Topic Change Markers | Portuguese (Portugal) Grammar

Portuguese gives speakers and writers a dense toolkit for framing a sentence around a specific topic or pivoting to a new one. These topic-change markers are not just vocabulary — they shape word order, set expectations, and signal whether you are wrapping up a thread, introducing a related aside, or changing the subject entirely. Used well, they give extended speech and writing the rhythm of a practised native speaker; used poorly, they leave a text feeling abrupt or ill-connected.

This page covers three overlapping functions: topic-fronting (putting a noun phrase at the start of a sentence to frame what follows), related-topic transitions (moving to something connected to the current subject), and full topic changes (pivoting to something new). The same markers sometimes do several of these jobs, but the register differences are sharp — quanto a works in any register, while no que diz respeito a belongs firmly in formal prose.

Quanto a — the everyday topic-fronter

Quanto a (as for, as regards) is the default, neutral way of framing a sentence around a topic. It sits at the very beginning of the sentence, followed by a noun phrase (or a pronoun) referring to the topic, then the main clause. The construction is ubiquitous in both speech and writing.

Quanto ao João, ainda não sabemos se vem ao jantar.

As for João, we don't know yet whether he's coming to dinner.

Quanto a mim, prefiro ficar em casa este fim de semana.

As for me, I'd rather stay home this weekend.

Quanto aos preços, vão aumentar a partir de janeiro.

As for prices, they're going up from January onwards.

Notice the contractions — quanto ao (quanto + a + o), quanto à (quanto + a + a), quanto aos, quanto às. These are obligatory and follow the standard preposition + article rules.

💡

English speakers often skip the framing quanto a and just front the noun phrase: O João, não sabemos se vem. That works in Portuguese too (it's a topicalization — see the Topicalization page), but it sounds abrupt in writing and can feel like a list of disjointed thoughts. Quanto a smooths the transition and tells the listener "I'm about to tell you something specifically about this."

No que diz respeito a and no que toca a — raising the register

When you need the same topic-framing move in more formal prose — an essay, a report, a business email — reach for no que diz respeito a (with respect to, as regards) or no que toca a (when it comes to, as regards). Both take a noun phrase and produce a polished sentence-opener.

No que diz respeito à segurança alimentar, o relatório aponta falhas graves.

With respect to food safety, the report points out serious failings.

No que toca aos custos de produção, houve uma redução de quinze por cento.

When it comes to production costs, there has been a fifteen per cent reduction.

No que diz respeito a mim, continuo a achar que a proposta é viável.

As far as I'm concerned, I still think the proposal is viable.

No que diz respeito a is slightly more formal and impersonal than no que toca a; the latter has a faint conversational touch and is common in journalism. Both are perfectly idiomatic, and native speakers mix them freely in written Portuguese.

A third variant — no que se refere a — is entirely synonymous and shows up especially in academic writing.

No que se refere à variação dialectal, os dados são claros.

With regard to dialectal variation, the data are clear.

Relativamente a, em relação a, com respeito a

Another family of topic-framers, slightly more compact, uses single prepositional phrases: relativamente a, em relação a, and com respeito a. These are less weighty than the no que diz respeito a construction and work well in semi-formal writing (business emails, opinion columns, formal conversation).

Relativamente à sua encomenda, informamos que será entregue na próxima segunda-feira.

Regarding your order, we inform you that it will be delivered next Monday.

Em relação ao projeto de lei, o Parlamento adiou a votação para maio.

Regarding the bill, Parliament postponed the vote to May.

Com respeito a essa questão, preferia não me pronunciar agora.

With respect to that matter, I'd rather not comment just now.

In spoken Portuguese, em relação a is by far the most common of this group — you'll hear it constantly in news interviews and office meetings. Relativamente a sits one notch more formal, and com respeito a leans legal or diplomatic.

Acerca de, sobre, a propósito de

When the topic-change involves introducing a related topic — something connected to what was just said, or bringing up a new subject you want to discuss — Portuguese reaches for a second set of markers: acerca de, sobre, and a propósito de.

Acerca de (about, concerning) and sobre (about, on) are near-synonyms but behave slightly differently. Sobre is the default for introducing the subject of discussion, writing, or thinking; acerca de tends to carry a slight formality and is more common in writing than in casual speech.

Falámos longamente sobre a situação política do país.

We talked at length about the country's political situation.

Gostaria de lhe fazer algumas perguntas acerca do acidente.

I'd like to ask you some questions about the accident.

Escrevi um artigo sobre o romance policial português.

I wrote an article on the Portuguese detective novel.

