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
Mandato is authority or term of office. Mandado is a legal order.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
mandato
term of office or mandate
Use mandato for political term, official authority, or representation.
mandado
warrant or order
Use mandado for a judicial order, such as a search or arrest warrant.
How to choose
- mandato: Choose mandato if the sentence points to political term, official authority, or representation.
- mandado: Choose mandado if the sentence points to a judicial order, such as a search or arrest warrant.
Examples
O mandato dura quatro anos.
The term lasts four years.
O juiz expediu um mandado.
The judge issued a warrant.
Common trap
Politics usually takes mandato. Courts and police usually take mandado.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with mandato, then once with mandado. 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.