No tocante à princípios

You usually place this phrase at the start of a sentence. It sets the stage for your main point. Think of it as a spotlight. You shine it on the word princípios (principles) before you explain your stance. In Portuguese grammar, be careful with the 'a'. Since princípios is masculine and plural, you usually say no tocante a princípios or no tocante aos princípios. Using à (with the accent) is a common mistake because it only happens before feminine words.

This is your go-to phrase for professional settings. Use it in a job interview to discuss your work ethic. Use it in a legal or academic paper. It is also great for serious debates with friends about politics or philosophy. It makes you sound articulate and well-educated. If you want to impress a Brazilian boss, this is a solid choice.

Do not use this while buying bread at the bakery. It will sound incredibly stiff and strange. Avoid it in casual text messages unless you are being intentionally ironic or funny. If you are at a loud bar with friends, stick to falando de (speaking of). Using such formal language in a very relaxed environment might make people think you are being pretentious or 'too much.'

Portuguese speakers, especially in Brazil and Portugal, value formal rhetoric in official business. There is a long tradition of using 'lawyer-speak' to show authority. This phrase stems from that bureaucratic culture. It feels heavy and stable. In Brazil, using formal connectors like this can sometimes be a way to 'ganhar no grito' (win the argument) by sounding more authoritative than the other person.

You might hear No que tange a which means exactly the same thing but is even more formal. There is also Quanto a, which is a bit more neutral and common. If you want to be slightly less formal but still clear, use No que diz respeito a. All of these serve the same purpose: narrowing the focus of the conversation to a specific topic.