A propósito de is the one that really changes topics — it introduces a side comment or an aside inspired by the current conversation. The English equivalent is "speaking of" or "apropos of." Shortened to just a propósito, it becomes a transition marker meaning "by the way."

A propósito da tua viagem a Paris, sabes que o Miguel também lá esteve no mês passado?

Speaking of your trip to Paris, did you know Miguel was also there last month?

A propósito, já viste o novo filme do Manoel de Oliveira?

By the way, have you seen Manoel de Oliveira's new film?

Por falar em, por falar nisso — the natural pivot

Portuguese has a beautifully natural spoken-language pivot that often trips up translators: por falar em (speaking of) and its pronominal form por falar nisso (speaking of that). Unlike a propósito, which can feel slightly bookish, these are what speakers actually say in conversation to move to a related topic.

Por falar em férias, já decidiste para onde vais no verão?

Speaking of holidays, have you decided where you're going this summer?

— O meu irmão mudou-se para Coimbra. — Por falar nisso, o Rui também anda à procura de casa lá.

— My brother moved to Coimbra. — Speaking of that, Rui is also looking for a place there.

Por falar em comida, estou cheio de fome — vamos almoçar?

Speaking of food, I'm starving — shall we have lunch?

Por falar em + noun phrase is the natural pivot that exploits something in the current conversation to move to a related topic. Por falar nisso is its anaphoric form — it refers back to whatever was just said. Both are overwhelmingly spoken register; you will rarely see them in formal writing.

Já agora — the Portuguese "while we're at it"

Já agora (while we're at it, since we're on the subject) is a distinctively Portuguese conversational marker that adds a related item to the current discussion — usually a request, a question, or a piece of information. It shows that you are capitalizing on an opportunity rather than changing the subject entirely.

Já agora, podes também passar no supermercado e trazer pão?

While you're at it, could you also stop by the supermarket and get some bread?

— Vou buscar café. — Já agora, trazes-me um também?

— I'm going to get coffee. — While you're at it, could you bring me one too?

Já agora que estás a falar do teu irmão, como é que ele está?

Since you're talking about your brother, how is he doing?

Já agora is not really replaceable by a neat English phrase — "while we're at it" is the closest, but the Portuguese version is more idiomatic and versatile. Learn to use it; it is a real marker of conversational fluency.

Olha, escuta, ouve lá — the conversational openers

No guide to PT-PT topic change is honest without its most frequent spoken markers: olha, escuta, and ouve lá. Literally "look," "listen," and "listen here," these are imperative forms frozen into discourse markers that Portuguese speakers deploy constantly to flag an incoming topic shift, a side comment, or simply to grab a listener's attention. They are a signature feature of everyday European Portuguese and one of the fastest ways to sound local.

Olha, já te disse que o Pedro vai ao casamento?

Look, did I tell you Pedro is going to the wedding?

Escuta, não te esqueças de trazer o vinho amanhã.

Listen, don't forget to bring the wine tomorrow.

Ouve lá, como é que foi a entrevista?

Hey listen, how did the interview go?

Olha is the softest of the three and works in almost any informal register — with friends, family, or colleagues. Escuta is slightly more insistent, often used when you want to make sure the listener pays attention to what follows. Ouve lá carries a faintly commanding or confrontational edge ("hey, listen up") and belongs to casual or mildly charged conversation. All three are imperatives of the tu form; with você or in more formal settings, the equivalents are olhe, escute, oiça.

💡

These openers have no neat English equivalent — "look" and "listen" are the closest but sound more literal in English than they feel in Portuguese. In PT-PT they are essentially grammaticalised attention-getters, comparable to the discourse function of English "so," "right," or "okay." Use them generously in spoken Portuguese; avoid them in writing except in dialogue.

Aliás — the self-correcting aside

Aliás is a short, high-register-friendly marker that does two overlapping jobs: it introduces an afterthought or further point ("besides, actually") and it often signals a self-correction ("or rather"). It belongs to careful speech and writing alike.

Ele é um bom professor; aliás, é o melhor que já tive.

He's a good teacher; in fact, he's the best I've ever had.

Vou no sábado, aliás, no domingo — enganei-me.

I'm going on Saturday, actually — on Sunday, I got it wrong.

O livro é interessante e, aliás, muito bem escrito.

The book is interesting and, moreover, very well written.

Aliás is one of those markers that learners often under-use because no single English word maps to it. Learn it as both "besides/in fact" and "actually/or rather," and deploy it to tighten written arguments and add sophistication to spoken ones.

Bom — the thinking-out-loud pivot

The single word bom (literally "good"), often drawn out as booom or followed by a pause, is a very common Portuguese filler-turned-pivot. It signals that the speaker is about to change direction, sum up, or move on — comparable to English "well," "anyway," or "so."

