Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| significar | /si.ɡi.ni.fiˈka(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /siɡ.ni.fiˈka(ʁ)/ (Brazil) |
| querer dizer | /keˈɾe(ʁ) d͡ʒiˈze(ʁ)/ (Brazil, word by word) |
significar is used when referring to the literal definition or significance of a word or symbol. When you are asking about the intent behind someone's words or actions, or asking for clarification on what a person is implying, use querer dizer.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase querer dizer is composed of the verb querer (to want) and dizer (to say), literally translating to 'to want to say'.
Which one should you use?
While significar is used for the literal definition of a word, querer dizer is much more common in spoken Portuguese when asking what someone's words or actions imply.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular past tense of significar is significou (he/she/it meant).
How do you pronounce it?
The word significar has five syllables, with the stress on the fifth syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /si.ɡi.ni.fiˈka(ʁ)/.
Did you know?
- The phrase querer dizer uses the verb querer, which is also the primary word for 'to love' in many Portuguese-speaking contexts.
- The expression querer dizer is part of a widespread pattern across several European languages, mirroring the French 'vouloir dire' and Spanish 'querer decir'.
- In Brazil, querer dizer can be used as a conversational filler, similar to how English speakers use 'I mean' to pause or rephrase a thought.
Examples in context
- O que isso pode significar?What can that mean?This sentence is useful for asking about the possible significance of something using significar.Tatoeba #10791999 by DavidDias, translation #4501001 by CK
- O que deveria significar isso?What was it supposed to mean?This sentence is useful for asking about what something was supposed to mean using significar.Tatoeba #3655727 by Ricardo14, translation #3659751 by Ricardo14
- O que mais isso poderia significar?What else could it mean?This sentence is useful for asking about what else something could mean using significar.Tatoeba #11708320 by MrJuice, translation #3822496 by CK
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mean” translations and entries significar, querer dizer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (querer, dizer) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dizer, querer, querer dizer, significar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
