the item has a noticeable color or mark, describe it with a simple adjective. Keep sensitive information private when speaking in a public area.
Perdi minha mochila no ônibus.
I lost my backpack on the bus.
Acho que deixei meu celular neste café.
I think I left my phone in this café.
Perdi minha carteira há cerca de uma hora.
I lost my wallet about an hour ago.
Ask staff where to check next
At a hotel, café, station, or event venue, ask whether anyone found the item and where lost property is handled. Achados e perdidos is the usual phrase for lost and found. Provide a description that helps staff identify the item without sharing unnecessary private details.
If you need to leave contact information, ask whether you can write it down. Repeat a phone number slowly and confirm it. Staff procedures vary by location, so ask what the next step is and whether there is a reference number or a time to check again.
Onde fica o setor de achados e perdidos?
Where is the lost-and-found office?
Alguém encontrou uma mochila preta?
Did anyone find a black backpack?
Posso deixar meu telefone para contato?
Can I leave my phone number as a contact?
Explain the item with a few useful details
Describe the item, its color, and one distinctive feature. For a phone or bag, you might mention the case, a tag, or a visible keychain. Avoid announcing passwords, account numbers, or detailed personal information to strangers. If the item contains cards or documents, explain that calmly and ask what the staff recommends next.
When a detail is difficult to say, write it down or show a photo of the item. Ask the staff member to repeat the place name, opening hours, or next step. The goal is to communicate enough to search, not to make a perfect long explanation.
É uma mochila azul com uma etiqueta vermelha.
It’s a blue backpack with a red tag.
Meu passaporte estava dentro de uma pasta cinza.
My passport was inside a gray folder.
Você pode me dizer quando devo voltar para perguntar?
Can you tell me when I should come back to ask?
Use a calm three-sentence report
Practice three lines: what is missing, where you last saw it, and what help you need. Change the item and location while keeping the structure. If the situation involves a passport, payment card, phone, or another important item, follow the relevant provider’s official process as well as asking nearby staff.
For travel preparation, review Real Life Portuguese guides to directions, hotel check-in, and asking questions. You can practice the exchange with a Brazilian teacher at I Speak Portuguese. A few clear sentences are easier to recall under pressure than a memorized paragraph.
Perdi meu passaporte. Eu o vi pela última vez no hotel. Com quem devo falar?
I lost my passport. I last saw it at the hotel. Who should I speak with?
Meu celular sumiu no restaurante. Há um setor de achados e perdidos?
My phone went missing at the restaurant. Is there a lost-and-found office?
Pode anotar meu nome e me avisar se encontrarem a bolsa?
Can you write down my name and let me know if they find the bag?
Put it into practice
Report the item, last known place, and approximate time. Ask where to check next, and use the official process for documents, cards, and devices.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “My phone went missing at the restaurant. Is there a lost-and-found office”?
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.