No que concerne à categorização

You will almost always see this phrase at the start of a sentence or as a transition between two complex ideas. The grammatical anchor here is the à with the backtick (the crase). Because concerne requires the preposition a and categorização is a feminine noun requiring the article a, they merge into à. If you forget that little mark, your Portuguese teacher might cry. You use it to pivot. Imagine you are discussing a new project. You talk about the budget, the timeline, and then—boom—No que concerne à categorização of the target audience, we need more data. It acts as a mental 'folder' that you are opening for your audience. It is rigid, so do not try to break it apart or move the words around too much.

This phrase lives in the 'Very Formal' to 'Formal' neighborhood. You will find it in legal documents, academic theses, and long emails from HR that nobody wants to read. It is not something you would say while grabbing a beer or texting your cousin about a BBQ. If you use it in a casual setting, people might think you are joking or that you have spent too much time reading the dictionary. However, in a job interview or a LinkedIn post about 'market segmentation', it is absolute gold. It shows you have a high 'level' of the language. It is the verbal equivalent of a firm handshake. It says, 'I am a professional, and I know how to structure my thoughts.'

Imagine a CEO presenting the yearly results on a Zoom call. She might say, No que concerne à categorização dos custos, fomos muito eficientes. This sounds much more impressive than just saying 'We sorted the costs well.' Or think of a student defending a master's degree. They would use this to explain why they grouped certain authors together. You will also see it in the 'Terms and Conditions' of apps. When Netflix explains how they categorize movies into 'Gritty Crime Dramas' or 'Feel-good Comedies', their legal team is likely using this exact phrasing in the Portuguese version of the contract. It provides a shield of 'officialness' to the text.

Use this when you are writing something that needs to be taken seriously. If you are writing a report for a Brazilian or Portuguese company, this phrase will make you look incredibly competent. It is also perfect for formal presentations where you have slides. It is a great 'anchor' phrase to use when moving to a new slide that shows a chart or a table. Use it when you want to sound objective and unbiased. It is a 'distancing' phrase—it makes the topic sound like a matter of fact rather than a personal opinion. If you are debating a topic in a formal setting, use it to narrow the scope of the argument so you don't get sidetracked.

Do not use this with your friends. If you say No que concerne à categorização das batatas fritas... while ordering at a snack bar, the waiter will look at you like you are from another planet. It is too heavy for light topics. Also, avoid it in quick WhatsApp messages unless you are being intentionally sarcastic to sound like a 'boring boss'. Do not use it if you are unsure about the grammar of the rest of the sentence. Because it is such a high-level phrase, it creates an expectation of perfection. If the rest of your Portuguese is shaky, this phrase will stick out like a tuxedo at a beach party. Stick to sobre (about) for daily life.

The number one mistake is the 'Crase Crisis'. People often write a instead of à. Remember: concerne + a + a categorização = à. Another common slip is adding unnecessary prepositions, like saying ✗ No que concerne sobre. The word sobre is already 'built into' the meaning of concerne. It is like saying 'regarding about' in English—it just sounds clunky. Finally, some people try to make it plural: ✗ Nos que concernem. Keep it singular. It is a fixed block of language. Respect the block! If you try to 'fix' it, you’ll likely break the formal vibe you were trying to create.

If No que concerne à feels a bit too stiff, you can try Quanto à categorização. It is still formal but a bit more versatile. Another great alternative is Relativamente à categorização. This is very common in European Portuguese and sounds very elegant. If you want to be slightly more modern but still professional, you can use No que diz respeito à categorização. This literally means 'In that which says respect to', which is a fancy way of saying 'In regards to'. In very old-fashioned legal texts, you might even see Pelo que respeita à, but that is practically 'final boss' level Portuguese. Stick to the main version until you feel like a pro.

Is this used in Brazil and Portugal? Yes, it is standard in both, though the accent will differ. Can I use it for people? Only if you are 'categorizing' them in a study or a report (like 'age groups'). Is it better than sobre? Only in formal writing; sobre is better for speaking. Does it always need the à? Yes, if the next word is categorização. What if I use a masculine word? Then it becomes ao, as in No que concerne ao processo. Is it common in literature? Yes, especially in non-fiction and essays. Can I use it in an email to a teacher? Absolutely, it will likely impress them!