boa noite
/ˈbo.ɐ ˈnoj.t͡ʃi/feminine
boa noite is the Portuguese way to say good evening. Wiktionary also lists boa tarde.
Meaning: greeting said in the evening (intj)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| boa noite | /ˈbo.ɐ ˈnoj.t͡ʃi/ (Brazil) /ˈbo.ɐ ˈnoj.tɨ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| boa tarde | /ˈbo.ɐ ˈtaʁ.d͡ʒi/ (Brazil) /ˈbo.ɐ ˈtaɾ.d͡ʒi/ (São Paulo) |
feminine |
boa noite is used as a greeting when arriving in the evening and as a farewell when leaving at night.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the feminine adjective boa (good) and the feminine noun noite (night).
Which one should you use?
Use boa tarde for the afternoon and boa noite once it is dark or evening.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, such as parts of Brazil, it is acceptable to use boa tarde as a casual way to say good evening during the later hours of the day.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because noite is a feminine noun, the adjective must be the feminine form boa rather than the masculine bom.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbo.ɐ ˈnoj.tʃi/
Did you know?
- The word boa can also refer to a large snake, as it is a learned borrowing from the taxonomic name for the Boa constrictor.
- In some casual Brazilian contexts, boa noite can be shortened or blended into a melodic hum or a quick noite among close friends.
- In Brazil, the gesture of a small nod or a slight tilt of the head often accompanies a casual boa noite when passing someone on the street.
Examples in context
- Boa noite! Como você está?Good evening, how are you?This sentence shows how to use boa noite in a friendly greeting.Tatoeba #2775392 by Sitko, translation #413820 by Dorenda
- Senhoras e senhores, boa noite!Ladies and gentlemen, good evening!This sentence shows a more formal way to use boa noite when addressing a group.Tatoeba #11245412 by carlosalberto, translation #11245411 by carlosalberto
- Olá, boa noite. Em que posso ajudá-los?Hello, good evening. How can I help you?This sentence shows boa noite used in a polite service context.Tatoeba #6743036 by Ricardo14, translation #9713640 by Nylez
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Lucas meet at a restaurant at 8 PM.
- BeatrizBoa noite, Lucas.Good evening, Lucas.
- LucasBoa noite, Beatriz! Tudo bem?Good evening, Beatriz! Everything fine?
- BeatrizTudo bem, obrigada.Everything is fine, thank you.
- LucasQue bom. Vamos comer?That's good. Shall we eat?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good evening” translations and entries boa noite, boa tarde, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries boa, boa noite, boa tarde, noite, tarde, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
