sinto sua falta
The English phrase 'I miss you' can be translated into Portuguese in several ways, most commonly as sinto sua falta. Wiktionary also lists sinto saudade de você and tenho saudades de você.
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese |
|---|
| sinto sua falta |
| sinto saudade de você |
| tenho saudades de você |
All these phrases are used to express that you miss someone. While the word saudade refers to a deep, melancholic longing or yearning for someone or something absent, it is very common to use the plural form saudades in phrases like tenho saudades de você.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase sinto sua falta is a literal construction meaning 'I feel your absence' or 'I feel your lack'.
Which one should you use?
Sinto sua falta is slightly more direct and common in everyday conversation. In contrast, sinto saudade de você emphasizes the emotional feeling of longing.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'I miss you all' (plural), change você to vocês in the phrase sinto saudade de você.
Did you know?
- The term saudade is believed by some to have been influenced by the Arabic word for 'black bile', which was historically linked to the concept of melancholy.
- While saudade is often associated with sadness, it can also be expressed as a 'happy' longing when anticipating a reunion.
- In Brazil, sinto sua falta is often used for people, but tenho saudades can be used for places or abstract times in the past.
Examples in context
- Como eu sinto sua falta.How I miss you.This example shows how to express the intensity of missing someone using the form sinto sua falta.Tatoeba #393679 by brauliobezerra, translation #18052 by Zifre
- Sinto saudade de você quando não está aqui.I miss you when you're not here.This example uses the form sinto saudade de você to express missing someone in a specific context.Tatoeba #1331565 by alexmarcelo, translation #1329779 by CK
- Sinto saudade de vocês quando não estão aqui.I miss you when you aren't here.This example shows how to use the form sinto saudade de você when addressing multiple people.Tatoeba #1331563 by alexmarcelo, translation #10140607 by CK
- Senhor Silva, sinto saudades suas e gostaria de lhe desejar tudo de bom.Mr. Silva, I miss you and would like to wish you all the best.
- Doutora Santos, tenho saudades dos tempos em que trabalhamos juntos.Dr. Santos, I miss the times when we worked together.
- Caro Professor Oliveira, sinto a sua falta nas reuniões do departamento.Dear Professor Oliveira, I miss your presence in the department meetings.
- Amiga, sinto a tua falta. Quando nos vemos novamente?Friend, I miss you. When do we see each other again?
- Mano, tenho saudades de ti. Vamos sair juntos em breve.Bro, I miss you. Let's hang out soon.
- Irmãzinha, estou com saudades de nossas conversas.Little sister, I miss our conversations.
- Meu amorzinho, estou morrendo de saudades.My little love, I'm dying from missing you.
- Amigo, sinto saudades daquele churrasco incrível que tivemos no verão passado.Friend, I miss that amazing barbecue we had last summer.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Rodrigo are talking on the phone late at night.
- CamilaOi, Rodrigo. Sinto sua falta.Hi, Rodrigo. I miss you.
- RodrigoEu também sinto sua falta, Camila.I miss you too, Camila.
- CamilaQuando você volta para casa?When are you coming home?
- RodrigoEu volto logo, prometo.I will be back soon, I promise.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i miss you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, falta, saudade, sua, tenho, você, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
