How to Say ‘Make a Decision’ in Portuguese: Decidir or Tomar uma Decisão — Practice

Use decidir to say what someone chooses

Decidir is the direct verb “to decide.” It can be followed by a noun, a question word, or an infinitive. This is often the most concise choice in conversation.

Use tomar uma decisão for the noun phrase

Tomar uma decisão literally uses “take” and means to make a decision. Use it when you want to emphasize reaching a conclusion or the decision-making process.

Talk about deciding together or taking more time

When a group is choosing, decidir em conjunto means to decide together. If you need more time, say ainda estou pensando or preciso de mais um dia. These phrases describe the process without making a promise you cannot keep.

Remember: Decidir is the verb; tomar uma decisão is a natural phrase meaning ‘make a decision.’

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 haven’t decided what I’m going to order yet.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ainda não decidi o que vou pedir.

2. We decided to travel by bus.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Decidimos viajar de ônibus.

3. I need to make a decision by Friday.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Preciso tomar uma decisão até sexta-feira.

4. It was a difficult decision.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Foi uma decisão difícil.

5. Let’s decide together after comparing the prices.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vamos decidir juntos depois de comparar os preços.

6. I’m still thinking; can I answer tomorrow?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ainda estou pensando; posso responder amanhã?

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.

Decidir is the verb; tomar uma decisão is a natural phrase meaning ‘make a decision.’

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 ‘Make a Decision’ in Portuguese: Decidir or Tomar uma Decisão 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.