Portuguese Phrase
Depende dos papéis.
Meaning
Literally ‘It depends on the papers.’ The sentence is used to say that the outcome of a situation is determined by the documents (or roles) involved. In a bureaucratic context it usually refers to official paperwork; in a theatrical or team‑work context it can mean ‘it depends on the roles each person plays.’
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to explain that a decision, result, or next step is conditional on the existence, content, or quality of certain documents. It’s common in offices, schools, legal settings, or any situation where paperwork decides the next move.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dependedospapéis.
Depende (verb)
Third‑person singular present of the verb *dependER*, meaning ‘to depend’. It is used impersonally, similar to ‘it depends’.
dos (contraction)
Contraction of *de* + *os*; it means ‘on the’ when the noun that follows is masculine plural.
papéis (noun)
Plural of *papel*; can refer to ‘papers/documents’ or, informally, to ‘roles’ in a situation. Note the acute accent on the í.
🗨In Conversation
Depende dos papéis.
It depends on the papers.
Que papéis você está falando?
Which papers are you talking about?
✕Common Mistakes
Depende de papéis.
‘de’ alone means ‘of’ or ‘from’; you need the contraction *dos* (de + os) before a masculine plural noun.
Depende dos papeis.
Missing the acute accent on the í changes the pronunciation and is considered a spelling error.
Dependa dos papéis.
‘Dependa’ is the subjunctive form; the statement ‘It depends…’ requires the indicative *depende*.
↔Alternatives
Depende dos documentos.
It depends on the documents.
Depende dos formulários.
It depends on the forms.
Depende do papel.
It depends on the role.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese *papel* can mean both a physical sheet of paper and a figurative ‘role’ (e.g., the role you play in a project). Because of this double meaning, native speakers often clarify the context: *papéis do processo* (papers of the process) vs. *papéis dos atores* (actors' roles). When you’re unsure, add a clarifying word like *documentos* or *funções* to avoid ambiguity.