Oi, tudo bem?
/ˈoj ˈtu.du ˈbẽj̃/word by word
The English phrase 'hi, how are you doing?' is translated into Portuguese as Oi, tudo bem?
Oi, tudo bem? is an informal greeting that translates to 'Hi, everything alright?' If you want to be formal, you can use Olá, como vai você? to say 'Hello, how are you?' Depending on the time of day, you might use the formal morning greeting Bom dia, como está? ('Good day, how are you?') or the formal afternoon greeting Boa tarde, como vai? ('Good afternoon, how are you?').
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Oi, tudo bem? literally translates to 'Hi, everything well?'
Which one should you use?
While Oi, tudo bem? is a complete greeting, the shortened form Tudo bem? is frequently used on its own to mean 'How are you?'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal way to ask 'How are you?', use Olá, como vai você?
When do people say it?
A common response to Oi, tudo bem? is Tudo bem or Tudo ótimo (Everything is great). To say you are fine, you can respond with Estou bem or Tudo bem to mean 'Everything's fine'.
Did you know?
- If you want to sound more like a local in Rio de Janeiro, you can replace Oi, tudo bem? with the much more rhythmic Fala, beleza?, which literally means 'Speak, beauty?'
- Despite sounding identical to the English exclamation 'oi' used to get someone's attention, the Portuguese Oi is a friendly greeting and not a shout of command.
- In Brazil, Oi is the standard way to say 'hi' even among friends, whereas in Portugal it can sometimes feel more like a sudden shout or an abrupt attention-grabber.
Example conversation
Beatriz and Lucas meet at a cafe.
- BeatrizOi, tudo bem?Hi, how are you doing?
- LucasTudo bem, e você?I'm doing well, and you?
- BeatrizTudo ótimo, obrigada!Everything is great, thanks!
- LucasQue bom, Beatriz!That's good, Beatriz!