Bom, acho que já está na hora de irmos embora.

Well, I think it's time for us to head off.

Bom, mudando de assunto, quando é que vais ao Porto?

Right, changing the subject, when are you going to Porto?

Bom stacks well with the more explicit mudando de assunto, producing the very Portuguese opener bom, mudando de assunto… — a soft but unmistakable "okay, moving on."

Mudando de assunto — the clean pivot

When you want to signal explicitly that you are changing topics — not adding a related one, but jumping to something new — Portuguese uses mudando de assunto (changing the subject) or the more formal passando a outro tema (moving on to another topic).

Mudando de assunto, alguém sabe a que horas começa o jogo?

Changing the subject, does anyone know what time the match starts?

Mudando de tema, gostaria de falar sobre os planos para o próximo trimestre.

Changing the topic, I'd like to talk about the plans for next quarter.

Passando a outro assunto, quando é que vamos receber os novos portáteis?

Moving on to another matter, when are we getting the new laptops?

Mudando de assunto is neutral and works in any register. Passando a outro tema and passando a outro assunto are slightly more formal and common in meetings and presentations.

Topic-fronting for emphasis

Beyond markers, Portuguese often signals topic change through pure word order — moving the topic to the start of the sentence without any marker at all. This is called topicalization and is extremely common in both speech and writing.

O relatório, li-o ontem à noite.

The report — I read it last night.

Ao Pedro, não se lhe pode pedir nada.

Pedro — you can't ask him for anything.

Essa ideia, já a tínhamos discutido na reunião anterior.

That idea — we'd already discussed it in the previous meeting.

The topicalized element sits at the start, usually followed by a clitic pronoun (o, a, lhe) that recovers its grammatical function. This is a sophisticated construction that learners often avoid, but it is a hallmark of native-like Portuguese. See the Topicalization page for the full pattern.

Register overview

Function	Informal / spoken	Neutral	Formal / written
Topic framing	quanto a, em relação a	quanto a, relativamente a	no que diz respeito a, no que toca a, no que se refere a
Introducing a subject	sobre, acerca de	sobre, acerca de	acerca de, relativamente a
Related topic / aside	por falar em, por falar nisso, já agora, aliás	a propósito de, a propósito, aliás	a propósito de, aliás
Attention-getter / opener	olha, escuta, ouve lá, bom	olhe, escute, oiça	(rare — used only in dialogue)
Full topic change	mudando de assunto	mudando de assunto, mudando de tema	passando a outro tema, passando a outro assunto

Common mistakes

❌ Quanto para mim, prefiro ficar em casa.

Wrong preposition — *quanto a* takes *a*, not *para*. This is a common transfer error.

✅ Quanto a mim, prefiro ficar em casa.

As for me, I'd rather stay home.

❌ Em respeito ao projeto, decidimos adiá-lo.

Lexical error — the correct phrase is *com respeito a* or *em relação a*, not *em respeito a*.

✅ Com respeito ao projeto, decidimos adiá-lo. / Em relação ao projeto, decidimos adiá-lo.

With respect to the project, we've decided to postpone it.

❌ Por falar de férias, já decidiste para onde vais?

Wrong preposition — the fixed phrase is *por falar em*, not *por falar de*.

✅ Por falar em férias, já decidiste para onde vais?

Speaking of holidays, have you decided where you're going?

❌ Falámos acerca sobre o plano.

Redundant — *acerca* and *sobre* are synonyms; you pick one, not both.

✅ Falámos acerca do plano. / Falámos sobre o plano.

We talked about the plan.

❌ No que diz respeito aos custos aumentaram.

Missing comma and main clause — *no que diz respeito a* + NP frames a sentence, which then needs a proper main clause.

✅ No que diz respeito aos custos, aumentaram significativamente.

With regard to costs, they have increased significantly.

Key takeaways

Quanto a is the everyday neutral topic-framer — learn it first and use it often.
No que diz respeito a, no que toca a, and no que se refere a are the formal equivalents for essays, reports, and official emails.
Relativamente a and em relação a sit in the semi-formal middle — the workhorses of business and journalism.
Por falar em and a propósito de introduce a related topic; já agora adds a related request or question; mudando de assunto pivots to something new.
Olha, escuta, and ouve lá are the signature spoken-PT-PT attention-getters — imperatives frozen into discourse markers. Bom is the "well, so…" pivot.
Aliás introduces an afterthought or a self-correction — a compact, versatile marker English lacks a neat equivalent for.
Portuguese also achieves topic change through bare topicalization (fronting the topic without any marker), a sophisticated native-like construction worth learning.