Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| olá | /oˈla/ (Brazil) /ɔˈla/ (Portugal) |
|
| e aí? | /ˈɛ aˈi/ (Brazil, word by word) | slang |
The phrase is used as a general greeting.
Which one should you use?
olá is a standard, neutral way to say hello that can be used in almost any situation. In contrast, e aí? is a much more informal, slangy way to greet someone, similar to 'what's up?' in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
olá is a neutral form. For highly informal settings or with friends, you might use the slang expression e aí? In Brazil, the informal term oi (hi/hey) is also very common. If you need to be more formal or specific to a time of day, you can use Bom dia (good morning), Boa tarde (good afternoon) or Boa noite (good evening/night).
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal expressions oi and e aí? are commonly used in Brazil.
How do you pronounce it?
/oˈla/
When do people say it?
When greeting someone, you might also use phrases to ask how they are. In casual settings, people often use Tudo bem? (How are you?), while a more formal way to ask how things are going is Como está? (How is it going?).
Did you know?
- The word 'aí' in the greeting 'e aí?' has a fascinating linguistic split, with some scholars suggesting it may derive from the indigenous Old Tupi word 'a'y'.
- Depending on the region in Brazil, e aí? can be accompanied by a specific hand gesture or a nod that serves as a silent version of the greeting.
- The informal 'e aí?' can be used with a slight downward inflection of the voice to signify that you are specifically waiting for the other person to start speaking.
Examples in context
- Olá, é o Mike.Hello, this is Mike.This sentence shows how to introduce yourself using olá.Tatoeba #1292994 by alexmarcelo, translation #30980 by CN
- Olá. Sou a Nancy.Hello. I'm Nancy.This sentence demonstrates using olá to state your name.Tatoeba #2849790 by MarlonX19, translation #2719673 by WestofEden
- Olá e adeus, irmã.Hello and farewell, sister.This sentence uses olá in a sentence along with a farewell.Tatoeba #6175980 by User75171, translation #6175538 by RobinvanderVliet
- 69 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Camila meet at a coffee shop.
- RodrigoOlá, Camila!Hello, Camila!
- CamilaOi, Rodrigo. Tudo bem?Hi, Rodrigo. Everything okay?
- RodrigoTudo ótimo, obrigado.Everything is great, thanks.
- CamilaQue bom ouvir isso.That is good to hear.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries olá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (e, aí) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aí, e, olá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
