Oi!
everyday, Brazil
In Brazil "hi" is Oi! It is short, friendly and used with everyone from friends to shopkeepers. It is also called Olá! and E aí!
Meaning: casual greeting (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| Oi! | everyday, Brazil |
| Olá! | neutral |
| E aí! | slang |
Oi is the default greeting in person, in calls and in text messages. Brazilians commonly follow it with tudo bem?
Which one should you use?
Olá is a little more formal, while E aí! is slang and means "what's up". Oie and Oii are cute stretched versions used in chats.
How do you pronounce it?
Oi is a single syllable like English "oy".
Did you know?
- Brazilian chat users often write Oiê or Oie as a playful hello, which you will not find in a dictionary.
Examples in context
- Oi, tudo bem?Hi, how are you?
- Oi, gente!Hi, everyone!
- Oi, quanto tempo!Hi, long time no see!
Example conversation
Clara greets her new neighbor Murilo in the hallway of an apartment building in Salvador.
- ClaraOi! Você é o novo vizinho?Hi! Are you the new neighbor?
- MuriloOi! Sou sim, me chamo Murilo.Hi! Yes, my name is Murilo.
- ClaraPrazer, eu sou a Clara.Nice to meet you, I am Clara.
