One of the best ways to begin a dialog is with a pleasant greeting. Brazilians, particularly, reply effectively to a smiling face and a pleasant “good morning!” Nonetheless, “good morning” isn’t the one greeting it’s best to know.
Maybe you need to say “good afternoon” to the pleasant distributors alongside Avenida Atlântica in Copacabana. Or possibly you need to strike up a dialog with a gorgeous individual sitting at an outside bar in Savassi. Or you’ve gotten a enterprise assembly in Brasília with the Advertising Supervisor of your organization’s Brazilian subsidiary. Every distinctive state of affairs requires a unique sort of greeting.
On this article, you’ll study twelve Brazilian Portuguese greetings, when to make use of them, cultural info, pronunciation, and extra. Able to study? Let’s start!
Time-Dependent Greetings
Some greetings are solely used throughout a selected a part of the day. In English, these are greetings like “good morning,” “good afternoon,” and “good night.” The Brazilian Portuguese equivalents work equally. Though as greetings, they arrive off a bit extra formal than a easy “hello,” you need to use them in all types of conditions: formal and casual. Additionally, you need to use every of the three time-dependent greetings as each greetings and goodbyes. Let’s study what they’re and in what conditions you need to use them.
1. Bom Dia
Instance Pronunciation
You get up early in your resort in Pinheiros and determine to go for a morning stroll. What do you say to pleasant residents as you move by? “Bom dia!” in fact. The phrase actually interprets to “good day” however everyone is aware of it means “good morning.” Be at liberty to make use of the phrase from sunup all the best way to midday (12:00pm).
2. Boa Tarde
Instance Pronunciation
You simply completed lunch, maybe a standard Brazilian favourite, feijoada (bean stew with beef and pork), and it’s not fairly dinner but. Right here’s how a Brazilian would greet you: “boa tarde!” It interprets to “good afternoon” or “good night” and also you’ll hear Brazilians use it from midday to sundown. In English, we make a distinction between afternoon and night however Brazilians don’t.
3. Boa Noite
Example Pronunciation
Should you’re arriving to satisfy your folks at a boate (nightclub), right here’s what you’ll be able to say to greet them: “boa noite!” It means “good night” or “good evening.” You employ it from simply after it will get darkish till sunup the following day. As soon as once more, you’ll discover that Brazilian Portuguese doesn’t make a distinction between night and evening. As a substitute, they simply use one phrase.
Customary Greetings
These are your normal “hey” and “hello” that you need to use in virtually any state of affairs. The wonderful thing about these, too, is that they’re straightforward to mix. For instance, you can begin with a “hello”, adopted by virtually any of the opposite greetings on this article.
4. Oi
Example Pronunciation
Oi interprets to “hello.” It’s pleasant, casual, and some of the widespread greetings you’ll hear in Brazil. All people makes use of it. Be at liberty to strive it subsequent time you see a Brazilian.
5. Olá
Instance Pronunciation
That is your most traditional greeting. Olá interprets to “hey.” You should use it in any social state of affairs, formal or casual. Just like the English hey, it’s a bit extra formal. So, it’s a protected choice for once you’re unsure easy methods to greet somebody new, like an elder or a enterprise affiliate.
6. Alô
Example Pronunciation
This phrase additionally interprets to “hey,” however it’s solely used once you’re reply the telephone or the decision is breaking apart and also you’re making an attempt to get the opposite individual’s consideration, as in “Alô? Alô? Você está aí?”, that means “Whats up? Whats up? Are you there?” If the phrase alô sounds acquainted, that’s no shock. It’s borrowed from the English “hey.”
Methods to Say “How are You?”
A greeting doesn’t simply must be a pleasantry. You should use it to begin a dialog and study concerning the individual you’re speaking to. Asking “how are you?” is an effective way to try this. Plus, you’ll usually hear this phrase added to among the different greetings we’ve realized, like oi and bom dia.
7. Como está você?
Instance Pronunciation
This can be a literal translation of “how are you?” and a typical method to ask the query. It’s barely formal however you’ll nonetheless hear family and friends use the phrase.
8. Como vai?
Example Pronunciation
This can be a barely extra formal manner of claiming “how are you?” It roughly interprets to “how do you do?” If you wish to make it much more formal, for instance when talking in an expert setting, add o senhor (sir) or a senhora (ma’am) earlier than the phrase.
9. Tudo bem?
Instance Pronunciation
Should you’re in search of a really casual manner of claiming, “how are you?”, strive “tudo bem?” It’s some of the widespread phrases you’ll hear in Brazil. Individuals use it to speak to their coworkers, associates, grandparents, and strangers. So, be happy to make use of it in formal and casual conditions.
Its literal translation is “the whole lot effectively” however it means each “how are you?” as a query and “the whole lot effectively” as a reply. You’ll additionally hear “tudo ótimo” (the whole lot’s good) and even simply “tudo” as a reply.
Slang Greetings
Slang makes language extra enjoyable. It’s casual, artistic, and creates a way of consolation and bonding between you and your dialog associate. Simply be certain that to make use of it in very casual conditions, like with folks you recognize or in conditions corresponding to a home celebration with associates of associates.
If you wish to study extra slang, try this text that teaches you ten Brazilian slang phrases and phrases (primary and three are greetings – consider them as bonuses).
10. E aí?
Example Pronunciation
Should you simply translate this phrase actually, it doesn’t make sense. The literal translation is “and there.” Nonetheless, “e aí” is known as a manner of claiming “how are you?” A more in-depth translation can be “what’s up?” It’s a quite common phrase in Brazil. You’ll hear nearly everybody use it.
11. Fala
Example Pronunciation
This can be a easy greeting. It actually interprets to “communicate.” Consider it as an invite to the opposite individual to talk, to inform you about their day, how issues have been going, what they’ve been as much as because you final noticed one another. You’ll hear younger Brazilians use this phrase, particularly cariocas (residents of Rio de Janeiro).
12. Opa
Example Pronunciation
This phrase is an off-the-cuff manner of claiming “hello,” however it’s nearer to “hey!” The reason being that the phrase got here from an expression of shock. You’d use it once you dropped a dish or awoke late to work. Now it’s used once you encounter a buddy in a shocking state of affairs or uncommon location, corresponding to bumping into them once you’re out purchasing or seeing them at an out-of-town restaurant.
Time to Meet and Greet
Now you recognize precisely what you’ll be able to say to pleasant store house owners (Boa tarde!), a gorgeous individual on the bar (Oi, como vai?), a enterprise affiliate, (Bom dia, Como está você?) or some other state of affairs you end up in.
After your greeting, the following logical step is to begin a dialog. Right here’s an article that teaches ten conversations starters in Brazilian Portuguese. Plus, if you wish to follow your greetings and ideal your pronunciation, Speechling offers you alternatives to follow Portuguese and get suggestions from professionals.
There’s one final bonus phrase it’s best to know. This phrase is borrowed from Italian and it’s not a greeting however it’s the most typical method to say “bye” in Brazilian Portuguese. Tchau!