Portuguese Phrase
Então quer dizer que...?
Meaning
A rhetorical question used to confirm or clarify what the speaker just heard. It translates to “So that means…?” or “Does that mean…?”. The ellipsis indicates that the speaker will finish the sentence with the specific information they are asking about.
When to use
Use this phrase after someone has given you information, an opinion, or a decision, and you want to double‑check that you understood correctly. It works well in informal conversations, meetings, or classroom discussions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Entãoquerdizerque...?
Então (discourse marker)
Used to link what was just said to a conclusion or question, similar to 'so' or 'then' in English.
quer dizer (verb phrase)
Literally 'wants to say', but idiomatically it means 'means' or 'implies'.
que (complementizer)
Introduces the clause that explains or clarifies the previous statement.
🗨In Conversation
Vou viajar para o Rio na próxima semana.
I’m traveling to Rio next week.
Então quer dizer que vai faltar ao nosso treino?
So that means you’ll miss our practice?
✕Common Mistakes
Então quer dizer que você vai sair?
Missing the comma after ‘então’ can make the sentence feel rushed; a brief pause is natural in speech.
Então quer dizer que você quer dizer que...
Do not translate literally as ‘then wants to say that’; remember it’s an idiomatic expression meaning ‘means’.
↔Alternatives
Então, isso significa que...?
So, that means…?
Então, quer dizer que...?
So, you’re saying that…?
Então, está dizendo que...?
So, you’re telling me that…?
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese the tone of voice matters: a rising intonation signals genuine curiosity, while a flat tone can sound skeptical. The phrase is informal; in formal settings you might replace it with “Portanto, isso indica que…?”. Also, avoid overusing it in rapid succession, as it can come across as overly confrontational.