oi
/ˈoj/
oi is the Portuguese way to say "hi" or "hello".
oi is a common, casual greeting used to say hello to someone.
Which one should you use?
While oi is casual, Olá is a more neutral or formal way to say hello. If you need to greet someone over the phone or catch their attention informally, you might use Alô or use the highly informal E aí to mean "what's up" or "howdy".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈoj/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should avoid using oi to get someone's attention as a shout, such as the British English usage of "Oi!" In Portuguese, oi is almost exclusively used as a greeting.
Did you know?
- In digital communication like WhatsApp, Brazilians often elongate the word to oii or ooii to convey extra warmth or flirtation.
- In some regions of Brazil, oi can be used as a soft expression of surprise or a way to interrupt someone gently, similar to saying 'oh' in English.
- In Brazil, it is common to repeat the greeting as oi, oi when someone enters a room or when you are trying to get a friend's attention in a friendly way.
Examples in context
- Oi, tudo bem?Hi, how are you?
- Oi, eu cheguei!Hi, I'm here!
- Oi, você viu meu livro?Hi, did you see my book?
Example conversation
Mariana and Lucas meet at a coffee shop.
- MarianaOi, Lucas!Hi, Lucas!
- LucasOi, Mariana. Como você está?Hi, Mariana. How are you?
- MarianaEstou bem, obrigada.I'm well, thanks.
- LucasQue bom!That's good!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry oi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
