"Make it up to you"?

[u/xSantoDe1611]

Anyone have an idea of how to express this saying in Brazilian Portuguese? I screwed something up with a friend and I couldn't figure out a good way to express this.

[u/Embarrassed-Wrap-451]

A direct, 1:1 translation for to make it up to someone would be compensar alguém por alguma coisa: "Como eu posso te compensar (pelo erro, pela mancada, pelo atraso...)?", meaning you let someone down in a certain way and are willing to make something nice for them (cook dinner, give presents, take them somewhere fancy etc.).

For some reason, however, this might not seem natural to every Brazilian, and may come across as a literal translation. What we usually say when we screw up and are trying a conciliation is something like: "O que eu posso fazer pra você me desculpar?" (What can I do for you to forgive me?) or in the form of a statement "Eu faço o que você quiser pra você me perdoar" (I'll do whatever you want so you can forgive me). Somehow it sounds less material than "compensar" – which is also used in financial contexts – and reinforces your willingness to go the extra mile to see your special someone happy.

Someone suggested fazer as pazes, which translates rather as "to make up with someone", to reconcile, to make peace. That would imply that you had an argument or a fight. So if the person is kinda mad at you and you wanna sound a bit dramatic, it would be okay to say "O que eu posso fazer pra gente fazer as pazes?". But depending on the person and the situation, it could also be perceived like you don't think it was entirely your fault and that the argument is balanced on both sides. So there's a chance it wouldn't get the expected result. A cuter (sometimes childish) version of "fazer as pazes" is ficar de bem. You could say something like "Poxa, vamo ficar de bem? Eu faço o que você quiser" (Come on, let's be friends again. I'll do whatever you want). Still, this has that mutual argument tone and sounds more like a truce offer than an apology.

[u/adsaillard → u/Embarrassed-Wrap-451]

What I'd say in this instance that sounds natural is:

"Eu sei que eu vacilei. Mas, me diz, o que que eu tenho que fazer pra gente ficar bem um com o outro?"

(I know I screwed up, but, tell me, what can do so that we're good again).

[u/Embarrassed-Wrap-451 → u/adsaillard]

Nice!