How to say “I’ll think about it and come back” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learning how to politely delay a decision is essential in everyday Brazilian Portuguese. This article teaches you how to say and use the phrase vou pensar e volto and related expressions. You will get vocabulary, useful sentences, short dialogues, pronunciation tips, common responses, and beginner-friendly explanations for real situations like stores, restaurants, and messages.

Why this phrase matters

When you need time to decide, saying it politely helps in shopping, job offers, scheduling, or social invitations. In Brazilian Portuguese, there are several ways to express I will think about it and come back. Each option fits a different level of formality. Knowing a few variations helps you sound natural and respectful.

Key phrase and literal meaning

vou pensar e volto — literal translation: I will think and come back. This is informal and common in face-to-face situations, like in a market or small store.

vou pensar e volto is present tense for the verb ir plus infinitive pensar, used conversationally to say you will think and then return.

Other common beginner-friendly phrases

deixa eu pensar — let me think. Short, informal, used to buy time immediately.

vou pensar no assunto e te falo — I will think about it and I’ll tell you. Slightly more formal and useful for follow-up by phone or message.

posso pensar e voltar depois? — can I think and come back later? Polite and useful in stores or when asked to decide on the spot.

vou pensar e te aviso — I will think and let you know. Common when responding to invitations or offers.

preciso pensar um pouco — I need to think a bit. Simple and clear when you want more time.

When to use each phrase

Informal face-to-face: use vou pensar e volto or deixa eu pensar when talking with shopkeepers, friends, or vendors.

Messages or calls: use vou pensar no assunto e te falo or vou pensar e te aviso when you plan to reply later by message or phone.

Polite or formal: use phrases with posso or preciso, such as posso pensar e voltar depois? or preciso pensar um pouco, when talking to service staff or people you do not know well.

Useful vocabulary

pensar — to think

voltar — to return, to come back

falar — to speak, to tell

avisar — to let someone know, to notify

assunto — matter, subject, issue

depois — later

agora — now

um pouco — a little

Pronunciation tips

pensar — pen-SAR (stress on the second syllable)

voltar — vol-TAR (stress on the second syllable)

vou — rhymes with how in English but with a shorter vowel sound

te falo — teh FAH-loo (te is like English te in tell; falo stress on first syllable)

Short real-life examples

At a small clothing store when unsure about a shirt

Vendedor: Esse casaco está em promoção. Vai levar?
Cliente: vou pensar e volto.

On the phone after a job offer

Recrutador: Podemos oferecer o cargo, fica de acordo?
Candidato: vou pensar no assunto e te falo.

When invited to a dinner by a coworker

Colega: Quer ir jantar amanhã?
Você: vou pensar e te aviso.

At a restaurant where the waiter asks about dessert

Garçom: Quer sobremesa agora?
Cliente: posso pensar e voltar depois?

Short beginner-friendly dialogues

Dialogue 1 — Market purchase

Vendedor: Esse queijo é fresco. Você quer levar?
Cliente: Deixa eu pensar… vou pensar e volto.

Dialogue 2 — Social invitation

Amiga: Sábado tem festa na casa da Ana. Vai com a gente?
Você: Preciso conferir a agenda. vou pensar e te aviso.

Dialogue 3 — Service decision

Atendente: Podemos marcar para quinta ou sexta.
Cliente: Quinta não dá. Preciso pensar um pouco e te confirmo.

Polite replies you may hear

Sem pressa — no hurry. A friendly reply when someone needs time.

Tudo bem, depois você me fala — Okay, you tell me later. Casual response.

Certo, espero seu retorno — Alright, I will wait for your return. Slightly more formal.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Mixing verb forms: Beginners sometimes say vou pensar e volto but intend to say I will think and tell you. Use vou pensar e te falo to emphasize you will inform the person.

Overusing voltar for phone follow-up: voltar implies physically returning. For messages or calls, prefer te falo or te aviso.

Too literal translation: Avoid translating word-for-word from English. For example, I will think about it and come back is natural as vou pensar e volto in-store, but for an invitation, vou pensar e te aviso is better.

Practical tips for beginners

Use simple verbs: pensar, voltar, avisar, falar. These appear often and are easy to conjugate.

Listen to natives: Notice whether people expect you to return physically or to respond by message. Match the verb: voltar for coming back, te falo for telling later.

Keep it short and polite: Phrases like deixa eu pensar or preciso pensar um pouco are natural and noncommittal.

Extra realistic scenarios

Buying a phone in a mall

Vendedor: Posso fazer a proposta com parcelamento.
Você: vou pensar e volto amanhã.

Responding to a freelance job offer

Cliente: Aceita o trabalho para começar segunda?
Freelancer: vou pensar no assunto e te falo ainda hoje.

Confirming travel plans

Agente: Esse pacote inclui transfer do aeroporto. Confirma?
Turista: preciso pensar um pouco. Posso te avisar em duas horas?

Quick reference phrases

vou pensar e volto — I will think and come back (informal, in-person)

deixa eu pensar — let me think (immediate delay)

vou pensar no assunto e te falo — I will think about it and I’ll tell you (message/phone)

vou pensar e te aviso — I will think and let you know (common for invitations)

posso pensar e voltar depois? — can I think and come back later? (polite)

preciso pensar um pouco — I need to think a bit (neutral)

Responses to expect and practice

Practice hearing these common follow-ups: Sem pressa; Tudo bem; Depois você me fala. These help you learn timing and tone so you know when to reply.

When someone says vou pensar e te aviso, a polite reply is certo, fico no aguardo — okay, I’ll wait. This reinforces polite communication patterns.

Mini practice: match the situation to the phrase

Choosing a menu item right away in a busy café: use deixa eu pensar.

Deciding about an event happening next week: use vou pensar e te aviso.

Shopping with the intent to return later the same day: use vou pensar e volto.

Conclusion

Knowing how to say I will think about it and come back in Brazilian Portuguese gives you confidence in many everyday contexts. Use vou pensar e volto for in-person returns, and use phrases like vou pensar no assunto e te falo or vou pensar e te aviso for messages and phone follow-ups. Practice the short dialogues and vocabulary in realistic situations to sound natural, polite, and clear.