Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| obrigado | /o.bɾiˈɡa.du/ (Brazil) /ɔ.bɾiˈɡa.du/ (Portugal) |
|
| obrigada | /o.bɾiˈɡa.dɐ/ (Brazil) /ɔ.bɾiˈɡa.dɐ/ (Portugal) |
|
| valeu | /vaˈlew/ (Brazil) /vɐˈlew/ (Portugal) |
Brazil, informal |
The standard way to express gratitude is by using obrigado or obrigada. To say thank you very much, you can say Muito obrigado/a, ensuring you match the ending to your own gender. For a more formal tone, such as when you want to say "I appreciate," you can use Agradeço.
What does it mean word for word?
The word obrigado literally means "obligated" or "bound", which implies that the speaker feels a sense of obligation because of the favor they have received.
Which one should you use?
While obrigado/a is the standard expression for gratitude, valeu is a much more casual alternative used primarily in Brazil.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Obrigado and obrigada are the standard forms used in most situations. Agradeço is used when you want to express thankfulness in a more formal tone. In contrast, valeu is a highly informal and familiar way to say "thanks" or "cheers". You may also hear the shortened brigado/a in informal settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form valeu is used in Brazil.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form you use depends on your own gender, not the gender of the person you are thanking. A male speaker must use the masculine form obrigado, while a female speaker must use the feminine form obrigada.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /o.bɾiˈɡa.du/. The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, it is common to respond to obrigado with imagina, which literally means 'imagine'. It is used to suggest that the favor was so small it does not even need to be acknowledged.
- The word valeu originates from the verb valer, which means 'to be worth', making the phrase literally 'it was worth it'.
- Unlike English, where 'thank you' is a verb phrase, obrigado is an adjective. This is why it must change to match the gender of the person speaking.
Examples in context
- Eu vou bem, obrigado.I am fine, thank you.This sentence shows how to use obrigado to say you are fine.Tatoeba #1255934 by alexmarcelo, translation #926934 by zvaigzne
- Bem, obrigado. E você?Well thank you. And you?This sentence demonstrates a polite exchange using obrigado.Tatoeba #1571528 by alexmarcelo, translation #8196754 by josivangoncalves
- Obrigado a todo mundo.Thank you very much, everyone.This sentence uses obrigado to express thanks to a group.Tatoeba #2100065 by MarlonX19, translation #2099711 by LanguageExpert
- Muito obrigado/a pela gentileza.Thank you very much for your kindness.
- Agradeço bastante pelo tempo que dedicou a esta reunião.I greatly appreciate the time you dedicated to this meeting.
- Valeu pela ajuda!Thanks for the help!
- Obrigado/a por me ajudar.Thank you for helping me.
- Muito obrigado/a mesmo!Thank you very, very much!
- 405 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas hands Mariana a cup of coffee.
- MarianaObrigado pelo café, Lucas!Thank you for the coffee, Lucas!
- LucasDe nada, Mariana.You're welcome, Mariana.
- MarianaVocê é muito gentil, obrigado.You are very kind, thank you.
- LucasNão foi nada!It was nothing!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries obrigado, obrigada, valeu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
