No atinente à hipótese

Using this phrase requires a bit of structural setup in your sentence. You usually place it at the beginning of a clause to introduce a new point. For example, if you are discussing a budget shortfall, you might say, No atinente à hipótese de cortes... (Regarding the possibility of cuts...). Notice that it always takes the preposition a. Because hipótese is feminine, the a merges with the article a to become à with a grave accent. If you forget that accent, a Portuguese teacher somewhere will shed a single, silent tear. It is like the 'legal-speak' version of a hashtag. It categorizes your next statement under a specific topic. Use it to pivot from a general discussion to a specific outcome. It keeps your professional emails looking sharp and your academic papers sounding authoritative.

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is 'shouting at a football game' and 10 is 'signing a peace treaty,' this phrase is a solid 9. It is extremely formal. You will find it in legal briefs, academic dissertations, and high-level corporate reports. If you use this while ordering a pizza, the delivery driver might think you are suing the restaurant. However, there is a fun 'Gen Z' or millennial way to use it: sarcasm. You can use it with friends to sound jokingly over-dramatic about minor problems. 'Regarding the hypothesis that we are out of beer...' sounds much funnier when phrased this way. Generally, keep it for the office or when you want to impress a professor. It is the linguistic equivalent of wearing a three-piece suit to a casual Friday.

Imagine you are in a Zoom meeting discussing a project delay. You could say: No atinente à hipótese de atraso, precisamos de um plano B. (Regarding the possibility of a delay, we need a Plan B.) It sounds much more professional than just saying 'about the delay.' On LinkedIn, you might see a post discussing market trends: No atinente à hipótese de recessão, os investidores estão cautelosos. (Concerning the scenario of a recession, investors are cautious.) Even in a formal WhatsApp group for your apartment building, someone might write: No atinente à hipótese de barulho após as 22h, seguiremos as regras. (Regarding the case of noise after 10 PM, we will follow the rules.) It adds a layer of 'I mean business' to any communication. It’s like putting on a tie before hitting 'send' on an email.

Use this when you need to be ultra-clear and professional. It is perfect for job interviews when you are explaining a hypothetical scenario. 'In the case of a conflict with a colleague...' becomes No atinente à hipótese de conflito... It is also great for feedback. If you are writing a performance review, it helps you isolate specific behaviors. It is a staple in the Brazilian 'Juridiquês' (legal-speak), which is almost its own language. If you are reading a contract or a government notice in Portugal or Brazil, keep your eyes peeled for this. It is the signpost that says 'pay attention to this specific condition.' It is also very useful for clarifying misunderstandings by narrowing down the focus of the conversation.

Do not use this at a bar, a beach, or a family BBQ unless you are trying to be funny. It is far too stiff for casual settings. If you say this to your mom while asking for more rice, she might ask if you’ve been kidnapped by lawyers. Avoid it in TikTok captions or casual Instagram stories unless you are doing a 'corporate life' parody. Also, do not use it if you aren't 100% sure about the 'hypótese' you are referring to. Because it is so precise, being vague after using it makes you look silly. It’s like using a laser pointer to point at a giant, blurry cloud. If the situation is simple, stay simple. Sobre (about) or Quanto a (as for) are much better for daily life.

The most frequent error is the 'Crase' (the accent). People often write No atinente a hipótese without the accent, which is grammatically wrong. Another mistake is using it as a synonym for 'maybe.' It is not a 'maybe'; it is a 'regarding the case.' Some learners also try to say No atinente de hipótese. Remember: it is always atinente A. Using de is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

Another mistake is redundancy. Don't say No atinente à hipótese do caso. Since hipótese already implies the 'case' or 'scenario,' adding do caso is like saying 'ATM machine.'

If No atinente à hipótese feels a bit too long, you can use No que tange à hipótese. It means essentially the same thing but uses a different verb ('tange' comes from touching/concerning). Another variant is Relativamente à hipótese. This is very common in Portugal and sounds slightly more 'European.' For something just a tiny bit less stiff, try No que diz respeito à hipótese. It is still formal but feels a bit more modern. If you want to go full 'Old School Lawyer,' you might see No que concerne à hipótese. All of these serve the same function: they are fancy ways to point your finger at a specific situation. They are the 'fancy hats' of the Portuguese language.

Is this only for legal documents? Not exclusively, but that is its home. You will see it in business and academia too. Can I use it in an email to a friend? Only if you are being sarcastic or joking about being too formal. What does 'atinente' actually mean? It means 'pertaining to' or 'relating to.' It comes from the Latin 'attinere.' Is there a shorter way to say this? Yes, just use 'Sobre' (About) if you want to be casual. Why is there an accent on the 'à'? Because 'atinente' requires the preposition 'a' and 'hipótese' is feminine, taking the article 'a.' A+A = À. Is it common in Brazil and Portugal? Yes, it is used in both, though Portuguese people might prefer 'Relativamente.'