vamos
/ˈvɐ̃.mus/
The English phrase 'come on' can be translated into Portuguese as vamos.
vamos is an informal way to say 'let's go' and is used to encourage someone to hurry or start an activity. You can also use the idiomatic expression vamos lá to mean 'come on' when you want to encourage someone to take action or start something.
Meaning: expression of encouragement (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
vamos is the first-person plural present indicative of the verb 'ir' (to go), which literally means 'we go' or 'let's go'.
Which one should you use?
While vamos is the standard form, vamos lá is a common idiomatic variation used for encouragement. For a more slang-oriented approach, younger generations often use bora.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the state of São Paulo, the expression bora lá is commonly used to mean 'let's go'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Although vamos is technically the first-person plural form of the verb, it functions as an impersonal imperative when used to mean 'come on', regardless of whether the speaker is part of the group being encouraged.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable: /ˈvɐ̃.mus/.
Did you know?
- The slang term bora is actually a shortened version of embora, which originally meant 'away from here'.
- Although bora is ubiquitous in Brazil, it is far less common in Portugal, where speakers stick more closely to vamos or vamos lá.
- In Brazil, vamos can be used as a 'phatic' expression to keep a conversation flowing, regardless of whether anyone is actually moving.
Examples in context
- Vamos! Para a cama!Come on! Off to bed!This example shows how to use vamos to urge someone toward a specific action, like going to bed.Tatoeba #11514640 by Advanced, translation #10962665 by Amastan
- Vamos lá, não parem!Come on, don't stop!This sentence demonstrates using vamos lá to encourage someone to keep going.Tatoeba #4585769 by Ricardo14, translation #12799706 by DJ_Saidez
- Vamos, não seja bobo.Come on, don't be silly.This sentence illustrates using vamos to tell someone not to be silly.Tatoeba #913057 by alexmarcelo, translation #282403 by al_ex_an_der
- Vamos logo!Come on, let's go already!
- Bora!Come on! Let's go!
- Bora lá para a festa.Come on, let's go to the party.
- Vamo junto, galera!Come on, everyone! Let's go together!
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo is trying to convince Camila to go to a party.
- RodrigoVamos, Camila! Vai ser divertido.Come on, Camila! It will be fun.
- CamilaEu estou muito cansada agora.I am very tired right now.
- RodrigoVamos! Você precisa sair um pouco.Come on! You need to go out for a bit.
- CamilaTudo bem, eu vou.All right, I'll go.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vamos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
