Bedeutung
To ensure that an effort, sacrifice, or experience is justified and rewarding.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Brazil, 'fazer valer a pena' is often associated with the 'jeitinho brasileiro' in a positive sense—finding creative ways to make a situation beneficial despite limited resources. The phrase is famously linked to the poet Fernando Pessoa, who wrote: 'Tudo vale a pena se a alma não é pequena' (Everything is worth it if the soul is not small). This is the philosophical foundation of the phrase in Portugal. In Angolan Kuduro and Semba music, the phrase is frequently used to describe the struggle for a better life and the celebration of success after hardship. In Mozambique, the phrase often appears in the context of national reconstruction and the value of education as a tool to 'make the sacrifice of the ancestors worth it'. In the context of the Cape Verdean diaspora, 'fazer valer a pena' refers to the success of emigrants who send money home, justifying their departure from the islands.
Use with Subjunctive
To sound more advanced, use it with 'espero que' or 'quero que' + 'faça valer a pena'.
Avoid Triviality
Don't use it for things that don't require effort, or you'll sound like you're over-dramatizing.
Bedeutung
To ensure that an effort, sacrifice, or experience is justified and rewarding.
Use with Subjunctive
To sound more advanced, use it with 'espero que' or 'quero que' + 'faça valer a pena'.
Avoid Triviality
Don't use it for things that don't require effort, or you'll sound like you're over-dramatizing.
Business Context
In meetings, use 'fazer valer o investimento' to sound professional and results-oriented.
The Pessoa Quote
Memorizing 'Tudo vale a pena se a alma não é pequena' is a great conversation starter in Portugal.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'fazer'.
Eu espero que você _______ valer a pena todo o meu esforço.
The sentence expresses a wish ('Eu espero que...'), which requires the present subjunctive 'faça'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'We made the trip worth it'?
Como se diz 'We made the trip worth it' em português?
Option A uses the correct past tense of 'fazer' and the standard phrase 'valer a pena'.
Match the response to the situation.
Situação: Você gastou muito dinheiro em um curso de culinária.
Making it worth it involves taking positive action to get the benefit of the investment.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'O trabalho é difícil e o salário é baixo.' B: 'Eu sei, mas você precisa _______ para conseguir uma promoção.'
The standard infinitive form is needed after 'precisa'.
Match the Portuguese phrase with its English equivalent.
Combine os pares:
These are common synonyms and related phrases.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Active vs. Passive Worth
Common Contexts
Career
- • Promotions
- • Interviews
- • Projects
Leisure
- • Travel
- • Parties
- • Hobbies
Personal
- • Growth
- • Relationships
- • Health
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenEu espero que você _______ valer a pena todo o meu esforço.
The sentence expresses a wish ('Eu espero que...'), which requires the present subjunctive 'faça'.
Como se diz 'We made the trip worth it' em português?
Option A uses the correct past tense of 'fazer' and the standard phrase 'valer a pena'.
Situação: Você gastou muito dinheiro em um curso de culinária.
Making it worth it involves taking positive action to get the benefit of the investment.
A: 'O trabalho é difícil e o salário é baixo.' B: 'Eu sei, mas você precisa _______ para conseguir uma promoção.'
The standard infinitive form is needed after 'precisa'.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are common synonyms and related phrases.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 Fragen'Valer a pena' is passive (Something is worth it). 'Fazer valer a pena' is active (You make something worth it).
Yes, but it usually refers to the relationship or the time spent with them, e.g., 'Vou fazer valer a pena o nosso encontro'.
In this specific idiom, yes, it historically refers to 'pain' or 'effort', though modern speakers just think of it as 'worth'.
It is neutral. It works in a business meeting and at a bar with friends.
Only conjugate 'fazer'. For example: 'Eu fiz valer a pena'.
Yes, you can place the object after the phrase or between 'fazer' and 'valer'.
Yes, it is used in all Portuguese-speaking countries.
In Brazil, 'fazer o corre valer' is a popular urban slang equivalent.
Yes: 'Ele não fez valer a pena a oportunidade que recebeu'.
Saying 'fazer valendo a pena' instead of 'fazer valer a pena'.
Constantly. It is one of the most common themes in Brazilian pop and samba.
No, you don't need the 'de'. Just say 'fazer valer a pena a viagem'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Valer a pena
similarTo be worth it
Fazer por merecer
builds onTo earn it
Compensar
synonymTo compensate / to be worth it
Dar o sangue
specialized formTo give one's blood (to work extremely hard)
Tirar proveito
similarTo take advantage of / to make the most of
Aproveitar ao máximo
synonymTo make the most of it
