oi amigo
/ˈoj aˈmi.ɡu/word by word
The English phrase 'hi friend' is translated into Portuguese as oi amigo.
oi amigo is an informal greeting used to say hello to a friend. In Brazil, you may encounter the colloquial term chapa to mean 'friend' or the term velho to express a longstanding friendship. Note that velho is not necessarily related to the person's age.
Which one should you use?
While oi amigo is common and casual, olá amigo is a slightly more formal version of the greeting. The phrase is also gendered: use oi amiga instead of oi amigo when addressing a female friend.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
oi amigo is an informal way to address a friend. For a more polite way to greet someone you hold in high regard, you can use Olá, caro amigo! Another option, Olá, meu camarada!, is an affectionate and slightly old-fashioned way to greet a friend.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, chapa is a colloquial term for 'friend' and velho is commonly used to express long-standing friendship.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a group of friends, change amigo to the plural amigos to form oi amigos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈoj aˈmi.ɡu/. The first of the three syllables is stressed.
Did you know?
- The word camarada used in Olá, meu camarada! shares a root with the word for 'room' or 'chamber'.
- In Brazil, you can call a friend a chapa, which literally translates to 'plate' or 'sheet of metal'.
- The interjection oi is often used by Brazilians as a way to grab someone's attention mid-sentence, not just as a standalone greeting.
Examples in context
- Oi, amigo! Como vai?Hi, friend! How are you?
- Tudo bem! E aí, meu chapa?I'm good! What's up, buddy?
- Olá, caro amigo! Prazer em vê-lo.Hello, dear friend! Nice to see you.
Example conversation
Beatriz meets Gabriel on the street.
- BeatrizOi amigo! Como você está?Hi friend! How are you?
- GabrielEstou bem, Beatriz. E você?I'm doing well, Beatriz. And you?
- BeatrizEstou ótima, obrigada por perguntar.I'm great, thanks for asking.
- GabrielQue bom! Vamos tomar um café?That's good! Shall we have a coffee?
