I can say hello and goodbye by time of day, ask “how are you?” and answer, thank someone and apologize — and not mix up speaking to a friend with speaking to a stranger.
Bom dia ou olá?
Bom dia ou olá?
Greetings open every conversation and show whether you sound like an insider or a stranger.
Bom dia until lunch, boa tarde right after lunch, boa noite in the evening and at night, both as hello and as goodbye. Olá means “hi”, only with people you call tu. Goodbye: adeus, até logo, até amanhã. The word tchau is informal and comes from Brazil.
There are three ways to say “you”. Friends and children: tu, Como estás?, desculpa. An adult stranger or a last name: o senhor, a senhora, with the verb in the third person. A woman you know, by first name: a dona Ana, also third person. English “you” is one word; in Portugal you choose. Você is heard between equals in Portugal and is the neutral “you” in Brazil: recognize it, don't use it.
“Thank you” depends on who speaks: a man says obrigado, a woman obrigada. The listener doesn't matter; the reply is de nada.
Politeness: se faz favor when asking (por favor is fine too), desculpe formally, desculpa informally, com licença to get past someone. Didn't catch it? Não percebi, Pode repetir?, Mais devagar, se faz favor, Fala inglês?
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Olá, senhor Rodrigues! Tudo bem?” — with a last name, only formal.
• NOT “Como estás, dona Ana?” — dona + first name takes the third person.
• NOT “Obrigado” from a woman — she says obrigada.
• NOT “Boa noite!” during the day — use boa tarde.
Greetings and goodbyes by time of day
Portuguese speakers change the greeting after lunch and again in the evening.
| When | What people say | Who with |
|---|---|---|
| until lunch | Bom dia! | with anyone |
| after lunch | Boa tarde! | with anyone |
| in the evening and at night | Boa noite! | with anyone |
| when meeting | Olá! | informal only |
| saying goodbye | Adeus! | with anyone |
| see you later today | Até logo! | with anyone |
| see you tomorrow | Até amanhã! | with anyone |
Three ways to say “you”
English has one “you”; Portuguese has three columns, and neither tu nor você fits everyone. A man says obrigado, a woman obrigada, in all three.
| What we say | Informal: a friend, a child | Formal: o senhor, a senhora | First name, third person |
|---|---|---|---|
| greeting | Olá! | Bom dia! / Boa tarde! (by time of day) | Bom dia! / Boa tarde! (by time of day) |
| how are you | Como estás? | Como está? | Como está? |
| apology | Desculpa! | Desculpe! | Desculpe! |
| who you're talking to | Tiago | o senhor Sousa | a dona Ana |
Lesson notes
Bom dia ou olá?
Greetings open every conversation and show whether you sound like an insider or a stranger.
Bom dia until lunch, boa tarde right after lunch, boa noite in the evening and at night, both as hello and as goodbye. Olá means “hi”, only with people you call tu. Goodbye: adeus, até logo, até amanhã. The word tchau is informal and comes from Brazil.
There are three ways to say “you”. Friends and children: tu, Como estás?, desculpa. An adult stranger or a last name: o senhor, a senhora, with the verb in the third person. A woman you know, by first name: a dona Ana, also third person. English “you” is one word; in Portugal you choose. Você is heard between equals in Portugal and is the neutral “you” in Brazil: recognize it, don't use it.
“Thank you” depends on who speaks: a man says obrigado, a woman obrigada. The listener doesn't matter; the reply is de nada.
Politeness: se faz favor when asking (por favor is fine too), desculpe formally, desculpa informally, com licença to get past someone. Didn't catch it? Não percebi, Pode repetir?, Mais devagar, se faz favor, Fala inglês?
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Olá, senhor Rodrigues! Tudo bem?” — with a last name, only formal.
• NOT “Como estás, dona Ana?” — dona + first name takes the third person.
• NOT “Obrigado” from a woman — she says obrigada.
• NOT “Boa noite!” during the day — use boa tarde.