Every Portuguese noun is either masculine or feminine, and the word for "a/an" has to match it: um before a masculine noun, uma before a feminine one. To order, you say that article plus the noun.
Examples
- Um café, se faz favor.
- A coffee, please.
- Uma cerveja e uma sopa, por favor.
- A beer and a soup, please.
- Queria um pastel de nata.
- I'd like a custard tart.
The mistake to avoid
Saying "uma café" - café is masculine, so it takes um even though it ends in -é.
Where this fits in
Food & ordering, Portuguese A1: Order at a café or restaurant, ask for the bill, and talk about basic food and drink.