oi pessoal
/ˈoj pe.soˈaw/word by word
The English phrase "hi guys" is translated into Portuguese as oi pessoal.
oi pessoal is an informal greeting used to address a group of people.
Which one should you use?
While oi pessoal is a standard informal way to say "hi guys," you might also encounter Olá pessoal, which means "Hello, everyone." If you are looking for an even more casual or youthful way to say "What's up, guys?", you can use E aí, galera? or the colloquial Fala, rapaziada.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations exist: in Brazil, the informal greeting Oi gente is widely used, while in Portugal, it is common to use Olá a todos to greet a group. In Angola, Olá pessoal is a common informal way to greet multiple people.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈoj pe.soˈaw/. The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, the term galera is often used to address a group, but it literally translates to 'galley', referring to the rowing ships used in antiquity.
- The Portuguese interjection oi is not related to the English 'oi', which is often used as a rude way to get someone's attention.
- In highly informal Brazilian street slang, the greeting Fala (literally 'speak') is used as a way to say 'hi' or 'what is happening' to a group.
Examples in context
- Oi pessoal, tudo bem?Hi guys, how is it going?
- Oi pessoal, vamos comer!Hi guys, let's eat!
- Oi pessoal, chegou o café.Hi guys, the coffee is here.
Example conversation
Lucas enters the room where Beatriz and her friends are sitting.
- LucasOi pessoal, posso me sentar?Hi guys, can I sit down?
- BeatrizClaro, Lucas, senta aqui.Sure, Lucas, sit here.
- LucasObrigado, Beatriz.Thanks, Beatriz.
- BeatrizDe nada.You're welcome.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (oi, pessoal) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries oi, pessoal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
