When you start learning Portuguese, greetings are usually one of the first things you pick up. But knowing how people actually talk—especially in Brazil—can make a big difference. Locals often skip the formal stuff in favor of laid-back slang, and sounding natural helps you connect faster.
Below are 30 common Portuguese greetings, each with an informal or slang alternative. Perfect for travelers, learners, or anyone who wants to speak Portuguese without sounding like a phrasebook.
Formal Greetings + Slang Alternatives
- 1. Olá (Hello)
E aí? (What’s up?) - 2. Oi (Hi)
Fala aí (Yo / Speak up) - 3. Bom dia (Good morning)
Dia! (Morning!) - 4. Boa tarde (Good afternoon)
Tarde! (Afternoon!) - 5. Boa noite (Good evening/night)
Noite! (Night!) - 6. Como vai? (How are you?)
Beleza? (Good? / Cool?) - 7. Tudo bem? (Everything good?)
Tudo certo? (All good?) - 8. Tudo bem?
De boa?
How are you? - 9. Como está? (How are you? – formal)
Tranquilo?
Chill? - 10. Oi, tudo bem contigo? (Hi, everything good with you?)
E aí, firmeza?
What’s up, all good?
Friendly Openers
- 11. Prazer em te ver (Nice to see you)
E aí, sumido! (Hey, stranger!) - 12. Prazer em conhecer-te (Nice to meet you – informal)
Prazerzão! (Awesome to meet you!) - 13. Bem-vindo! (Welcome!)
Chegou chegando! (You came in hot!) - 14. Quanto tempo! (Long time no see!)
Sumiu, hein? (You disappeared, huh?) - 15. Como tem passado? (How have you been?)
Na correria? (Busy lately?)
Saying Goodbye
- 16. Tchau (Bye)
Falou! (Later!) - 17. Até logo (See you soon)
Até mais! (Catch you later!) - 18. Até amanhã (See you tomorrow)
Falamos amanhã! (We’ll talk tomorrow!) - 19. Boa noite (Good night)
Durma bem! (Sleep well!) - 20. Adeus (Farewell – very formal)
Fui! (I’m out!)
Polite Hellos in Different Situations
- 21. Com licença (Excuse me)
Licença aí (‘Scuse me) - 22. Desculpe (Sorry)
Foi mal! (My bad!) - 23. Oi, tudo certo? (Hi, everything alright?)
Tranquilão? (Super chill?) - 24. Boa viagem (Have a good trip)
Vai com Deus! (Take care! – Literally “Go with God”, a common phrase in Brazil) - 25. Se cuida (Take care)
Se liga, hein? (Stay safe, alright?)
Greeting in Different Moods
- 26. Como você está hoje? (How are you today?)
Tá de boa hoje? (You chillin’ today?) - 27. Está tudo em ordem? (Is everything in order?)
Tá tudo nos trinques? (Everything in tip-top shape?) - 28. Bom te ver sorrindo (Good to see you smiling)
Tá felizão, hein? (You’re super happy, huh?) - 29. Você está bem? (Are you okay?)
Tá suave? (You cool?) - 30. Fico feliz em te ver (Happy to see you)
Caraca, que bom te ver! (Damn, great to see you!)
Quick Tips
- Use formal greetings in professional or official situations.
- Use slang informally among friends or colleagues.
- Brazil has regional variations. Some slang differs by city or state.
- Don’t try to force slang—listen to how people use it first, then ease into using it yourself.
- Want to sound local? Mix it up. Start with a greeting and follow it with a slangy check-in like:
“Oi, tudo bem? Tranquilo?”
This is how people actually speak. Not stiff, not textbook—just the real deal.
