De Repente: How to Say ‘Suddenly’ in Brazilian Portuguese — 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 de repente for a sudden change
De repente commonly means “suddenly” or “all of a sudden.” It describes a change that happens quickly or without much warning. Put it before or after the event; the verb tells the listener what changed.
The expression is not limited to dramatic events. It can describe a phone ringing, weather changing, or someone arriving unexpectedly. In written stories, a comma often follows de repente when it opens the sentence.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| De repente, todo mundo começou a rir. | Suddenly, everyone started laughing. |
| O céu escureceu de repente. | The sky suddenly grew dark. |
| De repente, alguém bateu na porta. | All of a sudden, someone knocked on the door. |
Recognize a possible informal ‘maybe’
In some casual Brazilian conversations, de repente can soften a suggestion and mean “maybe” or “perhaps”: De repente, a gente pode ir mais cedo. This usage is informal and depends on context; it is not the only meaning of the expression.
If you are speaking and want to make your meaning unmistakable, use talvez for “maybe.” When listening, look at the grammar: an event that changed suddenly points to the common sudden-change meaning, while a proposed plan can signal the informal suggestion use.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| De repente, podemos pedir uma mesa lá fora. | Maybe we could ask for a table outside. |
| Talvez seja melhor esperar mais dez minutos. | Maybe it’s better to wait ten more minutes. |
| A porta abriu de repente com o vento. | The door suddenly opened in the wind. |
Remember: De repente usually means ‘suddenly’; in some informal suggestions it can mean ‘maybe,’ while talvez is the clearest choice when you speak.
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.
Suddenly, everyone started laughing.
Show a Portuguese answer
De repente, todo mundo começou a rir.
The sky suddenly grew dark.
Show a Portuguese answer
O céu escureceu de repente.
All of a sudden, someone knocked on the door.
Show a Portuguese answer
De repente, alguém bateu na porta.
Maybe we could ask for a table outside.
Show a Portuguese answer
De repente, podemos pedir uma mesa lá fora.
Maybe it’s better to wait ten more minutes.
Show a Portuguese answer
Talvez seja melhor esperar mais dez minutos.
The door suddenly opened in the wind.
Show a Portuguese answer
A porta abriu de repente com o vento.
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.
De repente usually means ‘suddenly’; in some informal suggestions it can mean ‘maybe,’ while talvez is the clearest choice when you speak.
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 De Repente: How to Say ‘Suddenly’ in Brazilian 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.
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