Introduction
De acordo com is a common Portuguese phrase used to express according to, in line with, or based on. This article explains when and how to use de acordo com in Brazilian Portuguese, compares it to similar expressions, and gives clear examples to help English-speaking learners understand its grammar, placement, and nuances.
- What does De acordo com mean?
- Grammar details — preposition and agreement
- When to use De acordo com vs similar phrases
- Placement in sentences
- Using De acordo com with people and titles
- Using De acordo com with documents and data
- Nuances and tone
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Real-life examples and translations
- Cultural and usage notes
- Quick reference: common collocations
- Practical tips for learners
- Conclusion
What does De acordo com mean?
De acordo com literally translates as of agreement with, but functionally it means according to, in accordance with, or based on. It introduces a source of information, an authority, a rule, a document, or an opinion. Use it when you want to attribute a statement to someone or something authoritative.
Basic structure
The full expression is de acordo com followed by a noun or noun phrase that denotes the source. Typical sources include pessoas, documentos, dados, leis, relatórios, especialistas, and notícias.
Structure: de acordo com + [fonte]
Examples:
De acordo com o relatório, as vendas aumentaram.
De acordo com a professora, você está pronto para o teste.
Grammar details — preposition and agreement
De acordo com is a fixed prepositional expression. The verb or clause that follows follows normal Portuguese grammar rules and must agree with the subject of the sentence, not with the phrase de acordo com.
Verb agreement
Because de acordo com functions as a prepositional phrase, the main verb agrees with the subject of the sentence. The subject is typically the noun that precedes the verb, not the noun after de acordo com.
Example with subject before the phrase:
As empresas decidiram cortar custos, de acordo com o relatório.
Subject: As empresas — verb decided (decidiram).
Example with subject after the phrase (less common):
De acordo com os especialistas, a economia vai crescer.
Subject: a economia — verb vai crescer.
Agreement after contraction
When de acordo com is followed by definite articles, you may see contractions with de + o or de + a, but in this expression the form remains fixed and does not contract into do/da. Always use de acordo com, not do acordo com or da acordo com.
When to use De acordo com vs similar phrases
Portuguese has several ways to say according to. Understanding differences helps choose the right tone or register.
De acordo com vs segundo
Segundo also means according to and is often interchangeable with de acordo com. However, segundo is slightly more formal and common in written language like news or academic texts.
Examples:
De acordo com a pesquisa, 70 por cento concordam.
Segundo a pesquisa, 70 por cento concordam.
De acordo com vs conforme
Conforme can mean according to or as, and is often used in the sense of in accordance with rules or when describing how something should be done. De acordo com emphasizes attribution to a source, while conforme emphasizes conformity or accordance.
Examples:
Conforme as regras, você deve usar máscara.
De acordo com as regras, você deve usar máscara.
Both are correct, but conforme highlights following rules, while de acordo com highlights that the information comes from the rules.
De acordo com vs segundo as palavras de/como disse
When quoting a specific person, you can use phrases like em palavras de or como disse. De acordo com is more neutral and works well for both people and documents.
Examples:
De acordo com Maria, o projeto será entregue amanhã.
Como disse Maria, o projeto será entregue amanhã.
Placement in sentences
De acordo com can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Its position affects emphasis and flow but not meaning.
At the beginning
Placing de acordo com at the start foregrounds the source and is common in formal statements, news, or summaries.
De acordo com o estudo, a maioria aprova a medida.
This emphasizes the study as the source.
In the middle
It can appear after the main clause as a parenthetical attribution.
O governo anunciou mudanças, de acordo com o ministro.
This reads like a clarification: the announcement came from the minister.
At the end
Placing it at the end often follows a natural spoken rhythm and is common in reports or conversations.
As vendas aumentaram, de acordo com o relatório.
Here the focus stays on the sales increase, with the report as supporting information.
Using De acordo com with people and titles
When referring to people, include definite articles if appropriate and use job titles or honorifics naturally. Brazilian Portuguese often uses o/a before titles and roles.
With names
Examples:
De acordo com João, a festa começa às oito.
De acordo com a Joana, o treinamento foi cancelado.
With titles and roles
Use o/a before titles when the noun requires an article.
