Free Brazilian Portuguese Course · Lesson 2 of 8
GREETINGS
Greetings & Introductions in Brazilian Portuguese
Every conversation starts here. Learn how to say hello, introduce yourself, and ask how someone is doing — the right way, in Brazilian Portuguese.
What You will Learn
- Greet someone correctly at any time of day
- Introduce yourself and ask for someone else's name
- Ask "how are you" and actually understand the reply
- Say goodbye in five different situations
Hello, at Any Hour
| Portuguese | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Olá | Hello / hi | anytime |
| Bom dia | Good morning | until noon |
| Boa tarde | Good afternoon | noon – nightfall |
| Boa noite | Good evening / night | after dark |
Brazilians often add "oi" as a casual alternative to "olá" — think of it like "hey" versus "hello."
What Is Your Name?
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Como se chama? | What is your name? (formal) |
| Qual é o seu nome? | What is your name? (neutral) |
| Meu nome é... / Me chamo... | My name is... |
| Prazer em conhecê-lo/a | Nice to meet you |
Both "meu nome é" and "me chamo" are common in Brazil — use whichever feels natural.
How Are You? (And How to Answer)
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Como está? / Como vai? | How are you? |
| Tudo bem? | All good? (very common, casual) |
| Estou bem, obrigado/a | I am well, thank you |
| Mais ou menos | So-so |
| E você? / E tu? | And you? |
Remember: "obrigado" if you identify as male, "obrigada" if you identify as female — the word itself agrees with the speaker, not the listener.
Saying Goodbye
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Tchau | Bye (casual, universal) |
| Até logo | See you soon |
| Até amanhã | See you tomorrow |
| Adeus | Goodbye (more final — used more in Portugal) |
Practice What You Just Learned
- It is 9am and you are meeting a colleague for the first time. What do you say?
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"Bom dia! Como se chama? / Muito prazer." — "Good morning! What is your name? / Nice to meet you."
- A friend asks "tudo bem?" and things are just okay. How do you reply?
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"Mais ou menos, e você?" — "So-so, and you?"
- You are a woman thanking someone. Do you say "obrigado" or "obrigada"?
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"Obrigada" — the word matches the speaker's gender, not the listener's.