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 primary way to express gratitude is through the forms obrigado and obrigada. You can also use the informal expression valeu to mean "thanks" or "cheers". Men say Muito obrigado to say thank you. In more formal or professional settings, you can use Agradeço imensamente to mean "I greatly appreciate it" or Fico-lhe muito grata to mean "I am very grateful to you".
What does it mean word for word?
The word obrigado literally means "obligated" or "bound", implying you are bound by a sense of gratitude.
Which one should you use?
The choice between obrigado and obrigada is determined by the gender of the person speaking. Valeu is a distinct, more casual alternative used for a quick "thanks".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Valeu is an informal and familiar expression. For highly formal or professional contexts, use Agradeço imensamente or Fico-lhe muito grata. Additionally, women may use the informal abbreviation Brigada.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The expression valeu and its variation valeu mesmo (meaning "thanks a lot") are primarily used in Brazil. In Brazil, adding viu to the end of Muito obrigada (e.g., Muito obrigada, viu?) makes the expression more friendly.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of "thank you" changes based on the gender of the speaker, not the person being thanked. A male speaker must use the masculine form obrigado, while a female speaker must use the feminine form obrigada.
How do you pronounce it?
obrigado is pronounced /o.bɾiˈɡa.du/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- While obrigado is the standard, Brazilians often use valeu not just for thanks, but as a casual way to say 'goodbye' or 'it is a deal'.
- The phrase valeu is derived from the verb valer, meaning 'to have value'. Using it is like telling the other person that their action 'had value'.
- Because obrigado is a past participle, the phrase is grammatically a description of the speaker's state rather than an action being performed.
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 using obrigado in a short exchange.Tatoeba #1571528 by alexmarcelo, translation #8196754 by josivangoncalves
- Obrigado a todo mundo.Thank you very much, everyone.This sentence illustrates using obrigado to thank a group of people.Tatoeba #2100065 by MarlonX19, translation #2099711 by LanguageExpert
- Muito obrigada pelo seu auxílio.Thank you very much for your assistance.
- Obrigada! Você é sempre muito prestativa.Thanks! You're always so helpful.
- 405 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas is thanking Juliana for helping him with some heavy bags.
- LucasObrigado por me ajudar com as sacolas.Thank you for helping me with the bags.
- JulianaDe nada, Lucas. Não foi nada.You're welcome, Lucas. It was nothing.
- LucasVocê é muito gentil, muito obrigado.You are very kind, thank you very much.
- JulianaImagina, disponha sempre.Don't mention it, I'm always happy to help.
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.
