‘Take a Chance’ and ‘Give Someone a Chance’ in Portuguese
Portuguese uses different phrases for taking a risk and giving another person an opportunity.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
Arriscar means to risk or take a chance. Use arriscar + infinitive to describe trying something even when the outcome is uncertain.
Use arriscar for taking a risk
Vou arriscar e pedir o prato que nunca experimentei.
I’m going to take a chance and order the dish I’ve never tried.
Ela arriscou mudar de carreira.
She took a chance on changing careers.
Use dar uma chance for offering an opportunity
Dar uma chance means to give someone or something a chance. It is about allowing an opportunity, not necessarily taking a personal risk.
Vou dar uma chance a esse curso novo.
I’m going to give this new course a chance.
Dê uma chance para ela explicar a ideia.
Give her a chance to explain the idea.
Choose based on who is taking the risk
If you are doing something uncertain, use arriscar or tentar. If you are allowing another person to try, use dar uma chance. A chance can also mean an opportunity: oportunidade is a slightly more formal synonym.
Tentei falar com o gerente antes de sair.
I took a chance and tried to speak with the manager before leaving.
A equipe deu uma oportunidade para a proposta funcionar.
The team gave the proposal a chance to work.
Put it into practice
Arriscar is taking a chance; dar uma chance is giving someone or something an opportunity.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The team gave the proposal a chance to work”?
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.