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
Resolver removes a problem; decidir chooses a course of action.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
resolver
to solve or resolve
Use resolver for finding an answer to a problem or settling a difficult matter.
decidir
to decide
Use decidir for choosing between possibilities or reaching a judgment.
How to choose
- resolver: Choose resolver if the sentence points to finding an answer to a problem or settling a difficult matter.
- decidir: Choose decidir if the sentence points to choosing between possibilities or reaching a judgment.
Examples
Precisamos resolver este problema.
We need to solve this problem.
Decidi aceitar o trabalho.
I decided to accept the job.
Common trap
Resolver can also mean decide in Brazilian speech, especially before an infinitive. The idea of solving remains its clearest core.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with resolver, then once with decidir. 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.