Portuguese Phrase
Estou te ouvindo, de verdade.
Meaning
The speaker is telling the listener that they are genuinely paying attention and hearing what is being said. The addition of ‘de verdade’ emphasizes that the listening is sincere, not just a polite formality.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal conversations when you want to reassure someone that you are truly listening, especially if they seem upset, confused, or need reassurance that you understand them.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estouteouvindodeverdade
Estou (verbo estar + gerúndio)
‘Estou’ is the first person singular present of ‘estar’, used with a gerund to indicate an ongoing action.
te (pronome objeto direto)
‘te’ is the clitic pronoun for ‘you’ (informal, second person) used before the verb.
ouvindo (gerúndio de ouvir)
Gerund form of ‘ouvir’ meaning ‘listening’; combined with ‘estar’ it forms the progressive tense.
de verdade (locução adverbial)
Literally ‘of truth’, used to stress sincerity or genuineness, similar to ‘really’ or ‘for real’.
🗨In Conversation
Eu não sei se você está me entendendo.
I don’t know if you’re understanding me.
Estou te ouvindo, de verdade.
I’m listening to you, for real.
✕Common Mistakes
Estou você ouvindo, de verdade.
In formal contexts you should use ‘você’ instead of the clitic ‘te’. The phrase would become ‘Estou ouvindo você, de verdade.’
Estou te ouvindo, de verdade.
‘Ouvir’ is correct for listening to sounds; for listening to someone’s words, many Brazilians prefer ‘escutar’. Both are acceptable, but ‘escutar’ sounds more natural in casual speech.
Estou te ouvindo.
Leaving out ‘de verdade’ removes the emphasis on sincerity, which can change the tone of the sentence.
↔Alternatives
Estou realmente ouvindo você.
I’m really listening to you.
Estou te escutando de verdade.
I’m truly listening to you.
Te estou ouvindo, de verdade.
I’m listening to you, honestly.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, showing genuine interest is valued, especially in personal conversations. Adding ‘de verdade’ signals that you’re not just being polite but truly engaged. The phrase is informal; in formal settings you might use ‘Estou ouvindo atentamente’ instead.