In 15 Seconds
- Means an argument is supported by solid, verifiable evidence.
- Uses the metaphor of a 'backrest' to show support.
- Essential for professional meetings, academic writing, and serious debates.
Meaning
This phrase means that a claim, opinion, or argument isn't just a guess—it is supported by solid evidence and verifiable data. It’s like saying your words have a safety net of truth beneath them.
Key Examples
3 of 6In a business meeting
Nosso novo projeto está totalmente respaldado por fatos e pesquisas de mercado.
Our new project is fully backed by facts and market research.
Defending an opinion to a friend
O que eu estou te dizendo está respaldado por fatos, não é só minha opinião.
What I'm telling you is backed by facts, it's not just my opinion.
Texting about a news article
Li um artigo ótimo hoje, tudo muito bem respaldado por fatos.
I read a great article today, everything very well backed by facts.
Cultural Background
In the modern Portuguese-speaking world, particularly in Brazil and Portugal, this phrase has gained significant traction in the fight against misinformation. It reflects a cultural shift toward data-driven decision-making in business and journalism. Historically, 'respaldo' was a term used in legal and formal contexts, but it has now moved into everyday professional speech.
Gender Agreement
Always remember to change the ending! 'O argumento' is 'respaldado', but 'a teoria' is 'respaldada'.
Don't Overuse It
If you use this in every sentence, you'll sound like you're trying too hard to be smart. Save it for your strongest points.
In 15 Seconds
- Means an argument is supported by solid, verifiable evidence.
- Uses the metaphor of a 'backrest' to show support.
- Essential for professional meetings, academic writing, and serious debates.
What It Means
Imagine you are building a house. The facts are the heavy concrete foundation. Without them, your house—or in this case, your argument—will just blow away in the wind. When you say something is respaldado por fatos, you are telling people that you’ve done your homework. The word respaldo actually comes from the word for the back of a chair. So, think of it as the chair back that supports you and keeps you from falling over. It’s a way to signal that your position is sturdy, credible, and hard to knock down.
How To Use It
You usually place this phrase after you’ve made a claim or a proposal. It functions as a weight to give your words more gravity. For example, if you are suggesting a new strategy at work, you might say, "This plan is respaldado por fatos." Note that the word respaldado must match the gender of the subject. If you are talking about an idea (uma ideia), you would say respaldada with an 'a'. It’s a versatile phrase that makes you sound like a prepared professional who doesn't rely on mere gossip.
When To Use It
This is your go-to phrase for any situation where credibility is key. Use it in a job interview to explain why your previous projects were successful. Use it in a university essay to show your thesis is solid. It’s also great for those intense group chat debates where everyone is sharing opinions, but you want to be the one who actually brings the receipts. If you’re at a meeting and someone questions your logic, dropping this phrase is like laying down a winning card in a game of poker.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this for purely subjective or emotional topics. If you tell your partner, "My love for you is respaldado por fatos," you might sound a bit like a robot or a lawyer on a first date. It’s also a bit too heavy for trivial things. You wouldn't say your preference for pineapple on pizza is respaldado por fatos unless you want to sound hilariously dramatic. Keep it for when the stakes are higher and logic is the main language being spoken.
Cultural Background
In Brazil, social interaction often involves a lot of "jeitinho" and informal storytelling. However, in the professional and academic worlds, there is a massive respect for "embasamento" (foundation). As the digital age has brought a flood of information, being able to distinguish between "fake news" and things respaldados por fatos has become a mark of an educated and reliable person. It’s a phrase that commands respect in a culture that values both passion and intelligence.
Common Variations
You might also hear baseado em fatos (based on facts), which is very common in movie intros. Another one is comprovado por dados (proven by data), which is even more technical. If you want to sound extra fancy, you can use fundamentado em evidências. But respaldado por fatos hits that perfect sweet spot between being sophisticated and being easy to understand.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral to formal. It is highly effective in professional settings but should be used sparingly in casual conversation to avoid sounding pretentious. Pay close attention to gender and number agreement with the noun it modifies.
