In Brazilian Portuguese, the word 'se' appears constantly on street signs, shop windows, and in service exchanges. Beyond actions people do to themselves, 'se' shows that an action is done, sold, or available, or it describes what people do in general.

To announce that a single item is rented or sold, use the third-person singular verb followed by 'se'. For example, 'aluga-se casa' means 'house for rent', and 'vende-se carro' means 'car for sale'. You also hear this with languages, as in 'fala-se inglês', meaning 'English is spoken'.

In shops and job advertisements, 'se' shows what payments are accepted or what roles are sought. For example, 'aceita-se Pix' means 'Pix is accepted', and 'busca-se profissional' means 'looking for a professional'.