How to Say ‘Make Sense’ in Portuguese: Fazer Sentido — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Say that an idea makes sense
Fazer sentido is the natural expression for making sense. The verb fazer changes with the subject and time: isso faz sentido (that makes sense), fez sentido (it made sense).
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Agora a explicação faz sentido. | Now the explanation makes sense. |
| O que você disse fez sentido para mim. | What you said made sense to me. |
Ask whether the explanation is clear
Does that make sense? can be translated as isso faz sentido? or fez sentido? after an explanation. To check comprehension more gently, ask ficou claro? (was that clear?) or quer que eu explique de outro jeito? (would you like me to explain it another way?).
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Faz sentido até aqui? | Does it make sense so far? |
| Quer que eu explique de outro jeito? | Would you like me to explain it another way? |
Notice when something does not make sense
Add não to make the phrase negative: não faz sentido. Depending on tone, this can mean an idea is illogical or simply that you do not understand it yet. Give a short reason if you want to keep the exchange constructive.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Ainda não faz sentido para mim. Pode dar um exemplo? | It doesn’t make sense to me yet. Could you give an example? |
| Faz sentido mudar o horário para mais tarde. | It makes sense to move the time later. |
Remember: Use fazer sentido for an idea that is logical or clear; add a question or example request to keep the conversation moving.
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.
Now the explanation makes sense.
Show a Portuguese answer
Agora a explicação faz sentido.
What you said made sense to me.
Show a Portuguese answer
O que você disse fez sentido para mim.
Does it make sense so far?
Show a Portuguese answer
Faz sentido até aqui?
Would you like me to explain it another way?
Show a Portuguese answer
Quer que eu explique de outro jeito?
It doesn’t make sense to me yet. Could you give an example?
Show a Portuguese answer
Ainda não faz sentido para mim. Pode dar um exemplo?
It makes sense to move the time later.
Show a Portuguese answer
Faz sentido mudar o horário para mais tarde.
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.
Use fazer sentido for an idea that is logical or clear; add a question or example request to keep the conversation moving.
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 How to Say ‘Make Sense’ in Portuguese: Fazer Sentido 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.
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