Gender Agreement
Always remember to change the ending! 'O argumento' is 'respaldado', but 'a teoria' is 'respaldada'.
Don't Overuse It
If you use this in every sentence, you'll sound like you're trying too hard to be smart. Save it for your strongest points.
The 'Respaldo' Secret
In some Brazilian regions, 'dar um respaldo' can also mean 'to give someone a status update' or 'to give support'. It's a very versatile root word!
Examples
6Nosso novo projeto está totalmente respaldado por fatos e pesquisas de mercado.
Our new project is fully backed by facts and market research.
Used here to build confidence in a professional proposal.
O que eu estou te dizendo está respaldado por fatos, não é só minha opinião.
What I'm telling you is backed by facts, it's not just my opinion.
A way to end a disagreement by citing evidence.
Li um artigo ótimo hoje, tudo muito bem respaldado por fatos.
I read a great article today, everything very well backed by facts.
Casual way to recommend a credible source.
Minha trajetória de sucesso é respaldada por fatos e resultados reais.
My success story is backed by facts and real results.
Shows the candidate is results-oriented and truthful.
Meu medo de baratas é respaldado por fatos: elas voam!
My fear of cockroaches is backed by facts: they fly!
Using a formal phrase for a silly subject creates humor.
Minha desconfiança infelizmente estava respaldada por fatos que descobri depois.
My suspicion was unfortunately backed by facts I discovered later.
Used when logic confirms a painful intuition.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form of the word to match the feminine subject 'argumentação'.
Sua argumentação foi excelente e estava ___ por fatos.
Since 'argumentação' is a feminine noun, the adjective 'respaldada' must agree with it.
Complete the sentence to sound professional in a meeting.
Não podemos tomar essa decisão sem que o plano esteja ___ por fatos.
'Respaldado' is the correct term for saying a plan is supported or backed by evidence.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Level of 'Respaldado por fatos'
Using 'Pode crer' or 'É verdade'.
Pode crer, mano.
Standard daily communication.
É baseado em fatos.
Professional or academic settings.
Está respaldado por fatos.
Legal or high-level diplomatic speech.
Encontra-se devidamente respaldado em evidências fáticas.
Where to use 'Respaldado por fatos'
Job Interview
Explaining your achievements.
University
Writing a research paper.
News/Journalism
Reporting a verified story.
Courtroom
Presenting evidence.
Practice Bank
2 exercisesSua argumentação foi excelente e estava ___ por fatos.
Since 'argumentação' is a feminine noun, the adjective 'respaldada' must agree with it.
Não podemos tomar essa decisão sem que o plano esteja ___ por fatos.
'Respaldado' is the correct term for saying a plan is supported or backed by evidence.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt means 'supported' or 'backed'. It comes from the word respaldo, which refers to the back of a chair that supports you.
Yes, but it sounds a bit serious. Use it when you want to prove you are right about something important, like Isso está respaldado por fatos.
They are similar, but respaldado implies a stronger sense of protection or guarantee. Baseado is more common for movies or stories.
You can say respaldado por dados. It is very common in business environments.
Yes, it is used in both Brazil and Portugal, especially in formal, legal, or journalistic contexts.
Not usually. It sounds weird to say meu amor está respaldado por fatos. It's better for logical arguments.
You could say sem fundamento (without foundation) or baseado em boatos (based on rumors).
No, it is quite the opposite. It is a formal and sophisticated expression.
No, respaldo can mean any kind of support. You can have respaldo político (political support), for example.
Absolutely! It's perfect for professional emails, like Anexo o relatório respaldado por fatos.
Related Phrases
Baseado em fatos reais
Based on true events (common in movies).
Com embasamento
With a solid foundation/grounding.
Contra fatos não há argumentos
You can't argue with facts.
Dar respaldo
To provide support or confirmation.
