9 Everyday Expressions with FAZER in Brazilian Portuguese

The verb FAZER is incredibly versatile! You can use it when shopping, traveling, talking about friendships… and even for bathroom breaks! In this Brazilian Portuguese lesson, I’ll show you 9 essential ways to use FAZER in Brazilian Portuguese — so you can sound more natural and confident in everyday situations.

1. Fazer compras

Fazer compras means to shop, to go shopping.

For instance:

• Os brasileiros gostam de fazer compras em Miami. (Brazilians like to shop in Miami.)

• Vou fazer compras hoje. (I’m going shopping today.)

2. Fazer um piquenique

I love saying the word piquenique 🙂

In English, we say we are going to have a picnic. In Portuguese, we don’t use the verb “ter” (to have). Instead, nós fazemos piqueniques.

Here’s an example:

• Vamos fazer um piquenique? (Shall we have a picnic?)

• A gente fez um piquenique ontem. (We had a picnic yesterday.)

3. Fazer as malas

Fazer as malas means to pack your suitcase — it’s specifically for travel because mala refers to your luggage. If you’re packing boxes for a move, you wouldn’t use this expression.

For example:

• Você já fez as malas? (Have you packed?)

• Ainda não fiz as malas. (I haven’t packed yet.)

4. Fazer planos

This one is just like in English:

• fazer planos = to make plans

For example:

• Gosto de fazer planos para o futuro. (I like making plans for the future.)

5. Fazer carinho

Carinho is a great word for your Brazilian Portuguese vocabulary. It’s a beautiful and versatile word in Portuguese that doesn’t have a perfect one-word translation in English.

It expresses affection, warmth, and care, but it can also refer to tenderness, kindness, and gentle gestures that show love and appreciation.

In different contexts, carinho can mean:

• Affection – The emotional warmth and love you feel for someone.
• Care – Thoughtful, gentle actions that express love or concern.
• Tenderness – Softness and warmth in the way you treat others.
• Kindness – A caring, considerate attitude toward someone.

In Portuguese, you can “ter carinho por alguém” (have affection for someone) or “fazer carinho” (gently caress, show physical affection). The word carries a deep sense of emotional closeness and warmth.

Therefore, fazer carinho is a way of showing affection through gentle, loving touches.

When you pet your dog, you’re fazendo carinho.

When you run your fingers through a loved one’s hair, you’re fazendo carinho.

• Adoro fazer carinho na minha gata. (I love petting/stroking/caressing my cat.)

6. Fazer amizade

In Portuguese, fazer amizade means to make friends, even though the literal translation is “to make friendship.”

While this might sound unusual in English, it’s a very natural and common way to express the idea of forming new friendships in Portuguese.

You can also say “fazer amigos” (to make friends) or “fazer novos amigos” (to make new friends), but “fazer amizade” is widely used in everyday conversations. It’s a great expression to start using in your own conversations!

• Anna faz amizade facilmente. (Anna makes friends easily.)

7. Fazer xixi and Fazer cocô

In Portuguese, fazer xixi means to pee, and fazer cocô means to poo.

My husband finds these expressions funny because, if you translate them literally, they sound like “I’m going to make pee” or “I’m going to make poo.” But that’s just how we say it in Portuguese.

Watch the video at the beginning of the lesson to hear the pronunciation of these words. That way, you won’t mix up cocô (poo) with coco (coconut).

• A mom may ask a child: Você quer fazer xixi ou fazer cocô antes de sair? (Do you want to pee or poop before leaving?)

8. Fazer sucesso

In Portuguese, fazer sucesso means to be a hit, to be successful, or to be popular.

It’s commonly used to talk about people, songs, movies, businesses — anything that gains popularity and recognition.

For example:

• O filme fez sucesso no Brasil e no exterior. (The movie was a hit in Brazil and abroad.)

• Ela faz sucesso nas redes sociais. (She’s popular on social media.)

9. Fazer sentido

Just like in English, fazer sentido means to make sense.

• Faz sentido? (Does it make sense?)

• Isso não faz sentido. (This doesn’t make sense.)

The verb FAZER is irregular, as you’ve seen in the examples throughout this lesson, but it’s also one of the most commonly used verbs in Portuguese.

We use it in so many everyday expressions that mastering it will make a big difference in how naturally you communicate. It’s an essential verb to learn, and while its irregular conjugations may take some practice, it’s well worth the effort.

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