Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| olá | /oˈla/ (Brazil) /ɔˈla/ (Portugal) |
|
| e aí? | /ˈɛ aˈi/ (Brazil, word by word) | slang |
The primary way to say hello is olá, which is the most basic and commonly used greeting. For a more casual tone when speaking with friends, you can use the slang phrase e aí?, which functions as "what's up?" or "what's going on?"
Which one should you use?
While olá is a standard, neutral greeting suitable for most situations, e aí? is a very common, informal slang expression used to ask what is happening.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
olá is a standard greeting that works in both formal and informal situations. In contrast, e aí? is considered slang and should be used among friends. For more specific formal time-based greetings, you might use Bom dia (good morning) until around noon or Boa tarde (good afternoon) from noon until the evening.
How do you pronounce it?
/oˈla/
When do people say it?
In Brazil, a common greeting among friends involves the beijinho, which is a light kiss on the cheek.
Did you know?
- Although olá is the standard translation, many Portuguese speakers actually find it slightly formal or even theatrical in casual, everyday spoken conversation.
- Depending on the linguistic theory, the word aí in e aí? might not come from Latin but was actually borrowed from Old Tupi, an indigenous language of Brazil.
- While olá is universally understood, in many parts of Brazil, people often skip a formal greeting entirely and simply ask Tudo bem? (Is everything well?) to say hello.
Examples in context
- Olá, é o Mike.Hello, this is Mike.This sentence uses olá to demonstrate an introduction.Tatoeba #1292994 by alexmarcelo, translation #30980 by CN
- Olá. Sou a Nancy.Hello. I'm Nancy.Tatoeba #2849790 by MarlonX19, translation #2719673 by WestofEden
- Olá e adeus, irmã.Hello and farewell, sister.This sentence uses olá to show a greeting used in a farewell context.Tatoeba #6175980 by User75171, translation #6175538 by RobinvanderVliet
- 69 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Felipe see each other in a hallway.
- BeatrizOlá, Felipe!Hello, Felipe!
- FelipeOlá, Beatriz. Tudo bem?Hello, Beatriz. How are you?
- BeatrizTudo ótimo, obrigada.Everything is great, thanks.
- FelipeQue bom!That is good!
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.
