What does it mean word for word?
estou means I am and comes from the verb estar, used for temporary states like feelings or health. bem means well or fine. obrigado means thank you.
Which one should you use?
Tudo bem, obrigado/a. means everything is fine, thanks. In casual conversation people often drop obrigado and simply say estou bem.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Tô bem, valeu! is an informal way to say I am fine, thanks. Tô is the colloquial contraction of estou, and valeu is slang for thanks. In very casual settings, tudo bem can serve as both the question and the answer.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, you can return the question with Estou bem, obrigado/a, e tu?
How does it change in a sentence?
The word for thank you agrees with the speaker. A man says obrigado and a woman says obrigada.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /isˈto(w) ˈbẽj̃ o.bɾiˈɡa.du/. The phrase has six syllables with the stress on the second.
What mistakes should you avoid?
A woman should not say obrigado. She says estou bem, obrigada.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, you may encounter the phrase Tudo joia?, which uses the word for 'jewel' to ask if everything is fine. A common response is simply Tudo joia!, meaning everything is great.
- The word obrigado does not mean 'I am grateful' in a literal sense, but rather 'I am obliged' or 'I am bound' to you by this favor.
- Because estar describes temporary states, using the verb ser instead would imply that being 'fine' is a permanent, unchanging part of your identity.
Examples in context
- Sim, estou bem, obrigado por perguntar.Yes, I am fine, thank you for asking.
Example conversation
Two colleagues meet in the office hallway.
- JulianaOi Gabriel, tudo bem com você?Hi Gabriel, are you doing well?
- GabrielOi Juliana, estou bem, obrigado.Hi Juliana, I am fine, thank you.
- JulianaQue bom que você está bem.I'm glad you are doing well.
- GabrielE você, como vai?And you, how are you doing?
