Introduction
This article helps English-speaking learners of Brazilian Portuguese say I will explain by message politely and naturally. You will learn common phrases, formal and informal options, variations for text and voice messages, polite tone adjustments, and short dialogues to practice real situations. Examples focus on everyday contexts like work, friends, and customer service.
- Why choosing the right phrase matters
- Polite formal phrases for work and official situations
- Casual and friendly ways to say it
- How to be extra polite: phrases that soften requests
- Voice messages versus text messages
- Short dialogues with context
- Politeness markers and cultural tips
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Alternative ways to say it with different verbs
- Phrase bank: quick reference list
- Usage notes on pronouns and formality
- Final tips for natural-sounding messages
- Conclusion
Why choosing the right phrase matters
Using the appropriate expression for I will explain by message influences clarity and tone. In professional settings you want to sound respectful and precise. With friends or family you can be casual and concise. Understanding register, verbs, and message type (texto, mensagem de voz) helps you avoid misunderstandings.
Key verbs and vocabulary
Start by learning a few essential verbs and words you will see often in the phrases below.
explicar — to explain
mandar — to send
enviar — to send (slightly more formal)
mensagem — message (text)
WhatsApp — WhatsApp (commonly used for messaging)
voz — voice
detalhes — details
Polite formal phrases for work and official situations
In professional contexts you want to be polite and clear. Use verbs like explicar and enviar, and include a time frame if possible. These options are suitable for emailing colleagues, messaging clients, or writing to a boss.
Formal examples
Vou explicar por mensagem — I will explain by message
Usage note: Simple and polite; neutral for many formal contexts.
Vou explicar por mensagem ainda hoje — I will explain by message later today
Usage note: Adds a polite time frame to manage expectations.
Posso explicar por mensagem, se preferir — I can explain by message, if you prefer
Usage note: Offers choice; good for clients or someone who might prefer a call instead.
Vou enviar uma mensagem com os detalhes — I will send a message with the details
Usage note: Emphasizes that full information will be provided in writing.
Enviarei uma mensagem explicando tudo — I will send a message explaining everything
Usage note: Slightly more formal tone using future tense; useful in written communication.
Polite but slightly less formal
These fit semi-formal situations such as colleagues you know, or new acquaintances where neutral politeness is fine.
Vou mandar uma mensagem explicando — I will send a message explaining
Usage note: Mandar is more casual than enviar but still polite.
Te explico por mensagem — I’ll explain to you by message
Usage note: Use te for informal you; in semi-formal use lhe explico por mensagem for studied politeness.
Casual and friendly ways to say it
With friends and family, you can be relaxed and informal. Shorter phrases, contractions, and platform-specific mentions are common. Tone is warm and quick.
Informal examples
Te explico por mensagem depois — I’ll explain by message later
Usage note: Very common among friends; depois means later.
Te mando uma mensagem explicando — I’ll send you a message explaining
Usage note: Natural and friendly; use Te or Vou te depending on region.
Te explico no WhatsApp — I’ll explain to you on WhatsApp
Usage note: Very common because WhatsApp is the main messaging app in Brazil.
Te explico por áudio — I’ll explain by voice message
Usage note: Use when you’ll send a voice note instead of typing.
Slang and ultra-casual variants
These are best reserved for close friends. Avoid them in professional settings.
Depois te explico no zap — I’ll explain to you on zap later
Usage note: Zap is slang for WhatsApp; very informal.
Te mando um áudio — I’ll send you an audio (voice message)
Usage note: Short and casual; common in quick chats.
How to be extra polite: phrases that soften requests
Adding politeness markers makes your message sound considerate. Use conditional forms, please words, and time indications.
Softening examples
Se quiser, posso explicar por mensagem — If you want, I can explain by message
Usage note: Gives the other person agency; very polite.
Posso te explicar por mensagem, se for melhor para você — I can explain to you by message if it is better for you
Usage note: Very respectful and customer-oriented.
Se preferir, envio os detalhes por mensagem — If you prefer, I will send the details by message
Usage note: Use preferir to show consideration for the recipient’s preference.
Quando puder, te explico por mensagem — When you can, I’ll explain by message
Usage note: Adds patience and respect for the recipient’s schedule.
Voice messages versus text messages
Brazilian Portuguese speakers commonly use both text and voice messages. Choosing which to promise depends on context and your personal speaking comfort.
