Ei!
attention, casual
To say "hey" in Brazil, use Ei! to catch someone's attention or the greeting E aí? Opa! is another friendly hello among friends.
Meaning: casual greeting or call for attention (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| Ei! | attention, casual |
| E aí? | greeting, slang |
| Opa! | greeting, casual |
Ei! is used to call someone, as in Ei, você! E aí? means "what's up?" and is a relaxed greeting that does not need a long answer.
Which one should you use?
Opa expresses surprise, a greeting or a small mistake, depending on the tone. Fala! is another informal greeting, often said between men as Fala, cara!
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
These are all casual. With elders or in formal situations use Olá, Bom dia or Com licença.
Did you know?
- The reply Beleza literally means "beauty" but is used like "cool" or "all good" in everyday Brazilian speech.
Examples in context
- Ei, espera por mim!Hey, wait for me!
- E aí, tudo certo?Hey, everything good?
- Opa, beleza?Hey, all good?
Example conversation
Diego spots his friend Caio at a bar in São Paulo.
- DiegoE aí, Caio!Hey, Caio!
- CaioOpa, Diego! Beleza?Hey, Diego! All good?
- DiegoTudo certo. Senta aí.All good. Sit down.
