Portuguese Phrase
Ouvi dizer que é muito bom.
Meaning
The sentence means “I heard that it’s very good.” It is used to relay information you’ve heard from others, often about a product, place, or experience, without stating that you have personal experience yourself.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal conversations when you want to share a piece of second‑hand information, such as recommending a restaurant, a movie, or a new app, and you want to sound curious but not overly assertive.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ouvidizerqueémuitobom
Ouvir (pretérito perfeito)
“Ouvi” is the first‑person singular of the past perfect of “ouvir”, meaning “I heard”.
Infinitive after ouvir
When “ouvir” is used to report something you’ve heard, it is followed by an infinitive verb, here “dizer”.
Conjunction que
“Que” introduces the subordinate clause that contains the information you heard.
Ser vs. Estar
“É” (ser) is used for permanent or defining qualities; “está” would refer to a temporary state.
Adverb muito
“Muito” intensifies the adjective that follows, meaning “very”.
Adjective bom
“Bom” describes the quality of the subject being discussed.
🗨In Conversation
Ouvi dizer que é muito bom.
I heard that it’s very good.
É mesmo? Eu também ouvi isso.
Really? I heard that too.
✕Common Mistakes
Ouvi dizer que está muito bom.
Use “é” (ser) for an inherent quality. “Está” would imply a temporary condition, which changes the meaning.
Ouvi dizer que é muito bem.
“Bom” is an adjective describing a noun; “bem” is an adverb and does not fit here.
↔Alternatives
Fiquei sabendo que é muito bom.
I found out that it is very good.
Disseram‑me que é muito bom.
They told me that it is very good.
Soube que é muito bom.
I learned that it is very good.
Cultural Tip
In Portuguese, the construction “ouvir dizer” is a common, informal way to introduce information you’ve heard from others. It signals that you’re not claiming personal expertise, which keeps the conversation polite. In Brazil, you’ll also hear “ouvi dizer que…”, while in Portugal people sometimes prefer “ouvi dizer que…”. The verb “ser” (é) is used because the quality is considered inherent; if you were talking about a temporary state you’d use “estar”.