In 15 Seconds
- A polite way to buy time during a conversation.
- Used for making decisions or remembering information.
- Can be formal (deixe-me) or casual (deixa eu).
Meaning
This is your go-to phrase for hitting the pause button. It's used when you need a moment to collect your thoughts or make a decision.
Key Examples
3 of 6Ordering at a cafe
Deixe-me pensar... vou querer um pão de queijo.
Let me think... I'll have a cheese bread.
In a business meeting
Deixe-me pensar na melhor estratégia para este projeto.
Let me think about the best strategy for this project.
Texting a friend about plans
Deixa eu pensar e te respondo mais tarde, tá?
Let me think and I'll get back to you later, okay?
Cultural Background
In Brazil, 'Deixe-me pensar' is often a polite way to say 'no' without being confrontational. If someone asks for a loan and you say this, they likely know the answer is actually no. Portuguese people value directness more than Brazilians, but 'Deixe-me pensar' is still used to show that a topic is being taken seriously. Silence after the phrase is common and not considered awkward. In Luanda, the phrase might be accompanied by a specific gesture, like tapping the temple or chin, emphasizing the mental effort being made. In Cape Verdean Crioulo, the equivalent 'Dexâm pensâ' is used similarly, often in a very melodic, rhythmic way during social negotiations.
The 'Hum' Factor
Always add a 'Hum' or 'Bem' before the phrase to sound 100% more like a native speaker.
Don't Over-enunciate
If you say every syllable perfectly, it sounds like you're reading. Let the words flow together.
In 15 Seconds
- A polite way to buy time during a conversation.
- Used for making decisions or remembering information.
- Can be formal (deixe-me) or casual (deixa eu).
What It Means
Deixe-me pensar is the perfect verbal buffer. It tells your listener that you've heard them. You aren't ignoring them. You just need a few seconds to process. It is the Portuguese equivalent of saying "Let me see" or "Let me think about it." It buys you time while keeping the conversation flowing naturally.
How To Use It
Use it exactly like you would in English. You can say it while looking at a menu. You can say it when a friend asks for advice. It often starts a sentence. You might follow it with a long "hmmm" or a thoughtful look. In speech, people often shorten deixe-me to deixa eu. It sounds more natural in casual chats.
When To Use It
Use it when you are at a restaurant and the waiter is hovering. Use it in a job interview to show you are being thoughtful. It is great for texting when someone asks for a favor. It works perfectly when you are trying to remember a specific word. It shows you are engaged but not ready to commit just yet.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for emergencies. If someone yells "Look out!", don't say deixe-me pensar. Avoid it if the answer should be an immediate "yes" or "no." Using it too much in a row can make you seem indecisive. Don't use the formal deixe-me with your best friend unless you're being ironic.
Cultural Background
Portuguese speakers value social harmony. Saying a flat "no" can sometimes feel a bit too blunt. Deixe-me pensar is a polite way to soften a potential rejection. It suggests you are giving the matter serious thought. It reflects a culture that appreciates a bit of preamble before getting to the point.
Common Variations
In Brazil, you will almost always hear deixa eu pensar. It’s the unofficial king of casual conversation. You might also hear deixa eu ver (let me see). If you want to sound more sophisticated, try vou refletir sobre isso. For a very quick pause, just say peraí (wait a second).
Usage Notes
In Brazil, 'deixa eu' is the standard for spoken conversation. Use 'deixe-me' for writing or when you want to sound particularly educated or respectful.
The 'Hum' Factor
Always add a 'Hum' or 'Bem' before the phrase to sound 100% more like a native speaker.
Don't Over-enunciate
If you say every syllable perfectly, it sounds like you're reading. Let the words flow together.
The Brazilian 'Eu'
If you are in Brazil, use 'Deixa eu pensar'. Using 'Deixe-me' in a bar might make you sound like a 19th-century poet.
Examples
6Deixe-me pensar... vou querer um pão de queijo.
Let me think... I'll have a cheese bread.
Standard use while making a choice.
Deixe-me pensar na melhor estratégia para este projeto.
Let me think about the best strategy for this project.
Shows professionalism and deliberation.
Deixa eu pensar e te respondo mais tarde, tá?
Let me think and I'll get back to you later, okay?
Uses the casual 'deixa eu' form.
Nossa, essa é difícil. Deixe-me pensar um pouco.
Wow, that's a hard one. Let me think for a bit.
Acknowledges the difficulty of the question.
Deixe-me pensar... se você se comportar, talvez.
Let me think... if you behave, maybe.
Used to build suspense or set conditions.
Deixe-me pensar sobre o que você disse, é muita coisa.
Let me think about what you said, it's a lot to take in.
Used when processing emotional information.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrase (informal Brazilian style).
Você quer ir ao cinema? ________ pensar um pouco.
'Deixa eu' is the most natural informal Brazilian way to say 'Let me'.
Complete the dialogue in a professional setting.
Chefe: Você pode terminar o relatório até amanhã? Você: ________, preciso conferir minha agenda.
'Deixe-me pensar' is the appropriate neutral/formal form for a workplace.
Match the phrase variation to the correct context.
Which variation is best for a formal academic debate in Lisbon?
'Refletir' is more formal and sophisticated than 'pensar'.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
When to use 'Deixe-me pensar'
Social
- • Invitations
- • Favors
- • Small talk
Professional
- • Interviews
- • Meetings
- • Negotiations
Daily Life
- • Shopping
- • Restaurants
- • Directions
Practice Bank
3 exercisesVocê quer ir ao cinema? ________ pensar um pouco.
'Deixa eu' is the most natural informal Brazilian way to say 'Let me'.
Chefe: Você pode terminar o relatório até amanhã? Você: ________, preciso conferir minha agenda.
'Deixe-me pensar' is the appropriate neutral/formal form for a workplace.
Which variation is best for a formal academic debate in Lisbon?
'Refletir' is more formal and sophisticated than 'pensar'.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsYes, it is very polite and much better than staying silent or saying 'I don't know'.
Yes, but 'Vou refletir sobre o assunto' is more professional for written correspondence.
'Pensar' is general; 'refletir' implies a deeper, more serious consideration.
It's a colloquial simplification that has become the standard in spoken language, even if technically 'wrong'.
Both are correct. 'Em' is more common for specific things; 'sobre' for general topics.
Related Phrases
Deixe-me ver
synonymLet me see
Vou ver e te aviso
similarI'll see and let you know
Peraí
informalWait a second
Dê-me um minuto
similarGive me a minute
