oi
/ˈoj/
In Portuguese, the phrase for "hi" is oi. Wiktionary also lists olá and alô.
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| oi | /ˈoj/ (Brazil) /ˈoj/ (Portugal) |
| olá | /oˈla/ (Brazil) /ɔˈla/ (Portugal) |
| alô | /aˈlo/ (Brazil) /aˈlo/ (Portugal) |
| e ai? | /ˈɛ ˈaj/ (Brazil, word by word) |
These terms are used as friendly, informal greetings to acknowledge someone's presence.
Which one should you use?
While oi is more common and informal than olá, olá is a more neutral or slightly more formal greeting than oi. The phrase e aí? is a very common informal way to say 'what's up?' or 'how's it going?' Unlike these general greetings, alô is used specifically to answer the telephone, not as a general greeting when meeting someone in person.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase e aí? is particularly popular in Brazil.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈoj/
Did you know?
- In Brazil, people often repeat the word oi several times quickly, such as oi oi oi, to show extra enthusiasm or warmth when greeting a friend.
- Portuguese speakers often accompany an oi with a light touch on the shoulder or a 'beijinho' (a small kiss on the cheek), depending on the region and gender of the speakers.
- Even though oi and the English 'oi' look identical, they are completely unrelated in origin and meaning.
Examples in context
- Oi, sou o Tom.Hi, I'm Tom.This sentence shows how to use oi to introduce yourself.Tatoeba #6774455 by Ricardo14, translation #5576200 by CK
- Oi! Como vai você?Hi! How are you?This sentence shows how to use oi alongside a question about how someone is doing.Tatoeba #1473097 by rafael8243, translation #30316 by Zifre
- Oi, você está bem?Hi, are you OK?This sentence shows how to use oi to check on someone's well-being.Tatoeba #3076163 by Ricardo14, translation #505937 by 8684
- Bom dia, como você está?Good morning, how are you?
- Olá pessoal! Tudo bem com vocês?Hello, everyone! How are you all doing?
- Oi, tudo bom? Vamos tomar um café?Hi, how are you? Shall we grab a coffee?
- 74 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas meets Beatriz at a café.
- LucasOi, Beatriz!Hi, Beatriz!
- BeatrizOi, Lucas. Tudo bem?Hi, Lucas. Everything okay?
- LucasTudo ótimo.Everything is great.
- BeatrizQue bom.That's good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries oi, olá, alô, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (e, ai) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ai, alô, e, oi, olá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
