C1 Expression Formell

A bem dizer a verdade.

To tell you the honest truth.

Bedeutung

Emphasizes sincerity before stating a fact or opinion.

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Kultureller Hintergrund

In Portugal, this phrase is often used with a very closed 'e' in 'verdade'. It sounds very distinguished and is common in political interviews on RTP. Brazilians might use 'Para falar a verdade' 90% of the time. Using 'A bem dizer a verdade' marks you as someone with a high level of education or someone being very serious. In Luanda, formal Portuguese is highly respected. This phrase is used in formal social gatherings to show respect while being honest. This phrase is a favorite of 19th-century novelists to show the internal conflict of characters who are forced to be honest.

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The Comma is Key

Always follow the phrase with a comma in writing. It creates the necessary rhetorical pause.

⚠️

Don't Overuse

If you use it in every sentence, you'll sound like you're hiding something or being overly dramatic.

Bedeutung

Emphasizes sincerity before stating a fact or opinion.

🎯

The Comma is Key

Always follow the phrase with a comma in writing. It creates the necessary rhetorical pause.

⚠️

Don't Overuse

If you use it in every sentence, you'll sound like you're hiding something or being overly dramatic.

💬

The 'Bem' Factor

In Portugal, removing the 'bem' makes it more direct. Adding 'bem' makes it more polite and considered.

Teste dich selbst

Complete the sentence with the correct formal phrase.

__________, eu não esperava que o evento fosse tão produtivo.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: a

The standard formal phrase is 'A bem dizer a verdade'.

Which situation is most appropriate for 'A bem dizer a verdade'?

Choose the best context:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: b

The phrase is used for sincere clarifications in formal or serious contexts.

Complete the dialogue.

Ana: Você gostou do meu novo livro? Paulo: __________, achei a trama um pouco confusa.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: a

Paulo is offering a sincere, slightly negative critique, which fits the phrase perfectly.

🎉 Ergebnis: /3

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Aufgabensammlung

3 Aufgaben
Complete the sentence with the correct formal phrase. Fill Blank B2

__________, eu não esperava que o evento fosse tão produtivo.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: a

The standard formal phrase is 'A bem dizer a verdade'.

Which situation is most appropriate for 'A bem dizer a verdade'? Choose B1

Choose the best context:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: b

The phrase is used for sincere clarifications in formal or serious contexts.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B2

Ana: Você gostou do meu novo livro? Paulo: __________, achei a trama um pouco confusa.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: a

Paulo is offering a sincere, slightly negative critique, which fits the phrase perfectly.

🎉 Ergebnis: /3

Häufig gestellte Fragen

5 Fragen

Yes, but it's slightly more formal. 'Para falar a verdade' is the closer equivalent to the casual 'To be honest'.

No, it almost always comes at the beginning or as an interruption in the middle.

It is understood by everyone but used mostly in formal writing or by older, educated speakers.

'A bem dizer' means 'practically' or 'virtually'. 'A bem dizer a verdade' means 'to tell the truth'.

No, that doesn't exist. The opposite would be something like 'Mentindo descaradamente' (Lying shamelessly).

Verwandte Redewendungen

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Para falar a verdade

similar

To tell the truth

🔗

Na verdade

similar

Actually / In fact

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A bem dizer

specialized form

Virtually / Practically

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Sinceramente

synonym

Sincerely / Honestly

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