What Does Tomara Que Mean? Express Hope in Portuguese — Practice

Use tomara que to express a wish

Tomara que introduces a hope about something that has not been confirmed. It can mean ‘I hope that’ or ‘let’s hope that.’ The phrase works in everyday conversation and often sounds more expressive than espero que.

After tomara que, Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses the present subjunctive for a desired future outcome: tomara que dê certo (I hope it works out). Start with useful complete chunks before memorizing every verb ending.

Notice the subjunctive in common verbs

Some high-frequency subjunctive forms look different from present-tense forms you may know: seja (from ser), esteja (from estar), and tenha (from ter). Hear and practise them in full wishes rather than translating each word separately.

Tomara que can also stand alone as a reaction when the hoped-for result is clear. The listener supplies the rest: a bus arriving, a plan working, or a friend feeling better.

Remember: Tomara que introduces a wish and commonly takes the subjunctive. Memorize useful patterns such as tomara que dê certo, tomara que seja, and tomara que você consiga.

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. I hope the weather gets better tomorrow.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tomara que o tempo melhore amanhã.

2. I hope you manage to arrive early.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tomara que você consiga chegar cedo.

3. I hope everything goes well at the interview.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tomara que dê tudo certo na entrevista.

4. I hope she feels better soon.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tomara que ela esteja melhor logo.

5. I hope it’s true.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tomara que seja verdade.

6. Will the bus arrive in time? — I hope so!

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O ônibus vai chegar a tempo? — Tomara!

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.

Tomara que introduces a wish and commonly takes the subjunctive. Memorize useful patterns such as tomara que dê certo, tomara que seja, and tomara que você consiga.

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 What Does Tomara Que Mean? Express Hope in Portuguese 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.