e aí, beleza?
/ˈɛ aˈi beˈle.zɐ/word by word
The English phrase "hey, what's up?" can be translated into Portuguese as e aí, beleza?
e aí, beleza? is an informal greeting used to ask someone how they are doing. In many contexts, this phrase functions more as a greeting than a genuine question about one's well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of e aí, which means "and there" or "hey" and beleza, which means "beauty" or "coolness".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
e aí, beleza? is highly informal and should be used with friends or peers rather than in professional settings. Other informal alternatives include Oi, tudo bem? (Hi, how are you?), Oi, como é que tá? (Hi, how are you doing?) and E aí, tudo em ordem? (What's up, everything alright?). A slightly more standard but still informal alternative is E aí, tudo bem?
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈɛ aˈi beˈle.zɐ/. The stressed syllable is the 1st of 4.
When do people say it?
A common response to e aí, beleza? is Tudo bem or simply repeating beleza.
Did you know?
- The word aí in e aí has two possible origins: one from the Latin words for 'to' and 'there' and another borrowed from the indigenous Old Tupi language a'y.
- In some regions of Brazil, the gesture of a 'thumbs up' often accompanies the phrase beleza? to reinforce the meaning of everything being alright.
- In many parts of Brazil, the phrase e aí is often spoken so quickly that the 'e' almost disappears, sounding more like a single-syllable sound. This makes it a perfect way to test your native-like rhythm.
Examples in context
- E aí, beleza?Hey, what's up?
- Oi, e aí, beleza?Hi, hey, what's up?
