Obrigado
neutral, said by men
In Brazil you say Obrigado if you are a man and Obrigada if you are a woman. Friends often shorten it to Valeu.
Meaning: expression of thanks (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| Obrigado | neutral, said by men |
| Valeu | casual, slang |
| Obrigada | neutral, said by women |
Obrigado and Obrigada fit shops, offices and strangers. Add muito for "thank you very much", as in Muito obrigado.
Which one should you use?
Valeu comes from the verb valer and means roughly "cheers" or "you rock". It suits friends, family and casual messages but not a formal email.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending follows the speaker, not the person you thank. A woman thanking a man still says Obrigada.
How do you pronounce it?
Obrigado is close to "oh-bree-GAH-doo" in much of Brazil.
Did you know?
- Both obrigado and obrigada literally mean "obliged", so the speaker is saying "I am obliged to you".
Examples in context
- Muito obrigado pela ajuda.Thank you very much for the help.
- Obrigada, foi uma delícia.Thanks, it was delicious.
- Valeu, cara!Thanks, man!
Example conversation
Fernanda buys bread from the padeiro Seu Jorge at a bakery in Belo Horizonte.
- Seu JorgeAqui está, dona Fernanda.Here you go, Fernanda.
- FernandaObrigada, Seu Jorge.Thanks, Mr. Jorge.
- Seu JorgeDe nada. Bom domingo!You are welcome. Have a good Sunday!
