tomar partido

Using this phrase is easier than choosing a movie on a Friday night. You usually follow it with the preposition de or por. If you want to say 'to take sides with someone,' you say tomar partido de alguém. If you are fighting for a cause, you might use por. It works perfectly in both present and past tenses. You can say Eu tomei partido (I took a side) or Não quero tomar partido (I don't want to take a side). It is a very flexible collocation. It fits into professional emails just as well as it fits into a WhatsApp group chat. Just remember that it is a 'take it or leave it' kind of deal. You can't 'half-take' a side. Once you use this verb, you are committed. It’s like clicking 'Order' on a food app; there’s no turning back without a lot of explaining.

You see this phrase everywhere in modern Brazilian life. Imagine a heated debate in the YouTube comments section. One user might say, 'O influenciador não quis tomar partido na polêmica.' This means the influencer stayed neutral to avoid getting canceled. Or think about a family dinner where your parents are arguing about the best way to make rice. Your brother looks at you and says, 'E você? Vai tomar partido de quem?' He is asking you to pick a winner. It also shows up in news headlines about international politics. If a country refuses to support a side in a war, the news says they didn't tomar partido. It is the ultimate word for social stakes. Even in gaming, when two factions are at war, the game might force you to tomar partido. It is the moment the popcorn stops being enough and you have to join the fight.

Use this phrase when the situation has clear sides. It is perfect for debates, family feuds, or office politics. If someone asks for your opinion on a serious matter, this is your go-to expression. It’s great for when you want to sound firm and decisive. You can also use it to set boundaries. Saying 'Eu não vou tomar partido' is a polite way to stay out of trouble. It works in romantic contexts too, like when your partner and your mother disagree. (Pro tip: be very careful before you tomar partido there!). Use it when there is a 'Person A' and a 'Person B'. It’s for those binary choices where 'both' isn't an option. It adds a bit of weight to your speech, making you sound like a thoughtful adult.

Don't use this for literal physical sides. If you are standing on the left side of the street, don't say you are tomando partido. That would make people think you are protesting against the right side of the road! Also, don't use it for trivial choices. If you are choosing between chocolate and vanilla, tomar partido is way too dramatic. Just say prefiro chocolate. It is also not for 'taking part' in an event. If you are participating in a marathon, use participar. Using tomar partido there would imply you are choosing a side in a marathon war, which sounds like a very intense Saturday. Save this phrase for when feelings, ethics, or people are involved. Don't use it for objects unless those objects represent a bigger conflict, like iPhone vs. Android. Using it for your choice of socks is just weird.

Learners often try to translate directly from English. This is where the fun begins.

In Portuguese, we don't 'take sides' (plural); we 'take a party' (singular). Another classic mistake is using the wrong verb.

You don't 'grab' the side; you 'take' it. Some people also try to use lado directly.

Wait, what? Yes, if you are already on someone's side, use lado. If you are *the act of choosing* that side, use tomar partido. It’s a subtle difference, but it’s the difference between being at the party and deciding to go to the party. Also, avoid fazer partido unless you are literally starting a political party. That’s a lot of paperwork for a simple argument.

If you want to spice up your Portuguese, try these. Ficar do lado de alguém is the most common alternative. It is simpler and a bit more casual. It’s like saying 'I'm with you.' Then there is the colorful Puxar a brasa para a sua sardinha. This means to favor one's own interests or side, literally 'pulling the embers to your own sardine.' It’s a bit more selfish than just taking a side. If you are staying neutral, you are em cima do muro (on top of the wall). This is the 'fence-sitter' of the Portuguese world. For a more formal vibe, you can use manifestar-se a favor de. But honestly, tomar partido is the perfect middle ground between 'street smart' and 'book smart'. It’s the Goldilocks of expressions.

You might hear tomar o partido de alguém. Adding that little o makes it feel slightly more specific. There is also the negative version: não tomar partido por ninguém. This is the mantra of diplomats and people who want to keep their friends. In some older books, you might see seguir o partido, but that’s a bit outdated now. In modern slang, people might just say fechar com alguém. For example, 'Eu fecho com você' means 'I'm siding with you.' But tomar partido remains the standard for describing the *decision* itself. It’s the difference between a quick TikTok clip and a full Netflix documentary. One is fast, the other has more depth.

Is it formal? It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend. Does it mean 'to take a part' in a play? No, use fazer um papel for that. Can I use it for sports? Yes, if you are choosing to support a team in a debate. Is it the same as 'picking a fight'? No, it’s about choosing a side *after* the fight has already started. You aren't the fire; you are the person choosing which side of the fire to stand on. What if I want to stay neutral? Then tell people, 'Eu prefiro não tomar partido.' They might call you a fence-sitter, but at least you’ll keep your snacks.