Fazer Cara Feia: Show Disapproval 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 fazer cara feia for a visible reaction
Fazer cara feia means to frown, make an unhappy face, or visibly show disapproval. It can describe a reaction to a suggestion, price, taste, or change of plan. The phrase focuses on the facial expression, not a spoken reply.
The noun cara stays singular in the expression. Conjugate fazer to match the subject: faço cara feia, fez cara feia, and fizeram cara feia.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Ele fez cara feia quando viu o preço do ingresso. | He frowned when he saw the ticket price. |
| A criança fez cara feia para a salada. | The child made a face at the salad. |
| Eles fizeram cara feia para a mudança de horário. | They showed disapproval of the schedule change. |
Distinguish a frown from a direct refusal
Fazer cara feia describes a facial reaction; it does not always mean that someone said no. If you need to report a decision, say recusou (refused) or não gostou da ideia (did not like the idea).
The phrase can be teasing or critical depending on tone. In a careful description, explain what the person did rather than assuming the reason behind the expression.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Ela fez cara feia, mas ainda não respondeu. | She frowned, but she hasn’t answered yet. |
| Ele recusou a proposta porque o prazo era curto. | He declined the proposal because the deadline was short. |
| A gente não gostou da ideia de sair tão tarde. | We didn’t like the idea of going out so late. |
Remember: Use fazer cara feia to describe a frown or visible disapproval; use a direct verb such as recusar when you mean someone actually declined.
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.
He frowned when he saw the ticket price.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ele fez cara feia quando viu o preço do ingresso.
The child made a face at the salad.
Show a Portuguese answer
A criança fez cara feia para a salada.
They showed disapproval of the schedule change.
Show a Portuguese answer
Eles fizeram cara feia para a mudança de horário.
She frowned, but she hasn’t answered yet.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ela fez cara feia, mas ainda não respondeu.
He declined the proposal because the deadline was short.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ele recusou a proposta porque o prazo era curto.
We didn’t like the idea of going out so late.
Show a Portuguese answer
A gente não gostou da ideia de sair tão 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 cara feia to describe a frown or visible disapproval; use a direct verb such as recusar when you mean someone actually declined.
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 Fazer Cara Feia: Show Disapproval 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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