Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.
Quick answer
Lícito asks whether rules permit something; legítimo asks whether it is rightful, justified, authorized, or genuine.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
lícito
lawful or permitted
Use lícito for not prohibited by law or an applicable rule.
legítimo
legitimate, rightful, or genuine
Use legítimo for justified by authority or fairness, or authentic in origin.
How to choose
- lícito: Choose lícito if the sentence points to not prohibited by law or an applicable rule.
- legítimo: Choose legítimo if the sentence points to justified by authority or fairness, or authentic in origin.
Examples
A atividade é lícita e regulamentada.
The activity is lawful and regulated.
A comunidade apresentou uma reivindicação legítima.
The community presented a legitimate demand.
Common trap
An action can be lícita yet socially contested as illegítima, or morally legitimate while current law still prohibits it.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with lícito, then once with legítimo. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.