Oi!
casual, Brazil
The most common way to say hello in Brazil is Oi! Olá! is a little more formal, and Alô? is what people say when they answer the phone.
Meaning: greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| Oi! | casual, Brazil |
| Olá! | neutral |
| Alô? | phone |
Oi works in nearly every setting, including with strangers, and is often followed by tudo bem? Brazilians also use Bom dia, Boa tarde and Boa noite depending on the time.
Which one should you use?
Olá is more typical in writing, in customer service and with people you do not know well. E aí? and Opa are casual greetings among friends.
How do you pronounce it?
Oi sounds like English "oy", and olá is "oh-LAH" with stress on the last syllable.
Did you know?
- Oi is the most typical hello in Brazil, while in Portugal people lean toward olá.
Examples in context
- Oi, tudo bem?Hi, how are you?
- Olá, em que posso ajudar?Hello, how can I help?
- Alô? Quem fala?Hello? Who is speaking?
Example conversation
Marina walks into a store in Florianópolis and is greeted by the shop assistant Beto.
- BetoOlá! Posso ajudar?Hello! May I help?
- MarinaOi! Estou só olhando.Hi! I am just looking.
- BetoFique à vontade.Make yourself at home.
