olá e como você está
The English phrase "hello and how are you" is translated into Portuguese as olá e como você está.
olá e como você está is a friendly greeting used to start a conversation and ask about someone's well-being. In Brazil, a much more common, colloquial way to say 'hello and how are you' in Brazil is Oi, tudo bem?
Which one should you use?
In certain regions of Brazil (like the South) or in Portugal, one might use olá e como tu estás instead of você está to be more informal or grammatically traditional. Additionally, E aí? is a popular way to say "what's up?" or "how's it going?" among friends and Oi is an informal way of saying "hi" and is particularly common in Brazil.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, it is common to ask Como estás? when greeting someone informally.
When do people say it?
estou bem is a common response meaning "I'm well". A standard response to this greeting is Estou bem, obrigado (if you are male) or Estou bem, obrigada (if you are female).
Did you know?
- The word você is actually a shortened version of a much more formal expression, vossa mercee, which literally translates to 'your mercy'.
- In Brazil, Tudo bem? is used as both the question 'How are you?' and the answer 'I am fine'.
Examples in context
- Boa tarde! Tudo bem com você?Good afternoon! Are you doing well?
- Olá! Como é que estás?Hello! How are you?
- Oi! Tudo bom?Hi! Everything alright?
- E aí? Como tem passado?What's up? How have you been?
- Tudo bem? Como vai?Is everything good? How are you?
- Olá e como você está hoje, meu amigo?Hello and how are you today, my friend?
Example conversation
Two friends meeting at a cafe.
- CamilaOlá e como você está, Rodrigo?Hello and how are you, Rodrigo?
- RodrigoEstou bem, Camila, e você?I am well, Camila, and you?
- CamilaEstou ótima, obrigada por perguntar.I am great, thanks for asking.
- RodrigoQue bom! Vamos pedir um café?That's great! Shall we order a coffee?
