Portuguese Phrase
O que você fez?
Meaning
This phrase is a direct way to ask someone about their past actions or activities. It utilizes the 'pretérito perfeito' tense of the irregular verb 'fazer', which means 'to do' or 'to make'. It is a fundamental building block for any conversation regarding past events.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know about someone's recent activities, such as their weekend or a specific task. It is appropriate for both informal chats with friends and professional inquiries about work progress.
✦Grammar Breakdown
O quevocêfez
O que
Literally 'The what', used as an interrogative pronoun to mean 'what'.
Fez
The third-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'fazer' (to do/make).
🗨In Conversation
Oi! O que você fez ontem?
Hi! What did you do yesterday?
Eu assisti a um filme no cinema.
I watched a movie at the cinema.
✕Common Mistakes
O que você faz?
This is the present tense 'What do you do?'. Use 'fez' for the past tense.
O que você fize?
This is an incorrect conjugation; 'fazer' is irregular and the correct form is 'fez'.
↔Alternatives
O que você andou fazendo?
What have you been up to?
O que aconteceu?
What happened?
Cultural Tip
Brazilians are generally very social, so this question often opens up a longer story rather than a one-word answer. In some regions, you might hear 'tu' instead of 'você', but 'você fez' remains the most standard and widely accepted form across Brazil.