What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Estou (I am), bem (well), e (and) and você (you).
Which one should you use?
While you might want to say you are "good", it is more grammatically standard in Portuguese to use bem (well) to describe how you are doing, rather than bom (good), which describes a quality.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Tudo bem e você? is a very common, slightly more casual way to express this sentiment. Using Tudo bem, e com você? can be used to respond to Tudo bem? in a slightly more formal way within an informal setting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, it is common to include the word contigo (with you) in phrases like Tudo bem contigo?
How does it change in a sentence?
In regions where the second-person singular pronoun tu is used, you would replace você with tu, as seen in the phrase Estou bem e tu?
How do you pronounce it?
/isˈto(w) ˈbẽj̃ ˈɛ voˈse/
Did you know?
- The word você originally comes from the phrase vossa mercee, which literally means 'your mercy'.
- While Estou bem is the standard response, many Brazilians use Tudo joia, which literally means 'everything jewel'.
- In Brazil, Tudo bem? is often used as both the question and the answer, meaning a conversation can consist entirely of the same two words repeated.
Examples in context
- Tudo certo, estou bem e você?Everything is fine, I am good and you?
Example conversation
Two friends run into each other on the street.
- RodrigoOlá, Juliana! Tudo bem?Hello, Juliana! Is everything okay?
- JulianaOi, Rodrigo! Estou bem e você?Hi, Rodrigo! I am good and you?
- RodrigoEstou ótimo, obrigado.I am great, thank you.
- JulianaQue bom!That's good!
