How to say “Tell me more” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learning how to invite someone to expand on a story or idea is essential in conversation. This article explains natural ways to say tell me more in Brazilian Portuguese, with phrases for casual, formal, and emotional contexts. You will see examples, sample dialogues, pronunciation tips, and usage notes to help you sound natural in Brazil.

Core expressions to say tell me more

Start with a few high-frequency phrases that Brazilians use daily to encourage someone to continue speaking. These are versatile and can be adjusted by tone, context, and level of formality.

Basic, friendly prompts

Me conta mais — A direct and common way to say tell me more in everyday speech. Use it with friends, family, and coworkers in informal settings.
Me conta mais sobre a viagem que você fez no fim de semana.

Me conta mais is often said with a warm tone to show curiosity and interest. It literally means tell me more and is equivalent to tell me about it more.

Polite or neutral prompts

Conte-me mais — A slightly more formal version appropriate for professional conversations or with people you do not know well.
Conte-me mais sobre o projeto e os próximos passos.

Conte-me mais uses the imperative of contar in a polite register. It is often used in meetings, interviews, and email correspondence.

Curiosity and surprise

Fala mais — Casual and energetic. It conveys excitement or disbelief and invites more details quickly.
Fala mais, como você conseguiu aquele ingresso?

Fala mais is short and punchy. It suits lively conversations and situations when you want someone to keep going without formalities.

Expressions with nuance: asking for details or depth

These alternatives refine the request depending on whether you want specifics, emotional depth, or a longer story.

Asking for specifics

Me diga mais — A neutral request meaning tell me more, often used when you want concrete details or clarification.
Me diga mais sobre as condições do contrato.

Me diga mais works well when you need factual information or clarification in both informal and semi-formal contexts.

Encouraging emotional sharing

Quero saber mais — Use when you want someone to open up emotionally or to share thoughts and feelings.
Quero saber mais sobre como você se sentiu depois da mudança.

Quero saber mais signals genuine interest in the speaker’s emotional experience and is useful in supportive conversations.

Requesting a longer story

Conta a história toda — Literally tell the whole story. Use this when you want the complete sequence of events, not just highlights.
Conta a história toda, desde o primeiro encontro até o desfecho.

Conta a história toda implies that you expect a longer, chronological narrative and that the speaker should not skip important parts.

Casual variations and slang

Brazilians often use informal or colloquial phrases to keep the conversation light. These are great in relaxed social settings.

Popular casual prompts

Me fala — Very common and informal; similar to tell me more or tell me about it. You can stress the tone to express interest.
Me fala, como foi o show ontem?

Me fala is versatile and used across ages. It can mean tell me, talk to me, or give me the details depending on context.

More playful or regional expressions

Vem cá, conta — Playful and inviting, often used among friends when something juicy or interesting is being hinted at.
Vem cá, conta o que aconteceu naquela festa.

Vem cá, conta literally asks the person to come closer and tell, adding intimacy and friendliness to the request.

Formal and professional ways to ask for more information

In business, academic, or formal settings you should use polite constructions and clear phrasing that respect hierarchy and professionalism.

Professional phrases

Poderia me explicar melhor — A polite, formal way to ask someone to explain more clearly or in greater detail.
Poderia me explicar melhor os benefícios dessa proposta?

Poderia me explicar melhor is often used in meetings, presentations, and client interactions where clarity and courtesy are important.

Formal written requests

Gostaria de obter mais informações — Suitable for emails, reports, or official requests. It means I would like to obtain more information.
Gostaria de obter mais informações sobre o cronograma e as entregas.

Gostaria de obter mais informações is formal and useful in documents or when addressing authorities, supervisors, or partners.

Politeness and tone: matching the phrase to the situation

How you ask matters as much as what you say. Tone, intonation, and body language influence meaning. Here are tips to choose the right phrase for the setting.

Informal settings

Use Me conta mais, Me fala, or Fala mais. Smile, lean in, and use an open tone to show interest. These phrases are warm and direct, appropriate for friends and family.

Semi-formal and professional settings

Use Conte-me mais, Me diga mais, or Poderia me explicar melhor. Keep a polite tone and neutral body language. These show respect while still requesting more information.

Emotional or supportive situations

Use Quero saber mais or Me conte como você se sentiu to invite emotional sharing. Speak softly, maintain eye contact, and offer reassuring gestures to create a safe space.

Pronunciation tips and rhythm

Understanding pronunciation cues helps you sound natural. Below are brief tips for common phrases in Brazilian Portuguese.

Key pronunciation notes

Me conta mais — Pronounce me as me, with a short vowel; conta as KON-tah; mais as maiz. Natural rhythm: two syllables then one.
Conte-me mais — Pronounce conte as KON-chee, me as mee, mais as maiz. The e in conte is pronounced like ee in Brazilian Portuguese.

Fala mais — Fala is FAH-lah; mais is maiz. Use a rising intonation if you want the person to continue, and a falling intonation to show you are satisfied with the response.

Short dialogues: applying the phrases in context

Seeing short dialogues helps you practice recognizing when each expression fits. All dialogues use Brazilian Portuguese for the spoken lines.

Casual chat about a weekend

Amigo A: Nossa, a festa foi incrível
Amigo B: Me conta mais, o que rolou?
Amigo A: O DJ tocou várias músicas que a gente ama e teve uma surpresa no final

Work meeting follow-up

Gerente: Houve mudanças no cronograma
Funcionário: Pode explicar melhor as novas datas?
Gerente: Claro, vou detalhar o novo calendário e as responsabilidades

Emotional support conversation

Amiga A: Eu fiquei bem nervosa com a entrevista
Amiga B: Quero saber mais, como você se sentiu antes e depois?
Amiga A: Eu estava com medo, mas me senti aliviada quando terminou

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Beginners often overuse literal translations from English or pick the wrong level of formality. Here are common pitfalls and corrections.

Literal translations

Avoid saying diz me mais or tell me mais with English word order. Stick to natural Portuguese structures like Me conta mais or Me diga mais.

Wrong formality

Using Me conta mais with a formal client can sound too casual. Choose Conte-me mais or Poderia me explicar melhor in professional contexts.

Monotone delivery

A phrase can be polite or pushy depending on tone. Use a friendly intonation for curiosity, and a calm, steady tone for serious or formal requests.

Related phrases to expand your conversational toolkit

Learn a few other phrases that complement ask-for-more expressions and help you steer conversations naturally.

Asking for clarification

O que você quer dizer com isso — What do you mean by that. Use when a detail is unclear.
O que você quer dizer com isso sobre o prazo?

Prompting a pause for details

Pode dar um exemplo — Can you give an example. Useful when you want concrete illustrations.
Pode dar um exemplo do que você considera prioridade?

Inviting repetition or emphasis

Repete, por favor — Repeat, please. Use when you missed something and want it said again.
Repete, por favor, o nome do relatório?

Practice tips to sound natural

To internalize these phrases, practice in realistic situations. Role-play dialogues, listen to Brazilian podcasts, and mimic intonation patterns. Record yourself and compare with native speakers.

Daily practice ideas

Replace English prompts with Portuguese ones in informal conversations.
Use a language partner and ask them to tell you a story; try several variations like Me conta mais, Fala mais, and Conte-me mais.

Conclusion

Mastering how to say tell me more in Brazilian Portuguese helps you connect, show curiosity, and gain clarity in many contexts. From friendly Me conta mais to formal Poderia me explicar melhor, choose the phrase that matches the situation, adjust your tone, and practice with real conversations to build confidence and fluency.