Dizer vs. Falar: How to Say ‘Say’ and ‘Speak’ in Portuguese
Dizer often focuses on the words or message; falar often describes speaking a language or having a conversation. Their uses can overlap.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Dizer often means to say or tell something. It focuses on the information someone expresses. You can say what the person said, tell someone a detail, or report a short message with dizer.
Use dizer when the words or message matter
In everyday Brazilian speech, falar que… can also introduce what someone said. The two verbs overlap, so learn the most common patterns without treating them as perfectly separate categories.
Ela disse que chega às oito.
She said she’ll arrive at eight.
Pode me dizer seu nome?
Can you tell me your name?
Ele falou que a loja está fechada.
He said that the store is closed.
Use falar for a language or a conversation
Falar commonly means to speak a language, talk with someone, or talk about a subject. Typical patterns include falar português, falar com alguém, and falar sobre um assunto. The preposition and context help show what comes next.
Você fala português com seus colegas?
Do you speak Portuguese with your coworkers?
Quero falar com a gerente sobre a reserva.
I want to speak with the manager about the reservation.
A gente falou sobre a viagem ontem.
We talked about the trip yesterday.
Put it into practice
Start with dizer for the words or message, and falar for a language, conversation, or topic. Listen to Brazilian usage too; in casual speech the verbs can overlap.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “We talked about the trip yesterday”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.