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Basic Portuguese Greetings

From greetings and introductions to thanks, apologies, and goodbyes — learn basic Portuguese phrases along with the pronunciation differences between Brazil and Portugal.

Hello (all-purpose greeting)

Olá (oh-LAH) — a safe, all-purpose greeting you can use at any time of day, in both formal and casual settings.

Hi (casual)

Oi (oy) — an especially common casual greeting in Brazil that has also become increasingly common among friends in Portugal in recent years.

Good morning

Bom dia (bong JEE-ah in Brazil / bong DEE-ah in Portugal) — used from morning until around noon, with a clear pronunciation difference between the two countries.

Good afternoon

Boa tarde (BO-ah TAR-jee in Brazil / BO-ah TARD in Portugal) — used from around noon until sunset.

Good evening

Boa noite (BO-ah NOY-chee in Brazil / BO-ah NOYT in Portugal) — used both as an evening greeting after sunset and as a nighttime "goodnight."

My name is ~

Meu nome é ~ (MEH-oo NOH-mee EH) — used to introduce yourself, with your own name filled in at the end.

Nice to meet you

Muito prazer (MOO-ee-too prah-ZEHR) — literally "great pleasure," said right after greeting someone for the first time.

How are you?

Tudo bem? (TOO-doo beng) — literally "everything good?," the most common everyday way to ask how someone’s doing.

I’m doing well, thanks

Tudo bem, obrigado (male) / obrigada (female) (TOO-doo beng oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah) — a reply to that same question, using obrigado if the speaker is male and obrigada if female.

Thank you

Obrigado (male) / Obrigada (female) (oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah) — in Portuguese, the ending of "thank you" changes based on the speaker’s own gender, not the listener’s.

Please

Por favor (por fah-VOR) — used when making a request or asking for something.

Sorry / Excuse me

Desculpe (dees-KOOL-pee in Brazil / dish-KOOLP in Portugal) — used for a light apology or to ask for understanding.

Yes / No

Sim / Não (seeng / nowng) — the most basic reply words.

Goodbye

Tchau / Até logo (chow / ah-TEH LOH-goo) — Tchau, borrowed from the Italian Ciao, is a casual farewell, while Até logo is closer to "see you soon."

What’s the Difference Between Brazilian and European Portuguese?

Portuguese is the official language of both Brazil and Portugal, but there are noticeable differences in pronunciation and intonation between the two. "Bom dia," for example, sounds closer to "bong JEE-ah" in Brazil and "bong DEE-ah" in Portugal. Vocabulary and grammar are mostly shared, so speakers from each country can understand one another without trouble — but deciding which pronunciation to learn from the start makes studying easier.

Obrigado and Obrigada Change With the Speaker’s Gender

The word for "thank you," Obrigado/Obrigada, is unusual in that its form depends on the gender of the person speaking, not the person being spoken to. A man says "Obrigado," and a woman says "Obrigada."

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Oi and Olá mean the same thing?

Both mean "hi," but Oi is an especially casual greeting used heavily in Brazil, while Olá is a slightly more standard greeting that works comfortably in both Brazil and Portugal.

Can I see greetings from other languages too?

Yes — guides to basic Spanish greetings and a world greetings dictionary cover many more languages’ greeting phrases.