Tudo bem?
/ˈtu.du ˈbẽj̃/word by word
The English phrase 'how are you?' can be translated into Portuguese as Tudo bem?
Tudo bem? is used both as a greeting (How are you?) and as a question to check if a situation is okay (Is everything alright?).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Tudo bem? literally translates to 'Everything well?'
Which one should you use?
Tudo bom? is a very close alternative to Tudo bem? and can be used interchangeably in most casual contexts. Como você está? is a more direct and formal way to ask 'how are you?' compared to the idiomatic Tudo bem?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Tudo bem? is an informal way to say 'Everything good?' For formal situations, you can use Como está? to say 'How are you?' or Como tem passado? to say 'How have you been?'
Is it said differently in some regions?
In European Portuguese, you can use Como estás? for 'How are you?' or Tudo em ordem? to mean 'Everything in order?'
When do people say it?
A common response to the question Tudo bem? is to repeat the phrase back as a statement: Tudo bem.
Did you know?
- When answering Tudo bem?, Brazilians often add the word graças a Deus meaning 'thanks to God' regardless of their actual religious beliefs.
- The word tudo in Tudo bem? comes from the Latin tōtus, which is the same root that gave English the word 'total'.
- In Brazil, it is common to say Tudo bem? to someone as a greeting and then immediately answer it yourself with Tudo bem! without waiting for the other person to speak.
Examples in context
- Oi, tudo bem?Hi, how are you?
- Olá, tudo bem?Hello, how are you?
Example conversation
Lucas and Beatriz meet at a cafe.
- LucasOi Beatriz, tudo bem?Hi Beatriz, how are you?
- BeatrizTudo bem, Lucas. E você?Everything is fine, Lucas. And you?
- LucasTudo bem também.Everything is fine too.
- BeatrizQue bom!That's good!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (tudo, bem) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bem, tudo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
