Há que se considerar que

You place this phrase at the start of a sentence to introduce a pivot or a supporting fact. It usually follows a statement that you want to qualify. For example, 'The app is great, but há que se considerar que it crashes on older phones.' Grammatically, it’s quite rigid. You don't change the há to other tenses very often in casual speech, though in writing you might see Haveria que se considerar. Stick to the present tense há for 99% of your needs. After the que, you simply state your fact in a full clause. It’s like a LEGO piece that fits perfectly before any serious observation. Just don't use it to decide which pizza to order—that’s overkill!

This is a high-register phrase. Think C1 or C2 level on the CEFR scale. You’ll find it in editorials in *Folha de S.Paulo*, in university theses, or during a tense board meeting. It’s rarely heard in a bar unless the drinkers are philosophy professors. On social media, you might see it on LinkedIn or in a long 'thread' on X (Twitter) where someone is trying to sound very smart. It’s formal, professional, and slightly academic. If you use it with your best friend while playing video games, they might ask if you’ve swallowed a dictionary. Use it when you want to be taken seriously and show you’ve thought deeply about a topic.

Imagine a tech reviewer on YouTube. They might say, 'The new iPhone is fast, but há que se considerar que the price is quite high.' Or a travel vlogger discussing a hidden gem: 'The beach is beautiful, but há que se considerar que the access is difficult.' In a job interview on Zoom, you could say, 'I have the skills, but há que se considerar que I am always looking to learn more.' It even pops up in Netflix subtitles for legal dramas like *Suits*. Whenever a character needs to sound like they have the upper hand in logic, this phrase is their weapon of choice. It’s the 'well, actually' of the polite, educated world.

Use it when you are writing a professional email or a cover letter. It’s perfect for highlighting a constraint or a benefit that isn't immediately obvious. It’s also great for debates where you want to disagree without being aggressive. By saying 'One must consider,' you aren't saying 'You are wrong.' You are saying 'The logic requires us to look at this.' Use it in academic writing to introduce variables in your research. It’s also very useful in 'Opinion' sections of newspapers. Basically, anytime you want to sound like a balanced, objective thinker, this is your go-to opener.

Avoid this phrase in short WhatsApp messages to friends. 'I'm late, but há que se considerar que there was traffic' sounds way too stiff—just say tinha muito trânsito. Don't use it in very emotional or heated personal arguments either. It can come across as cold or condescending, like you’re lecturing someone instead of listening. Also, steer clear of it in very casual settings like ordering food or talking to a child. You wouldn't tell a five-year-old, 'One must consider that the broccoli is healthy.' You just tell them to eat it! Keep it for the adults and the professionals.

A very common mistake is forgetting the se. While há que considerar is also correct and common, the se adds that extra 'expert' flavor. Another mistake is using ter instead of haver. ✗ Tem que se considerar que → ✓ Há que se considerar que. While tem que is fine for daily chores, há que is the gold standard for intellectual considerations. Don't confuse it with Visto que (Since/Given that). Há que se considerar introduces the need to think, while Visto que introduces a fact already accepted. Finally, don't use it twice in the same paragraph. It’s a heavy phrase; once is enough to make your point.

If há que se considerar que feels too heavy, you can try Vale ressaltar que (It’s worth highlighting that). This is a bit more 'active.' Another cousin is É preciso levar em conta que (It’s necessary to take into account that). This one is slightly more common in spoken Portuguese but still polite. For a more casual vibe, you could just say Não podemos esquecer que (We can't forget that). In very formal legal documents, you might see Cabe considerar que (It is fitting to consider that). Each of these shifts the 'weight' of the sentence slightly, but há que se considerar remains the most 'prestigious' of the bunch.

Is it too formal? Yes, for a barbecue. No, for a presentation. How do I pronounce it? Focus on the se—it’s a quick 'suh' sound. Can I use it in Brazil and Portugal? Absolutely, it’s a universal 'smart person' phrase in the Lusophone world. Does it always need que? Yes, because you are always introducing a specific thought or fact after it. It’s like a bridge; you need the other side to land on. If you want to sound like a local who has mastered the nuances of debate, practicing this phrase is a major step forward.