Falar de vs. Falar Sobre in Portuguese: How to Introduce a Topic — Practice

Use falar de to introduce a subject or person

Falar de means “to talk about” and can introduce a topic, person, or experience. It is common in everyday conversation and works well for broad subjects.

The preposition de can contract with an article: falar do trabalho (talk about work), falar da viagem (talk about the trip), and falar dos planos (talk about the plans).

Use falar sobre to focus on a subject under discussion

Falar sobre also means “to talk about.” It can put a little more focus on the subject being discussed, especially when you are introducing a specific theme or point.

The distinction is not absolute: native speakers may use both expressions for the same topic. Learn each in a complete phrase and notice what sounds natural in context.

Keep the verb pattern steady as you change the subject

After falar de or falar sobre, add a noun, pronoun, or a clause introduced by a connector. Keep the preposition with the topic rather than translating English “about” word by word in every sentence.

If you want to discuss one detail, name it directly. A specific subject helps the other person follow the conversation and respond with a relevant question.

Remember: Falar de and falar sobre both introduce a topic. De is compact and common; sobre can highlight the subject, but everyday usage overlaps.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. We talked about the movie after dinner.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A gente falou do filme depois do jantar.

2. She likes talking about her family.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela gosta de falar da família.

3. Can I talk about an important subject?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Posso falar de um assunto importante?

4. Today we’re going to talk about the project results.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Hoje vamos falar sobre os resultados do projeto.

5. The podcast is about life in São Paulo.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O podcast fala sobre a vida em São Paulo.

6. I wanted to talk over an idea with you.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Queria conversar sobre uma ideia com você.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Falar de and falar sobre both introduce a topic. De is compact and common; sobre can highlight the subject, but everyday usage overlaps.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Falar de vs. Falar Sobre in Portuguese: How to Introduce a Topic lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.