When to use voice messages
Voice messages are great for tone, nuance, and when you need to explain something complex quickly. Use áudio or mensagem de voz to specify you will send a voice recording.
Te explico por áudio — I’ll explain by audio (voice message)
Usage note: Useful when typing would take longer or you want to sound more personal.
Posso mandar um áudio explicando — I can send an audio explaining
Usage note: Offers a convenient alternative to typing.
When to use text messages
Text messages are better for information that the recipient might want to refer back to, like instructions, addresses, or lists. Use mensagem or texto in your phrase to make this clear.
Vou enviar uma mensagem com as instruções — I will send a message with the instructions
Usage note: Promises written steps the other person can keep.
Te mando o passo a passo por mensagem — I’ll send you the step-by-step by message
Usage note: Ideal for tutorials or procedures.
Short dialogues with context
Short dialogues help you see how these phrases work naturally. Each dialogue is labeled so you can use the right register.
Work: formal
Chefe: Você consegue explicar os detalhes do projeto?
Você: Posso explicar por mensagem ainda hoje. Enviarei todos os arquivos e o cronograma.
Colleague: semi-formal
Colega: Não entendi aquela parte do relatório.
Você: Vou explicar por mensagem e mando os pontos principais para você revisar.
Friend: informal
Amigo: Como faço para chegar aí?
Você: Te explico no WhatsApp com o mapa e os pontos de referência.
Customer service: polite and helpful
Cliente: Preciso saber como trocar o produto.
Atendente: Se preferir, envio os passos por mensagem para facilitar.
Politeness markers and cultural tips
Brazilian Portuguese uses certain words and constructions to sound more polite. These help you come across as respectful and cooperative.
Use por favor to add please in requests. For example: Posso explicar por mensagem, por favor? is useful when asking for permission to switch to text.
Use conditional forms and offer options: Se quiser, posso or Se preferir, envio. These phrases give the recipient control and sound considerate.
Use time indicators: ainda hoje, daqui a pouco, mais tarde. These reassure the other person about when they will receive your message.
Common mistakes to avoid
Beginners often make a few predictable errors. Watch out for these so your messages sound natural.
Overusing formal verbs in casual contexts can make you sound stiff. For friends, prefer mandar or te explico instead of enviar and overly formal constructions.
Forgetting to specify text or voice can create confusion. If you promise a message, say if it will be an áudio or a typed mensagem.
Not giving a time frame can leave people waiting. Even a vague timeframe like mais tarde helps manage expectations.
Alternative ways to say it with different verbs
Portuguese offers multiple verbs with slightly different tones. Here are alternatives and when to use them.
Esclarecer — to clarify
Use when you want to emphasize clarity and formality: Vou esclarecer por mensagem os pontos pendentes.
Informar — to inform
Use when you are giving facts or official information: Vou informar por mensagem os valores e prazos.
Detalhar — to detail
Use when promising a detailed explanation: Vou detalhar por mensagem tudo o que combinamos.
Phrase bank: quick reference list
Here is a compact list you can save and use when you need a quick polite way to say I will explain by message.
Vou explicar por mensagem
Vou explicar por mensagem ainda hoje
Posso explicar por mensagem, se preferir
Vou enviar uma mensagem com os detalhes
Te explico por mensagem depois
Te mando uma mensagem explicando
Te explico no WhatsApp
Te explico por áudio
Se quiser, posso explicar por mensagem
Quando puder, te explico por mensagem
Usage notes on pronouns and formality
Pronouns change politeness and regional flavor. Te is common in informal speech across Brazil. In formal writing or very polite speech use lhe or a forma verbal without a direct pronoun.
Examples: Vou te explicar por mensagem is informal and friendly. Vou explicar por mensagem ao senhor/à senhora is very formal and used with clients or elders.
Final tips for natural-sounding messages
Keep messages short and organized. If you promise to explain by message, include bullets or numbered steps in the message to make it easy to follow. If you send a voice message, speak clearly and outline the main points at the start.
Match the recipient’s tone. Mirror a formal or informal style based on how they address you. When in doubt, choose a slightly more polite form and offer an alternative channel.
Conclusion
Mastering polite ways to say I will explain by message in Brazilian Portuguese helps you communicate clearly in work, social, and customer settings. Use the verb choices, politeness markers, and phrase variations in this article to fit different levels of formality. Practice these phrases in real conversations to build confidence and natural tone.
