Dar Certo, Dar Tempo, and Dar Para: Useful Brazilian Portuguese Phrases
Learn how context changes the meaning of dar in three common phrases about plans, time, and possibility.
Real Life Portuguese · 8 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Dar certo means to work out, go well, or succeed. The subject of the phrase is often the plan, idea, or situation: Deu certo! means “It worked!” The verb dar is irregular, so learn this expression as a complete chunk rather than trying to translate the verb literally each time.
Use dar certo when a plan works out
Use não deu certo to say that something did not work out. You can add a short reason or suggest another plan. The expression is common in everyday conversation about appointments, arrangements, attempts, and ideas.
A reunião deu certo.
The meeting went well.
A gente tentou, mas não deu certo.
We tried, but it didn’t work out.
Se der certo, viajamos no sábado.
If it works out, we’ll travel on Saturday.
Ask whether there is enough time with dar tempo
Dar tempo means that there is enough time to do something. It often appears with para + infinitive: Dá tempo de chegar antes das oito? asks whether there is time to arrive before eight. A past form such as deu tempo can describe whether someone managed to do something in time.
This is different from the noun tempo meaning weather or time in general. The surrounding phrase shows that the expression is about having enough time for an action. Pair it with a real deadline or journey to make the meaning easy to remember.
Dá tempo de pedir um café?
Is there time to order a coffee?
Não deu tempo de comprar os ingressos.
There wasn’t time to buy the tickets.
Se sairmos agora, dá tempo de pegar o ônibus.
If we leave now, there’s time to catch the bus.
Use dar para to ask if something is possible
Dar para can mean that something is possible or manageable: Dá para abrir a janela? (Can you open the window? / Is it possible to open the window?). With an infinitive, it is a flexible everyday way to ask whether an action can be done. The exact English translation depends on context.
Do not confuse this pattern with dar certo. Dar para focuses on possibility, practicality, or whether something can be done; dar certo focuses on whether a plan succeeds. Notice the infinitive that follows dar para and the outcome described by dar certo.
Dá para pagar com cartão?
Can I pay by card?
Não dá para estacionar nesta rua.
It isn’t possible to park on this street.
Dá para você me ajudar com esta mala?
Can you help me with this suitcase?
Compare the three expressions in a mini-dialogue
Imagine planning to catch a bus to an appointment. Ask whether there is enough time, whether it is possible to buy a ticket on board, and whether the plan worked out. Each question uses a different chunk, so the context shows which phrase you need.
Practice changing the subject and time: dá tempo, deu tempo, daria tempo; dá para, não dá para; deu certo, não deu certo. Read each phrase aloud with its complete context. Real Life Portuguese has other guides to high-frequency spoken expressions, and I Speak Portuguese can provide teacher feedback on your pronunciation and natural use.
Dá tempo de chegar à estação?
Is there time to get to the station?
Dá para comprar a passagem lá?
Can I buy the ticket there?
Perdemos o primeiro ônibus, mas o segundo deu certo.
We missed the first bus, but the second plan worked out.
Put it into practice
Remember the meaning by the full chunk: dar certo = work out, dar tempo = have enough time, and dar para = be possible or manageable.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “There wasn’t time to buy the tickets”?
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.