How to Say ‘Figure Out’ in Portuguese: Entender, Descobrir, or Resolver — 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 entender when you mean understand
When figure out means to understand how something works, use entender. Add como or por que when you are naming what you want to understand.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Ainda estou tentando entender como esse aplicativo funciona. | I’m still trying to figure out how this app works. |
| Agora entendi por que a porta não abria. | Now I figured out why the door wouldn’t open. |
Use descobrir when you mean find out
Descobrir often means to find out or discover information. Use it when you have learned something that was previously unknown.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Descobri onde fica a entrada do prédio. | I figured out where the building entrance is. |
| Preciso descobrir quem está responsável pelo pedido. | I need to find out who is responsible for the order. |
Use resolver when you mean solve a problem
Resolver means to solve or resolve a problem. If you are working through a practical issue, resolver may fit better than entender, even if understanding is part of the process.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Vamos resolver o problema antes da reunião. | Let’s figure out the problem before the meeting. |
| Ela resolveu como chegar ao hotel de ônibus. | She figured out how to get to the hotel by bus. |
Remember: Use entender for understanding, descobrir for finding out, and resolver for solving a problem.
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’m still trying to figure out how this app works.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ainda estou tentando entender como esse aplicativo funciona.
Now I figured out why the door wouldn’t open.
Show a Portuguese answer
Agora entendi por que a porta não abria.
I figured out where the building entrance is.
Show a Portuguese answer
Descobri onde fica a entrada do prédio.
I need to find out who is responsible for the order.
Show a Portuguese answer
Preciso descobrir quem está responsável pelo pedido.
Let’s figure out the problem before the meeting.
Show a Portuguese answer
Vamos resolver o problema antes da reunião.
She figured out how to get to the hotel by bus.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ela resolveu como chegar ao hotel de ônibus.
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 entender for understanding, descobrir for finding out, and resolver for solving a problem.
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 ‘Figure Out’ in Portuguese: Entender, Descobrir, or Resolver 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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