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 ways to express gratitude are obrigado and obrigada. For a more formal way to say I thank you, you can use Agradeço-lhe or use Estou grato(a) to say I am grateful. To say we thank you for your help, you use Agradecemos a sua ajuda. If you want to be more expressive and informal, you can say Obrigadão(a) for thank you very much or Muito obrigado(a) mesmo! to say thank you very much indeed. Among friends and family, you might say Obrigado(a) de coração to mean thank you from the heart.
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 are standard and can be used in any setting, valeu is a colloquial alternative used primarily in casual settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Obrigado and obrigada are standard, whereas valeu is an informal way to say thanks or cheers. Obrigadão(a) and Muito obrigado(a) mesmo! are also used in informal settings to convey greater appreciation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Valeu is a popular informal expression used in Brazil.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form you use must match your own gender: a male speaker must use the masculine form obrigado, and a female speaker must use the feminine form obrigada.
How do you pronounce it?
The word obrigado has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable. It is pronounced /o.bɾiˈɡa.du/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use obrigado regardless of their own gender. Remember that the form must match the gender of the person speaking.
When do people say it?
The phrase Obrigado(a) de coração is used among friends and family to mean thank you from the heart.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, valeu is so versatile that it can be used not only to say 'thanks' but also as a casual 'hello' or 'goodbye' among close friends.
- The word valeu is so common in Brazil that it is often used as a standalone response to signal that a task is completed or a deal is closed, much like 'it's a deal' or 'got it'.
- While obrigado is universal, the heavy use of valeu is a distinct characteristic of Brazilian Portuguese and is far less common in Portugal.
Examples in context
- Eu vou bem, obrigado.I am fine, thank you.This sentence shows how to use obrigado.Tatoeba #1255934 by alexmarcelo, translation #926934 by zvaigzne
- Bem, obrigado. E você?Well thank you. And you?This sentence demonstrates using obrigado.Tatoeba #1571528 by alexmarcelo, translation #8196754 by josivangoncalves
- Obrigado a todo mundo.Thank you very much, everyone.This sentence shows obrigado used when thanking everyone.Tatoeba #2100065 by MarlonX19, translation #2099711 by LanguageExpert
- Muito obrigado, você realmente me ajudou muito com este projeto.Thank you very much, you really helped me a lot with this project.
- Obrigadão pela ajuda, meu amigo.Thanks a lot for your help, my friend.
- Agradeço-lhe pela sua generosidade.I thank you for your generosity.
- Valeu mesmo pela carona!Thanks a lot for the ride!
- 405 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana gives Rodrigo a book he wanted to read.
- MarianaAqui está o livro que você queria.Here is the book you wanted.
- RodrigoMuito obrigado, Mariana!Thank you very much, Mariana!
- MarianaDe nada, Rodrigo.You're welcome, Rodrigo.
- RodrigoVou ler agora mesmo.I'm going to read it right now.
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.