De acordo com o médico, você precisa descansar.
De acordo com a diretora, a reunião foi adiada.
Using De acordo com with documents and data
The phrase is common in journalism, business, and academic contexts to cite reports, studies, laws, and statistics.
Reports and studies
Examples:
De acordo com o relatório anual, a empresa cresceu 10 por cento.
De acordo com a pesquisa, muitos preferem trabalhar em casa.
Legal and official sources
When citing laws, decrees, or official regulations, de acordo com signals compliance or reference to the legal source.
De acordo com a lei, o contrato deve ser registrado.
De acordo com o decreto, as medidas entram em vigor amanhã.
Nuances and tone
De acordo com is neutral and formal enough for professional contexts but perfectly fine in everyday speech when attributing information. The tone can shift depending on context:
Neutral reporting
Used to report facts or what others say without expressing agreement.
De acordo com a pesquisa, 60 por cento aprovaram a mudança.
Expressing agreement
Note that although de acordo com includes the word acordo (agreement), it does not mean I agree; it only cites the source. To say you personally agree, use expressions like eu concordo or estou de acordo.
Examples:
Eu concordo com você.
Estou de acordo com a proposta.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginners sometimes confuse article contraction, verb agreement, or misunderstand whether de acordo com expresses personal agreement. Here are common errors and corrections.
Avoid contracting the phrase
Incorrect: do acordo com o relatório.
Correct: de acordo com o relatório.
Do not make the verb agree with the source after de acordo com
Incorrect: De acordo com os especialistas, precisamos de mais tempo. (This example is actually correct; the error would be reversing subject agreement.)
To illustrate a potential error: If the true subject is as medidas, the verb must agree with medidas, not especialistas.
Correct: As medidas serão implementadas, de acordo com os especialistas.
Distinguish attribution from personal agreement
If you mean I agree with someone, use eu concordo or estou de acordo, not de acordo com plus a name.
Incorrect for personal agreement: De acordo com João, acho que é uma boa ideia.
Correct: Eu concordo com João; acho que é uma boa ideia. Or: Estou de acordo com João.
Real-life examples and translations
Seeing varied examples helps internalize usage. Each example includes an English gloss to aid understanding.
De acordo com o jornal, haverá chuva amanhã.
According to the newspaper, there will be rain tomorrow.
De acordo com a pesquisa, a maioria prefere frutas frescas.
According to the research, the majority prefers fresh fruit.
De acordo com o professor, a prova será difícil.
According to the teacher, the exam will be difficult.
As regras serão atualizadas, de acordo com a nova legislação.
The rules will be updated, according to the new legislation.
De acordo com especialistas, a tecnologia deve melhorar a eficiência.
According to experts, technology should improve efficiency.
De acordo com o contrato, o pagamento é feito em 30 dias.
According to the contract, payment is made within 30 days.
Cultural and usage notes
In Brazil, attributing a statement to a respected source is important in journalism, business, and academic contexts. Using de acordo com provides a formal, neutral way to cite information without taking personal responsibility for the claim. This is particularly useful in news reports, corporate communications, and academic writing.
In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, casual alternatives like segundo or conforme may be used, and people often omit explicit attribution in informal conversations. However, when you need to show that the information comes from a reliable source, de acordo com is an excellent choice.
Quick reference: common collocations
Common nouns that follow de acordo com include:
o relatório
a pesquisa
os especialistas
a lei
o contrato
as regras
o jornal
Examples:
De acordo com o relatório
De acordo com a pesquisa
De acordo com os especialistas
Practical tips for learners
When practicing, remember these simple tips:
Always use the full phrase de acordo com — do not contract it.
Place the phrase where it sounds natural: beginning for emphasis on the source, end to emphasize the main idea.
Make the main verb agree with the subject of the sentence, not with the noun after de acordo com.
Use eu concordo or estou de acordo when you want to express personal agreement, not when citing a source.
Conclusion
De acordo com is a versatile and useful expression to attribute information to sources in Brazilian Portuguese. It is neutral, suitable for formal and informal contexts, and easy to use once you remember not to contract the phrase and to make the main verb agree with the sentence subject. With the examples and tips above, you can start using de acordo com confidently in your speaking and writing.
