How to Say “Thank You to a Man” in Portuguese

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obrigado
/o.bɾiˈɡa.du/
In Portuguese, "thank you to a man" is expressed as obrigado.
The phrase is used by a male speaker to express gratitude. To say "Thank you very much" in a formal way, you can use Muito obrigado. You can also say Obrigado pela sua ajuda to mean "Thank you for your help" or Obrigado pela força to say "Thanks for the support".

What does it mean word for word?

The word obrigado literally means "obliged" or "bound", which implies that the speaker is now in a debt of gratitude.

Which one should you use?

While a man says obrigado, a woman must say obrigada to show gratitude.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For formal or respectful appreciation, you can use Agradeço-lhe, which translates to "I thank you". In casual settings and among friends, Brazilians often use the informal valeu to say "Thanks" or the emphatic Obrigadão to say "Thank you".

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Rio de Janeiro, valeu, cara! is a common and informal way to say "Thanks, dude!" between friends.

How do you pronounce it?

The pronunciation is /o.bɾiˈɡa.du/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.

When do people say it?

The most common response to obrigado is de nada, which literally means "of nothing" and translates to "you're welcome".

Did you know?

  • Even if you are thanking a group of people, a man must still use the singular form obrigado to refer to himself, rather than changing it to a plural form.
  • In Brazil, the casual valeu is so versatile that it is often used not just for thanks, but as a way to say 'goodbye' or 'I agree' in certain social circles.
  • The word obrigado shares a common ancestor with the English word 'obliged', which is why both languages use the concept of being 'bound' to express gratitude.

Examples in context

  • Valeu pela ajuda, meu amigo!
    Thanks for the help, my friend!
  • Muito obrigado pela ajuda.
    Thank you very much for the help.
  • Obrigado pelo presente.
    Thank you for the gift.
  • Muitíssimo obrigado por tudo.
    Thank you so much for everything.

Example conversation

Felipe is receiving a coffee from Beatriz at a cafe.

  1. Felipe

    Beatriz, muito obrigado pelo café.
    Beatriz, thank you very much for the coffee.
  2. Beatriz

    De nada, Felipe.
    You're welcome, Felipe.
  3. Felipe

    Está muito bom.
    It is very good.
  4. Beatriz

    Que bom que gostou.
    I'm glad you liked it.

Sources

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Jillian Melissa
Jillian MelissaHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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