Por Falar Nisso: Change Topics with ‘Speaking of Which’
Por falar nisso means ‘speaking of which’ or ‘that reminds me.’ Use it when a related thought comes up in conversation.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
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.
Connect a new thought to something just mentioned
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.
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.
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.
Put it into practice
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.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “By the way, the meeting is on Thursday, not Wednesday”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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