Portuguese Phrase
E se a gente tentar uma abordagem nova?
Meaning
Literally, “And if we try a new approach?” It is used to propose a fresh way of doing something, inviting the listener to consider the idea.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to suggest a different method in a casual conversation, especially in brainstorming sessions, team meetings, or informal chats with friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Eseagentetentarumaabordagemnova
E se
A conjunction used to introduce a hypothetical or suggestion, equivalent to “what if”.
a gente
Informal first‑person plural pronoun meaning “we”. Common in Brazil; it takes third‑person verb forms.
tentar (infinitive)
After “se” the verb stays in the infinitive, forming a conditional clause.
uma abordagem nova
Noun phrase with indefinite article “uma” and adjective after the noun, the usual order in Portuguese.
🗨In Conversation
E se a gente tentar uma abordagem nova?
What if we try a new approach?
Boa ideia, vamos fazer isso!
Good idea, let's do it!
✕Common Mistakes
E se a gente tente uma abordagem nova?
After "se" the verb must stay in the infinitive; "tente" is a subjunctive form and changes the meaning.
E se nós tentar uma abordagem nova?
If you replace "a gente" with "nós", you must also change the verb to third‑person plural: "tentarmos".
E se a gente tentar uma nova abordagem?
In Portuguese the adjective usually follows the noun; "nova abordagem" is correct, while "abordagem nova" is also acceptable but less common in formal contexts.
↔Alternatives
Que tal experimentarmos um método diferente?
How about we try a different method?
Vamos mudar a estratégia?
Shall we change the strategy?
E se mudarmos a forma de fazer isso?
What if we change the way we do this?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, "a gente" is the go‑to informal way to say “we”. It is perfectly natural in spoken Portuguese, but in formal writing you would use "nós" and conjugate the verb accordingly (e.g., "E se nós tentarmos…"). Also, placing the adjective after the noun ("abordagem nova") is the standard order, unlike English where the adjective precedes the noun.