Por Falar Nisso: Change Topics with ‘Speaking of Which’ — 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.
Connect a new thought to something just mentioned
Por falar nisso means “speaking of which,” “that reminds me,” or sometimes “by the way.” Use it when the next topic has a clear connection to what someone has just said. It helps the change feel less abrupt.
A natural place for the expression is at the beginning of a follow-up question or reminder. The phrase does not require the next topic to be identical; it signals that the speaker noticed a useful connection.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Por falar nisso, você já reservou o hotel? | Speaking of which, have you booked the hotel yet? |
| Você comentou sobre a prova. Por falar nisso, como foi a sua? | You mentioned the exam. That reminds me, how did yours go? |
| Por falar em viagem, preciso renovar meu passaporte. | Speaking of travel, I need to renew my passport. |
Compare por falar nisso with aliás
Por falar nisso explicitly points back to the previous topic. Aliás can add a correction, clarification, or side note, so it is not always interchangeable. Context and intonation help show whether the speaker is changing direction or adjusting a detail.
The shorter way to connect a related subject is por falar em + noun: por falar em música (speaking of music). Use nisso when the link is to an idea or event already in the conversation.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Por falar em música, você conhece essa cantora? | Speaking of music, do you know this singer? |
| Aliás, o encontro é na quinta, não na quarta. | By the way, the meeting is on Thursday, not Wednesday. |
| A reunião foi produtiva. Por falar nisso, já enviei as anotações. | The meeting was productive. Speaking of which, I’ve sent the notes. |
Remember: Use por falar nisso to introduce a thought linked to the previous topic; use por falar em before a topic noun and aliás for a side note or correction.
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.
Speaking of which, have you booked the hotel yet?
Show a Portuguese answer
Por falar nisso, você já reservou o hotel?
You mentioned the exam. That reminds me, how did yours go?
Show a Portuguese answer
Você comentou sobre a prova. Por falar nisso, como foi a sua?
Speaking of travel, I need to renew my passport.
Show a Portuguese answer
Por falar em viagem, preciso renovar meu passaporte.
Speaking of music, do you know this singer?
Show a Portuguese answer
Por falar em música, você conhece essa cantora?
By the way, the meeting is on Thursday, not Wednesday.
Show a Portuguese answer
Aliás, o encontro é na quinta, não na quarta.
The meeting was productive. Speaking of which, I’ve sent the notes.
Show a Portuguese answer
A reunião foi produtiva. Por falar nisso, já enviei as anotações.
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 por falar nisso to introduce a thought linked to the previous topic; use por falar em before a topic noun and aliás for a side note or correction.
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 Por Falar Nisso: Change Topics with ‘Speaking of Which’ 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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