Claro / com certeza
KLAH-roo / kong sehr-TEH-zah
How to say itPart of: Yes & no
“Of course; for sure.”
Claro (“clear”) is of course: the warm, easy yes to a request or a question. Com certeza (“with certainty”) is for sure, definitely: a firmer yes. Both are more natural than a bare sim in Brazilian conversation. Claro que sim is “of course I do”; claro que não, “of course not”. Said drily, claro can also mean “obviously”.
Looking for all the ways to say yes and no? Yes and no in Portuguese: the guide
EverydayAll Brazilalso: claro que sim, ctzReply: Obrigado / obrigada!
How Brazilians use it
“— Posso te ligar mais tarde? — Claro!”
““Can I call you later?” “Of course!””
An easy yes.
“— Você vem na festa? — Com certeza!”
““Are you coming to the party?” “Definitely!””
A firm yes.
“Claro que não, eu nunca disse isso.”
“Of course not, I never said that.”
A firm no.
“— Ele vai se atrasar. — Claro.”
““He’s going to be late.” “Obviously.””
Dry: stating the obvious.
In a real book
“— Mais de um é, com certeza... Já vi dois: um rapaz alto, louro, rosado, elegante.”How to reply
- Obrigado / obrigada!Thanks for the yes.
- Beleza, então.Cool, then.
Similar expressions
Brazil vs Portugal
Both are used the same way in Portugal, where claro is especially common; com certeza there is often shortened to certeza.
Common mistakes
- Don’t say claro que sí: that is Spanish; Portuguese is claro que sim.
- Don’t mistake claro the adjective (clear, light) for the yes: céu claro is a clear sky.
- Don’t write certesa: certeza, with z.
Frequently asked questions
What does claro mean in Portuguese?
Of course, sure: a warm yes. Literally “clear”. Claro que sim is of course I do, claro que não of course not, and a dry claro means “obviously”.
Can I just say claro?
Yes. On its own, claro! is a complete, friendly answer to a request: can I sit here? Claro!
What does com certeza mean?
For sure, definitely, certainly: a firm yes, literally “with certainty”. In texts it is shortened to ctz.
What is the difference between claro and com certeza?
Claro is light and warm, the yes to a small request. Com certeza is firmer and a little more emphatic, the yes to “are you coming?”. Both beat a bare sim in conversation.