Sensible vs. Sensível: A Portuguese False Friend
Sensível usually means sensitive, not sensible. Use sensato or prudente for a reasonable person or decision.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
English sensible describes a practical or reasonable choice. Portuguese sensível usually means sensitive: someone may be emotionally sensitive or a material may respond easily to touch, light, or temperature. For a sensible decision, use sensato or prudente.
Use sensato for a sensible choice
The endings change with gender and number: uma pessoa sensível, pessoas sensíveis; um plano sensato, uma decisão sensata.
Foi uma decisão sensata esperar mais um dia.
It was a sensible decision to wait one more day.
Minha pele é sensível ao sol.
My skin is sensitive to the sun.
Ele é sensível a críticas.
He is sensitive to criticism.
Check whether you mean practical or sensitive
If the English word means “reasonable,” sensato is usually the safer choice. If it means “easily affected” or “emotionally responsive,” sensível may fit. When the context is less clear, choose a more specific phrase such as uma escolha prática (a practical choice) or uma pessoa emotiva (an emotional person).
Precisamos de uma solução prática e segura.
We need a sensible and safe solution.
O microfone é muito sensível ao ruído.
The microphone is very sensitive to noise.
Put it into practice
For a sensible decision, try sensato; for a sensitive person or object, use sensível. Match the Portuguese word to the intended meaning rather than the similar spelling.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The microphone is very sensitive to noise”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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