A1 — Iniciante I ← My Materials

Tá tudo mais caro!

Episódio 14 Língua da Gente Falar sobre preços
Orlando R. Kelm · COERLL / University of Texas at Austin · CC BY 4.0
Step 1 — Listen
🎧 Podcast Episode
First listen: What is the person buying? How do they react to the price?

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Step 2 — Read
📄 Diálogo

A: Uma dúzia de ovos por favor.

B: Tá bom, 5 reais.

A: O que é isso, são ovos, não diamantes.

B: Sei, mas infelizmente está tudo mais caro.

Grammar 1
ESTAR + mais + adjetivo — comparativo de superioridade
Use ESTAR to describe current states, and "mais" to compare:
PortuguêsEnglish
Está tudo mais caro.Everything is more expensive.
O leite está mais caro.Milk is more expensive.
As frutas estão mais caras.The fruits are more expensive.
Os ovos estão mais caros.The eggs are more expensive.

⚠️ The adjective agrees with the noun: mais caro / mais cara / mais caros / mais caras. When using "tudo" (everything), the adjective stays masculine singular.

Grammar 2
Expressões de reação e concessão
Two key phrases from the dialogue:
ExpressãoUse
O que é isso!Expression of surprise or protest — "What is this?!" / "Come on!"
Sei, mas…Concession — "I know, but…" Acknowledges the other point before adding a qualifier.
Infelizmente…"Unfortunately…" — signals bad news the speaker can't change.
Tá bom.Informal "OK / alright." Reduced form of "Está bom."
Phonology
🔊 "Está" → "Tá" — a redução informal
In everyday Brazilian speech, "está" is almost always reduced to "tá".

FormalInformal
Está bom.Tá bom.
Está tudo mais caro.Tá tudo mais caro.
Está ótimo!Tá ótimo!

You will hear "tá" constantly in conversation. It's not lazy speech — it's the natural rhythm of Brazilian Portuguese. In writing, use "está."
Culture
💰 O real e o custo de vida no Brasil
O real (R$) is the Brazilian currency, introduced in 1994. Brazil has experienced significant inflation over the decades, and rising prices — especially for food staples like eggs, bread, and oil — are a constant topic of everyday conversation. The expression "está tudo mais caro" resonates deeply with Brazilians. Markets, supermarkets, and street fairs (feiras) are the main places for grocery shopping. Comparing prices is a daily habit, and complaining about them is a national pastime.
Exercise 1
True or False?
Based on the dialogue, select T (true) or F (false) for each statement.
The person is buying a dozen eggs.
The eggs cost 10 reais.
Person A thinks the price is too high.
The vendor says everything is cheaper now.
Exercise 2
Complete the dialogue
Fill in each blank with the correct word from the dialogue.
1. Uma de ovos por favor.
2. Tá bom, 5 .
3. São ovos, não .
4. Infelizmente está tudo mais .
5. , mas infelizmente está tudo mais caro.
Exercise 3
Está ou Estão?
Choose the correct form of estar for each sentence.
1. O leite mais caro.
2. As frutas mais caras.
3. O pão mais caro.
4. Os ovos mais caros.
5. A carne mais cara.
Exercise 4
Your turn — Production
Answer in Portuguese.
Write your own answers. There are no right or wrong responses — this activity is about expressing your own ideas and experiences.

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