Relativamente à constatação

You’ll mostly find this phrase in written reports, academic papers, or formal speeches. However, it’s also great for professional emails or when you're giving feedback on a project. To use it correctly, you first need to establish a constatação (a finding or realization). For example, if you notice that sales dropped in July, that is your constatação. Then, you can start your next sentence with Relativamente à constatação de que as vendas caíram... (Regarding the finding that sales fell...). It functions as a prepositional phrase that sets the stage for your next observation or proposal. If you use it while texting your best friend about a pizza order, they might think you’ve been replaced by a corporate AI bot, so keep it for the office!

This is a high-level formal expression. You won't hear people saying this at a backyard barbecue or while playing video games with friends. It belongs in the world of B2 and C1 Portuguese—the realm of professionals, researchers, and precise communicators. In the hierarchy of Portuguese formality, this sits right near the top. If sobre (about) is a t-shirt, relativamente à is a tuxedo. Even in professional settings, using it too much might make you sound a bit stiff, so sprinkle it in like a high-quality spice rather than making it the main course. It shows you have a strong command of the language and understand the nuances of formal discourse.

Imagine you are a travel vlogger reviewing a hotel on LinkedIn. You might write: Relativamente à constatação de falta de manutenção, a gerência prometeu melhorias. This sounds way more professional than just saying the place was falling apart. Or consider a job interview on Zoom where the recruiter mentions a gap in your CV. You could respond: Relativamente à constatação desse período, eu estava focado em cursos de especialização. Boom. You’ve just turned a potentially awkward moment into a masterclass in professional communication. It’s also very common in news segments or Netflix documentaries when a narrator is connecting a crime scene finding to a suspect. It provides that "expert witness" vibe that keeps the audience engaged.

Use this when you need to be precise and reference a specific piece of information. It’s perfect for the "Results" or "Discussion" section of a report. If you’re a gamer and you’re writing a formal bug report to a developer, this phrase will make your report stand out. It’s also useful when you’re debating someone politely and want to address a specific point they made without sounding aggressive. Using relativamente à shows respect for the facts. It’s the perfect choice for legal documents, medical findings, or even a very serious letter to your landlord about that weird noise the fridge is making.

Avoid this phrase in casual settings. If you’re at a cafe ordering a latte, do not say Relativamente à constatação de que o leite é integral... unless you want the barista to look at you very strangely. It’s also too heavy for casual WhatsApp chats or Instagram captions unless you’re being intentionally ironic or humorous. Don’t use it when the "finding" isn't actually a finding—if it’s just an opinion, use sobre or quanto a. Also, if you’re already using other formal bridges like no que tange a or no que diz respeito a, don’t stack them all together. One formal bridge per paragraph is usually enough to keep the vibe sophisticated without becoming exhausting.

The most common error is forgetting the crase (the accent on the à). Since relativamente requires the preposition a and constatação is a feminine noun that takes the article a, they merge into à. Writing Relativamente a constatação (without the accent) is a classic mistake that even native speakers make, but it will catch the eye of a careful reader. Another mistake is using the wrong preposition, like Relativamente com or Relativamente para. It’s always Relativamente a. Finally, avoid using it to introduce a brand-new topic; it must always refer back to something that has been "found" or "realized" previously.

If you want to change things up but keep the same level of formality, you can use No que concerne à constatação or Quanto à constatação. Both are equally formal and mean roughly the same thing. If you want to be slightly less formal but still professional, you could use Em relação à constatação. In regional terms, you might find that Portuguese from Portugal (PT-PT) uses this slightly more frequently in daily professional life than in Brazil (PT-BR), where people might prefer Sobre o que foi constatado. In the world of social media, you might see a more "meme-ified" version where people use formal language to describe mundane things, like Relativamente à constatação de que minha bateria acabou...

Is this phrase common in Brazil? Yes, but mostly in written form, law, or very formal business meetings. Is it the same as 'About the finding'? Yes, but much more formal and precise. Can I use it in an essay? Absolutely, it’s a gold-standard transition for academic writing. Do I always need the accent on the à? Yes, if the next word is feminine and singular, like constatação. Is there a shorter version? Not really, but you can use Sobre isso if you want to be casual and quick. Does it sound old-fashioned? No, it sounds professional and educated, like a modern executive or a researcher.