How to Say ‘What Do You Mean?’ in Portuguese: O Que Quer Dizer — 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.
Ask about the meaning of a word
O que quer dizer…? asks what a word or expression means. You can name the word after quer dizer or point to it with isso.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| O que quer dizer saudade? | What does saudade mean? |
| O que quer dizer essa placa? | What does this sign mean? |
Clarify someone’s intention
O que você quis dizer? asks ‘what did you mean?’ about something a person said. It can sound direct, so add exatamente or ask gently if you are checking your understanding.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| O que você quis dizer com ‘mais tarde’? | What did you mean by ‘later’? |
| Só para confirmar: você quis dizer amanhã? | Just to confirm: did you mean tomorrow? |
Ask for a simpler explanation
If you understand the words but not the idea, ask pode explicar de outro jeito? (could you explain it another way?) or quer dizer que…? (does that mean…?). These phrases keep the conversation moving.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Pode explicar de outro jeito? | Could you explain it another way? |
| Quer dizer que a loja fecha às seis? | Does that mean the store closes at six? |
Remember: Use o que quer dizer for a word’s meaning and o que você quis dizer to clarify a person’s message.
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.
What does saudade mean?
Show a Portuguese answer
O que quer dizer saudade?
What does this sign mean?
Show a Portuguese answer
O que quer dizer essa placa?
What did you mean by ‘later’?
Show a Portuguese answer
O que você quis dizer com ‘mais tarde’?
Just to confirm: did you mean tomorrow?
Show a Portuguese answer
Só para confirmar: você quis dizer amanhã?
Could you explain it another way?
Show a Portuguese answer
Pode explicar de outro jeito?
Does that mean the store closes at six?
Show a Portuguese answer
Quer dizer que a loja fecha às seis?
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 o que quer dizer for a word’s meaning and o que você quis dizer to clarify a person’s message.
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 ‘What Do You Mean?’ in Portuguese: O Que Quer Dizer? 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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