Which one should you use?
While verdadeiro refers to being 'true' in terms of factual accuracy, it is also commonly used to mean 'real' or 'genuine'. Additionally, do not confuse the adjective verdadeiro (true) with the noun verdade (truth).
Is it said differently in some regions?
The colloquial expression Pode crer is used in Brazil to mean 'you can believe'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use verdadeiro for masculine singular, verdadeira for feminine singular, verdadeiros for masculine plural and verdadeiras for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The IPA is /veʁ.daˈde(j).ɾu/.
When do people say it?
To express surprise or to confirm if something is actually true, you can use the informal expression É sério?, which means 'is it serious?' or 'seriously?'
Did you know?
- While verdadeiro means 'true', the opposite is often not falso (false) but mentira (a lie) when referring to spoken statements.
- The word verdade shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'veracity' and the Latin 'veritas'.
- When agreeing with someone in a casual conversation, Brazilians often say Verdade! as a standalone exclamation to mean 'Exactly!' or 'I agree!'
Examples in context
- Isto é amor verdadeiro.This is true love.This sentence uses verdadeiro to describe true love.Tatoeba #1608040 by alexmarcelo, translation #1607904 by CM
- Tom é um verdadeiro líder.Tom is a true leader.This sentence uses verdadeiro to describe a true leader.Tatoeba #5109076 by bill, translation #5007462 by CK
- Você é um verdadeiro herói.You're a true hero.This sentence uses verdadeiro to describe a true hero.Tatoeba #3215061 by danilobito, translation #2713699 by CK
- Isso é verdadeThat's true
- Não é verdadeIt's not true
- É certo que ele iráIt's true that he will go
- É verdade que eles estão namorandoIt's true they're dating
- É verdade que o relatório foi entregue?Is it true that the report was submitted?
- 66 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Felipe are discussing a news story.
- CamilaVocê acha que isso é verdadeiro?Do you think this is true?
- FelipeNão, parece ser uma mentira.No, it seems to be a lie.
- CamilaMas a fonte é confiável.But the source is reliable.
- FelipeAinda assim, não tenho certeza se é verdadeiro.Still, I am not sure if it is true.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “true” translations and entries verdadeiro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
