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 |
These terms are used to express gratitude. While obrigado and its feminine form are the standard way to say thank you, valeu serves as a popular and informal way to say 'thanks', especially among friends.
What does it mean word for word?
The word obrigado literally means 'obliged' or 'bound'.
Which one should you use?
Use obrigado or obrigada in formal or standard situations. In contrast, use valeu in casual, informal settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Obrigado and obrigada are suitable for standard and formal situations. For a more formal and respectful tone, you can use Agradeço-lhe (I thank you). Conversely, valeu and brigado are informal, with brigado being a slangy variant. You may also encounter obrigadão, which is an informal variant that adds an augmentative suffix or obrigadinho, a diminutive form often used playfully.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term valeu is a common colloquialism used in Brazil.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form you use must agree with your own gender as the speaker. A male speaker must use the masculine form obrigado, while a female speaker must use the feminine form obrigada. Other ways to express gratitude include the more sophisticated grato or the term gratidão, which conveys a sense of deep appreciation.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of obrigado is /o.bɾiˈɡa.du/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the same form regardless of their gender. Remember that the form must agree with your own gender: use obrigado if you are male and obrigada if you are female.
When do people say it?
While obrigado is the standard, speakers may use different words to convey different levels of emotion. For example, gratidão is used to convey a sense of deep gratitude and appreciation.
Did you know?
- While valeu is used for 'thanks' in Brazil, it is the past tense of the verb valer, which means 'to be worth'.
- The word obrigado is a linguistic relative of the English word 'obliged'. Both stem from a root meaning 'to bind' or 'to tie'.
- The term gratidão has become a trendy way to express a spiritual or deep cosmic appreciation in modern Brazilian culture.
Examples in context
- Eu vou bem, obrigado.I am fine, thank you.This sentence shows how to use obrigado to say 'thank you' when stating how you are doing.Tatoeba #1255934 by alexmarcelo, translation #926934 by zvaigzne
- Bem, obrigado. E você?Well thank you. And you?This example demonstrates using obrigado to say 'thank you' before asking a return question.Tatoeba #1571528 by alexmarcelo, translation #8196754 by josivangoncalves
- Obrigado a todo mundo.Thank you very much, everyone.This sentence shows how to use obrigado to thank a group of people.Tatoeba #2100065 by MarlonX19, translation #2099711 by LanguageExpert
- Obrigado pela ajudaThank you for the help.
- Muito obrigadoMany thanks.
- Obrigado pelo presenteThank you for the gift.
- Muito obrigado pela gentilezaThank you very much for your kindness.
- Agradeço-lhe pela oportunidadeI thank you for the opportunity.
- Valeu por me ajudarThanks for helping me out.
- Obrigadão, caraThanks a lot, buddy.
- 405 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas hands Beatriz a glass of water.
- BeatrizObrigado pela água, Lucas.Thank you for the water, Lucas.
- LucasDe nada, Beatriz!You're welcome, Beatriz!
- BeatrizVocê 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries obrigado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
