How to Say ‘Come Up With an Idea’ in Portuguese: Pensar em — 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.
Use pensar em for coming up with an idea
Pensar em can mean to think of or come up with an idea. It is followed by a noun or infinitive. Use tive uma ideia when you want to say that an idea came to you.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Consegui pensar em uma solução simples. | I managed to come up with a simple solution. |
| Tive uma ideia para o projeto. | I came up with an idea for the project. |
Use encontrar or criar for a plan or solution
Encontrar uma solução means to find a solution; criar um plano means to come up with or create a plan. Choose the verb that describes whether you discovered an existing answer or designed a new one.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| A equipe encontrou uma forma de reduzir o atraso. | The team came up with a way to reduce the delay. |
| Vamos criar um plano para a viagem. | Let’s come up with a plan for the trip. |
Invite someone else to suggest an idea
Ask alguém tem alguma ideia? or você consegue pensar em…? to invite suggestions. These questions are more specific and natural than translating “come up with” word for word.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Você consegue pensar em outro horário? | Can you come up with another time? |
| Alguém tem uma ideia para resolver isso? | Does anyone have an idea for figuring this out? |
Remember: Use pensar em or ter uma ideia for generating ideas, and encontrar uma solução for finding an answer.
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.
I managed to come up with a simple solution.
Show a Portuguese answer
Consegui pensar em uma solução simples.
I came up with an idea for the project.
Show a Portuguese answer
Tive uma ideia para o projeto.
The team came up with a way to reduce the delay.
Show a Portuguese answer
A equipe encontrou uma forma de reduzir o atraso.
Let’s come up with a plan for the trip.
Show a Portuguese answer
Vamos criar um plano para a viagem.
Can you come up with another time?
Show a Portuguese answer
Você consegue pensar em outro horário?
Does anyone have an idea for figuring this out?
Show a Portuguese answer
Alguém tem uma ideia para resolver isso?
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 pensar em or ter uma ideia for generating ideas, and encontrar uma solução for finding an answer.
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 ‘Come Up With an Idea’ in Portuguese: Pensar em 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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