Fazer Sentido: Ask ‘Does That Make Sense?’ in Portuguese
Faz sentido? is a natural way to ask whether an idea or explanation makes sense in Brazilian Portuguese.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Fazer sentido means to make sense. The expression works for plans, explanations, choices, and information that seems logical or understandable. In a question, faz sentido? can check the idea; isso faz sentido para você? asks whether it makes sense to the other person.
Use fazer sentido for an idea that is logical or clear
The noun sentido stays in the singular in this expression. Learn the whole chunk faz sentido rather than translating the English word make separately.
Esse plano faz sentido para você?
Does this plan make sense to you?
Agora faz sentido.
Now it makes sense.
A explicação não fez muito sentido para mim.
The explanation didn’t make much sense to me.
Check understanding without sounding like a test
When you have explained something, faz sentido? invites the listener to say whether the idea is clear. If you want to ask directly whether the person understood, use você entendeu? The first checks the explanation; the second focuses on the listener’s understanding.
Vou explicar com um exemplo. Faz sentido?
I’ll explain with an example. Does that make sense?
Você entendeu a última parte?
Did you understand the last part?
Put it into practice
Use faz sentido? to check an idea or explanation and você entendeu? to ask whether someone understood. The difference keeps a clarification friendly and specific.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The explanation didn’t make much sense to me”?
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.