In 15 Seconds
- A formal way to say something is required or needed.
- Common in business emails, reports, and professional meetings.
- Uses a reflexive structure to sound objective and polite.
Meaning
It's a polite and professional way to say that something is required or must happen. It shifts the focus from a person's desire to the objective needs of a situation.
Key Examples
3 of 6In a professional email about a deadline
Faz-se necessário o envio dos documentos até amanhã.
It is necessary to send the documents by tomorrow.
Discussing a project in a meeting
Faz-se necessário que revisemos o orçamento.
It is necessary that we review the budget.
Texting a friend jokingly about a hangover
Faz-se necessário um balde de café para eu sobreviver hoje.
A bucket of coffee has become necessary for me to survive today.
Cultural Background
This expression stems from the Latin influence on Portuguese legal and academic writing. It reflects a cultural preference for 'impersonal' authority, where rules and needs are presented as objective facts rather than personal whims. In modern times, it remains a staple of 'Economês' (business-speak) in both Brazil and Portugal.
The Agreement Rule
If a noun follows, match the gender! `Faz-se necessário o apoio` (masculine) vs `Faz-se necessária a ajuda` (feminine).
Don't kill the vibe
Using this at a party makes you sound like a robot. Stick to `preciso` or `tenho que` for social gatherings.
In 15 Seconds
- A formal way to say something is required or needed.
- Common in business emails, reports, and professional meetings.
- Uses a reflexive structure to sound objective and polite.
What It Means
Think of faz-se necessário as the 'suit and tie' version of saying 'we need to.' It’s a formal construction used to express a requirement. Instead of saying 'I need' or 'You must,' you are saying that the situation itself makes something mandatory. It sounds objective, polished, and very adult. It’s like saying 'the circumstances demand this' rather than just 'I want this.'
How To Use It
You have two main ways to build a sentence with this. First, you can follow it with an infinitive verb (the basic form). For example: Faz-se necessário estudar. Second, you can use que followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood. For example: Faz-se necessário que você estude. Note that if you follow it with a feminine noun, the word necessário changes to necessária. For example: Faz-se necessária a sua presença. It’s a bit of a grammatical dance, but it makes you sound incredibly articulate.
When To Use It
This is your go-to phrase for the office. Use it in emails to your boss or when writing a project proposal. It’s perfect for formal meetings where you want to sound authoritative but not bossy. You’ll also see it in news reports, academic papers, and legal documents. If you’re writing a formal letter to a landlord or a government agency, this phrase is your best friend. It shows you know the 'proper' way to communicate.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this phrase at a backyard barbecue or while grabbing a beer with friends. If you tell your best friend Faz-se necessário que você me passe o sal, they will probably laugh at you for being too stiff. It’s way too heavy for casual texting unless you’re being intentionally ironic. Don't use it with children or pets—they won't appreciate the formal grammar, and you'll just sound like a character from a 19th-century novel.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture often values a certain level of formal distance in professional settings. Using the reflexive se (the 'itself' part) allows the speaker to remain humble. You aren't the one demanding something; the *situation* is. This 'impersonal' style is a hallmark of Portuguese bureaucracy and high-level discourse. It’s a way to be firm without being aggressive, which is a key social skill in Brazil and Portugal.
Common Variations
You might also hear Torna-se necessário (It becomes necessary) or the simpler É necessário (It is necessary). While É necessário is perfectly fine, Faz-se necessário adds an extra layer of sophistication. If you want to go even more extreme, you could use Faz-se imprescindível, which means it’s not just necessary, it’s absolutely essential. Use that one when the office is metaphorically on fire.
Usage Notes
This is a high-register expression. It requires attention to gender agreement and the use of the subjunctive mood when followed by 'que'. Use it to elevate your professional writing.
The Agreement Rule
If a noun follows, match the gender! `Faz-se necessário o apoio` (masculine) vs `Faz-se necessária a ajuda` (feminine).
Don't kill the vibe
Using this at a party makes you sound like a robot. Stick to `preciso` or `tenho que` for social gatherings.
The 'Passive' Power
Brazilians often use this to avoid blaming someone. Instead of 'You didn't pay,' they say 'Faz-se necessário o pagamento' to keep things polite.
Examples
6Faz-se necessário o envio dos documentos até amanhã.
It is necessary to send the documents by tomorrow.
Here, it sounds much more professional than saying 'You need to send.'
Faz-se necessário que revisemos o orçamento.
It is necessary that we review the budget.
Uses the subjunctive 'revisemos' after 'que'.
Faz-se necessário um balde de café para eu sobreviver hoje.
A bucket of coffee has become necessary for me to survive today.
Using a formal phrase for a silly situation creates a humorous effect.
Faz-se necessária uma conversa sobre o nosso futuro.
A conversation about our future is necessary.
Notice 'necessária' matches the feminine 'conversa'. It adds weight to the topic.
Faz-se necessário manter o silêncio durante a prova.
It is necessary to remain silent during the exam.
Sets a clear, authoritative boundary without being mean.
Faz-se necessário que o gelo seja picado, por favor.
It is necessary that the ice be crushed, please.
A bit 'extra', but fits a high-end environment.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form to complete the formal sentence.
Faz-se ___ a colaboração de todos os funcionários.
Since 'colaboração' is a feminine noun, the adjective 'necessária' must agree with it.
Complete the sentence using the correct verb form after 'que'.
Faz-se necessário que você ___ (falar) com o gerente.
After 'Faz-se necessário que', we must use the present subjunctive mood.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Level of 'Necessity' Phrases
Talking to friends or family
Eu preciso de...
Everyday situations
É preciso...
Business or official writing
Faz-se necessário...
Legal or academic texts
Faz-se imprescindível...
Where to use 'Faz-se necessário'
Corporate Email
Requesting a report
Board Meeting
Proposing a change
Legal Document
Stating requirements
Academic Essay
Concluding an argument
Practice Bank
2 exercisesFaz-se ___ a colaboração de todos os funcionários.
Since 'colaboração' is a feminine noun, the adjective 'necessária' must agree with it.
Faz-se necessário que você ___ (falar) com o gerente.
After 'Faz-se necessário que', we must use the present subjunctive mood.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsEssentially yes, but faz-se necessário is much more formal and elegant. It's the difference between wearing a t-shirt and a blazer.
No, you can use an infinitive verb directly, like Faz-se necessário agir. Use que only if you are introducing a new subject, like Faz-se necessário que *eles* ajam.
Yes! You can say Fez-se necessário (It became necessary) for something that already happened. For example: Fez-se necessária uma mudança de planos.
The se makes the verb reflexive/impersonal. It literally means 'it makes itself,' which is a common way in Portuguese to sound objective.
Yes, it is widely used in both countries, especially in professional, legal, and academic contexts.
Absolutely. In fact, it's most commonly used at the beginning of a sentence to set a serious tone.
Technically, if the subject is plural and follows the verb, it should: Fazem-se necessários novos investimentos. However, many people stick to the singular in speech.
Just use A gente precisa or É preciso. They are much more common in daily conversation.
Yes! Using it correctly in a formal email will immediately impress native speakers and show you have a high level of register control.
Forgetting the subjunctive after que. Don't say Faz-se necessário que você *vai*; say Faz-se necessário que você *vá*.
Related Phrases
É preciso
Torna-se indispensável
Urge que
Faz-se mister
É fundamental
