Concernente à constatação

You typically place this phrase at the start of a sentence or a paragraph in a report. Think of it as a formal 'pointer.' You point at the finding (constatação) and then deliver your verdict. For example, if an audit finds that money is missing, the auditor writes: Concernente à constatação de irregularidades... (Regarding the finding of irregularities...). It requires the preposition a plus the definite article a, which is why you see the à with the back-tick (crase). This is a common trip-up for learners, but mastering it makes you look like a pro. You use it to connect two things: the discovery and the consequence. Use it when you want to show that your next statement is strictly based on what was just discovered. Don't use it for casual observations like "I found a cool rock." Use it for "I found a discrepancy in the quarterly tax filings."

This phrase lives in the 'Very Formal' neighborhood. It’s a frequent resident of legal documents, police reports, academic theses, and high-level corporate emails. You won't hear this at a Friday night barbecue unless the grill is on fire and someone is writing an insurance claim. It’s the language of the 'Estado' (The State) and 'Burocracia' (Bureaucracy). If you use this in a WhatsApp chat with your best friend, they will probably ask if you've been hacked by a robot. However, in a job interview at a big firm or when writing a complaint to a government agency, it’s absolute gold. It shows you respect the process and have a high command of the language's formal structures. It’s polished, cold, and undeniably authoritative.

You’ll see this all over the news in Brazil or Portugal when a judge is reading a sentence. "Concernente à constatação do crime..." (Regarding the finding of the crime...). It also appears in medical reports: "Concernente à constatação de anemia..." (Regarding the finding of anemia...). On social media, you might see a serious tech influencer using it to address a bug discovery: "Concernente à constatação da falha de segurança no app..." (Regarding the finding of the security flaw in the app...). Even in modern Zoom meetings, a project manager might use it to transition: "Concernente à constatação de que o prazo é curto, vamos contratar mais gente." (Regarding the finding that the deadline is short, we will hire more people). It’s the ultimate 'transition to serious mode' phrase.

Use it when the stakes are high and the tone is professional. It’s perfect for the 'Conclusion' or 'Analysis' section of any formal document. If you are a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or any professional who deals with reports, this is your bread and butter. It’s also useful when you want to distance yourself emotionally from a sensitive topic. By saying concernente à constatação, you are focusing on the *finding* itself, not the person who made the mistake. It’s great for giving feedback that needs to sound objective rather than personal. If you are disputing a fine or a bill, starting your email with this phrase signals to the company that you aren't playing around. You are informed and you are using 'their' language.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not use this with your partner or friends. "Concernente à constatação de que não tem leite..." (Regarding the finding that there is no milk...) sounds like you’re trying to divorce the refrigerator. It’s way too stiff for daily life. Also, avoid it if you aren't 100% sure about the 'finding.' If it's just a rumor or a hunch, use quanto ao boato (regarding the rumor). Constatação implies certainty. Using such a formal phrase for a flimsy guess makes you look like you’re trying too hard. Lastly, don't use it in creative writing unless you are intentionally writing a character who is a stiff bureaucrat. It kills the flow of natural, emotional storytelling because it's so clinical.

The biggest mistake is forgetting the 'crase' (the accent on à). Since concernente requires a and constatação is feminine, they merge. Concernente a a constatação becomes Concernente à constatação. Another mistake is using it as a synonym for 'about' in a simple way.

✗ Concernente à constatação do meu aniversário...

✓ Sobre o meu aniversário...

You don't 'find' a birthday; it just happens. Another error is using it without a noun following it. It needs to be 'concerning the finding *of something*.' Don't just leave it hanging. Also, watch out for the 'AI-generated' look. If every sentence in your email starts with this, it looks like you swallowed a dictionary. Use it once as a strong anchor, then move to more fluid language.

If Concernente à constatação feels a bit too heavy, you can try Relativamente ao que foi constatado (Relatively to what was observed). It’s still formal but slightly more descriptive. For something a bit shorter, use Quanto à constatação (As for the finding). If you want to be even more bureaucratic (God help you), try No que tange à constatação (In what concerns the finding). On the flip side, if you need to be more casual, just say Sobre o que a gente viu (About what we saw). In Portugal, you might hear No que respeita à constatação more often than in Brazil. They all do the same job, but concernente à is the classic, 'old-school cool' version of formal writing.

Is it too formal for an email? If it’s to a boss or client, no. If it’s to a colleague you have lunch with, yes. Can I use it in Portugal? Absolutely, it’s a standard Lusophone legal/formal term. Do I always need the accent on the à? Yes, unless you change the word constatação to a masculine word like fato, then it becomes ao fato. Is constatação just 'finding'? In this context, yes, but it implies a *verified* finding, not just something you stumbled upon. Does it sound like a robot? A little bit, but in the right context, it sounds like a very *smart* robot.