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. You can also say Muito obrigado/a to mean "thank you very much", or use the more formal Agradeço-lhe to say "I appreciate/thank you".
What does it mean word for word?
The word obrigado literally means "obliged" or "bound" (by a favor).
Which one should you use?
While obrigado and obrigada can be used in almost any situation, valeu is strictly informal and used among friends or peers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In contrast, valeu is a common slang term for "thanks" or "cheers" used primarily in informal settings. In Brazilian Portuguese, you may also encounter the slang-like variation Brigado/a.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Valeu is a popular and informal way to say "thank you" in Brazil.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form you use depends on your own gender: a male speaker must use the masculine obrigado, while a female speaker must use the feminine obrigada.
How do you pronounce it?
/o.bɾiˈɡa.du/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the masculine obrigado regardless of their own gender. Ensure the form agrees with your own gender, not the gender of the person you are thanking.
When do people say it?
In Brazil, valeu! is a popular, informal way to express thanks among friends.
Did you know?
- While obrigado is the standard for 'thank you', it is also used as an adjective to describe a legal or moral duty, such as saying something is obrigatório meaning 'mandatory'.
- The term valeu can also be used as a way to say 'goodbye' or 'see you' in very informal Brazilian settings, acting as a multipurpose conversational closer.
- Because obrigado is a past participle, it functions grammatically as an adjective describing your own state of being.
Examples in context
- Eu vou bem, obrigado.I am fine, thank you.This sentence shows how to use obrigado to answer how you are doing.Tatoeba #1255934 by alexmarcelo, translation #926934 by zvaigzne
- Bem, obrigado. E você?Well thank you. And you?This sentence demonstrates using obrigado in a brief exchange.Tatoeba #1571528 by alexmarcelo, translation #8196754 by josivangoncalves
- Obrigado a todo mundo.Thank you very much, everyone.This sentence shows how to use obrigado when thanking a group of people.Tatoeba #2100065 by MarlonX19, translation #2099711 by LanguageExpert
- Obrigado por me ajudar.Thank you for helping me.
- Muito obrigada pelo presente maravilhoso.Thank you very much for the wonderful gift.
- Agradeço-lhe pela oportunidade de trabalhar neste projeto.I appreciate/thank you for the opportunity to work on this project.
- Valeu pela carona!Thanks for the ride!
- 405 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel hands Mariana a glass of water.
- MarianaObrigada, Gabriel!Thank you, Gabriel!
- GabrielDe nada, Mariana.You're welcome, Mariana.
- MarianaVocê é muito gentil.You are very kind.
- GabrielEu fico feliz em ajudar, obrigado.I am happy to help, thank you.
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.
