Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| oi | /ˈoj/ (Brazil) /ˈoj/ (Portugal) |
| e aí | /i aˈi/ (Brazil) /i ɐˈi/ (Portugal) |
Oi is a common informal greeting similar to "hey" in English. While oi is a standard way to say hello, you might also hear e aí, which is a popular informal greeting among friends in Brazil that functions more like "what's up" or "how's it going".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase e aí literally translates to "and there".
Which one should you use?
Oi is a standard, neutral greeting, whereas e aí is more colloquial and functions like "what's up".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Oi is widely used as an informal greeting. E aí is informal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain parts of Brazil, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, people may use falou or falô as a casual greeting meaning "what's up" or "see ya". In Cape Verde, people might use bom dia as a general greeting throughout the day, regardless of the time.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈoj/
When do people say it?
In Portuguese, Olá is the most common way to say hello or hi. When greeting someone casually, you can also use Tudo bem? to ask if everything is well or if everything is good.
Did you know?
- The word aí in the greeting e aí was borrowed from Old Tupi, an indigenous language of Brazil.
- While 'oi' and 'e aí' are common, you might hear someone say falou to mean both 'what's up' and 'goodbye'. It is a versatile slang term used heavily in places like Rio de Janeiro.
- In Brazil, greeting someone with Tudo bem? often functions as the greeting itself, meaning the person is not actually asking for a detailed health report.
Examples in context
- Oi, eu já volto.Hey, I'll be right back.This sentence shows how to use oi when you are leaving briefly.Tatoeba #6943728 by Ricardo14, translation #3575494 by CK
- Oi, como você vai?Hey, how're you doing?This sentence demonstrates a common way to use oi when asking how someone is doing.Tatoeba #6780892 by Ricardo14, translation #2646608 by CK
- E aí, cara, firmeza?Hey, man! What's up?This sentence shows an example of the informal greeting e aí.Tatoeba #1588933 by alexmarcelo, translation #3689920 by Ricardo14
- Ó João, tudo bem?Hey João, everything good?
- Falou, cara!Hey, dude!
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Mariana meet in a coffee shop.
- FelipeOi, Mariana!Hi, Mariana!
- MarianaOi, Felipe! Tudo bem?Hi, Felipe! Everything okay?
- FelipeTudo ótimo, e com você?Everything is great, and with you?
- MarianaTudo bem também.Everything is fine too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hey” translations and entries oi, e aí, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aí, e, e aí, oi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
