Face a
In view of
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A sophisticated way to say 'given' or 'considering' when justifying a decision or reaction to a specific situation.
- Means: 'In view of' or 'considering' (max 15 words)
- Used in: Formal reports, news broadcasts, and academic essays (max 15 words)
- Don't confuse: With 'frente a', which often implies physical position (max 15 words)
Explanation at your level:
Significado
Considering; in light of a particular situation or fact.
Contexto cultural
In Portugal, 'face a' is a staple of 'O Telejornal' (the main news). It reflects the Portuguese preference for formal, slightly melancholic justification of events. In Brazilian legal culture, 'em face de' is often used in lawsuits to indicate who the action is being brought against. In African Lusophone countries, formal Portuguese often retains a very classical structure, making 'face a' very common in official government speeches. In the Lusophone corporate world, using 'face a' in a PowerPoint presentation is a 'power move' that signals analytical thinking.
The Crase Rule
If you can replace the feminine word with a masculine one and it becomes 'ao', you need the 'à'. (Face à crise -> Face ao problema).
Don't overdo it
Using 'face a' more than twice in one email makes you sound like a 19th-century lawyer. Mix it up with 'visto que' or 'devido a'.
Significado
Considering; in light of a particular situation or fact.
The Crase Rule
If you can replace the feminine word with a masculine one and it becomes 'ao', you need the 'à'. (Face à crise -> Face ao problema).
Don't overdo it
Using 'face a' more than twice in one email makes you sound like a 19th-century lawyer. Mix it up with 'visto que' or 'devido a'.
Brazilian usage
In Brazil, you'll hear 'diante de' much more often in speech. Save 'face a' for your written reports.
Ponte a prueba
Preencha com 'face ao', 'face à', 'face aos' ou 'face às'.
_______ novas regras, teremos de mudar o horário.
'Regras' is feminine plural, so 'face a' + 'as' = 'face às'.
Qual frase usa 'face a' corretamente?
This is the correct figurative use in a formal/neutral context. The others are either physical or grammatically wrong.
Complete o diálogo formal.
Diretor: O lucro baixou este mês. Gerente: Sim, _______ aumento do custo das matérias-primas.
'Face ao' fits the formal register of a director-manager conversation perfectly.
🎉 Puntuación: /3
Ayudas visuales
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes, but much more formal. It's like the difference between 'because of the rain' and 'in view of the precipitation'.
No. 'Face a' is followed by nouns, not personal pronouns. Use 'diante de você' or 'perante você'.
Yes, it is standard in both, though slightly more common in European Portuguese formal speech.
It's a contraction of the preposition 'a' and the feminine article 'a'.
No, it is a prepositional phrase that must be followed by a noun or noun phrase.
Yes, especially in 20th-century existentialist literature and modern essays.
There isn't a direct opposite, but 'independentemente de' (regardless of) works as a logical contrast.
No, it must be followed by a noun. For verbs, use 'visto que' or 'já que'.
Not old-fashioned, just very professional and serious.
Constantly. It's one of the most common ways to link a cause to an effect in headlines.
Frases relacionadas
diante de
similarIn front of / Given
perante
similarBefore (authority/fact)
tendo em conta
synonymTaking into account
haja vista
specialized formGiven that / In view of
defronte de
contrastOpposite to
Dónde usarla
Job Interview
Interviewer: Por que você quer mudar de emprego?
Candidate: Face à falta de oportunidades de crescimento na minha empresa atual, procuro novos desafios.
News Broadcast
Anchor: Face ao aumento dos casos de gripe, o Ministério da Saúde recomenda a vacinação.
Reporter: Sim, as filas nos postos já são longas.
Academic Presentation
Student: Face aos dados recolhidos, podemos concluir que a hipótese era falsa.
Professor: Excelente análise dos resultados.
Legal Consultation
Lawyer: Face à nova prova apresentada, o juiz pode adiar o julgamento.
Client: Isso é bom para nós?
Business Meeting
Manager: Face à quebra nas vendas, teremos de reduzir o orçamento de marketing.
Employee: Entendo, vamos focar no tráfego orgânico então.
Political Debate
Politician A: O que o seu governo fará face à crise na habitação?
Politician B: Estamos a preparar um pacote de medidas urgentes.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Face a' as 'Facing a fact'. If you are facing it, you are considering it.
Visual Association
Imagine yourself standing in front of a giant wall with a fact written on it. You can't walk through it, so you have to change your path because of it.
Rhyme
Face a, face à, o que o destino nos dá.
Story
A CEO stands before a window looking at a storm. She says, 'Face à tempestade (Given the storm), we must stay in the office.' She is looking at the reality and making a plan.
Word Web
Desafío
Write three sentences about your current life situation starting with 'Face a...' (e.g., 'Face ao meu cansaço, vou dormir cedo').
In Other Languages
Frente a / Ante
Spanish 'frente a' is more common in daily speech than Portuguese 'face a'.
Face à
French uses it more frequently in neutral registers than Portuguese.
Angesichts
German uses a single word, while Portuguese uses a prepositional phrase.
〜に直面して (~ni chokumen shite)
Japanese focuses more on the 'confrontation' aspect of the situation.
في مواجهة (fi muwajahat)
Arabic often implies a more active struggle or opposition.
面对 (miànduì)
Chinese 'miandui' is much more common as a verb than 'face a'.
~에 직면하여 (~e jingmyeonhayeo)
It is strictly formal and rarely used in conversation.
In light of / Given / In the face of
English 'in the face of' usually implies more courage or resistance than 'face a'.
Easily Confused
Learners use it interchangeably with 'face a' for logical cause.
Use 'frente a' for physical opposition (like a building) and 'face a' for logical reasons.
Learners aren't sure if they need the 'em'.
Both are correct, but 'face a' is more modern and common in news, while 'em face de' is more legal/old-fashioned.
Preguntas frecuentes (10)
Yes, but much more formal. It's like the difference between 'because of the rain' and 'in view of the precipitation'.
No. 'Face a' is followed by nouns, not personal pronouns. Use 'diante de você' or 'perante você'.
Yes, it is standard in both, though slightly more common in European Portuguese formal speech.
It's a contraction of the preposition 'a' and the feminine article 'a'.
No, it is a prepositional phrase that must be followed by a noun or noun phrase.
Yes, especially in 20th-century existentialist literature and modern essays.
There isn't a direct opposite, but 'independentemente de' (regardless of) works as a logical contrast.
No, it must be followed by a noun. For verbs, use 'visto que' or 'já que'.
Not old-fashioned, just very professional and serious.
Constantly. It's one of the most common ways to link a cause to an effect in headlines.
