Compromise vs. Compromisso: An Agreement, Appointment, or Commitment — Practice

Use compromisso for a commitment or appointment

Compromisso often means a responsibility, commitment, or scheduled appointment. Ter um compromisso can mean you already have something arranged and cannot attend another event.

Use acordo for an agreement or settlement

If two people find a compromise, chegar a um acordo is often natural. Fazer uma concessão means to make a concession. For the verb “to compromise” in the sense of putting something at risk, use comprometer.

Ask what the sentence is about

If the topic is a calendar or responsibility, compromisso may fit. If two sides are negotiating a middle ground, choose acordo or concessão. If a choice risks a result, comprometer is clearer.

Remember: Compromisso is often an appointment or commitment; compromise is often acordo, concessão, or comprometer.

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 have an appointment at three and can’t arrive earlier.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tenho um compromisso às três e não posso chegar antes.

2. She made a commitment to send the report.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela assumiu o compromisso de enviar o relatório.

3. After talking, we reached a compromise.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Depois de conversar, chegamos a um acordo.

4. I don’t want to compromise the quality of the work.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não quero comprometer a qualidade do trabalho.

5. I can’t go; I have another commitment.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não posso ir; tenho outro compromisso.

6. Neither side wanted to give in, but they reached a compromise in the end.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Nenhum dos lados queria ceder, mas o acordo saiu no fim.

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.

Compromisso is often an appointment or commitment; compromise is often acordo, concessão, or comprometer.

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 Compromise vs. Compromisso: An Agreement, Appointment, or Commitment? 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.