How to Say “Thanks” in Portuguese

Ways to say it

The most common way to say thank you is obrigado(a). To say thank you very much, use Muito obrigado(a) or Muito obrigado(a) mesmo to say thank you very much indeed. You can also say Obrigado(a) pela refeição to mean thank you for the meal. For a more colloquial way to say thank you, you can use Obrigadão(a).

Which one should you use?

Obrigado/a is the standard way to say thanks, whereas valeu is a much more casual, slang-like alternative used primarily in Brazil. In formal contexts, you can use Agradeço-lhe to mean I thank you or the alternative Grato(a), which is commonly used in Portugal.

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

Obrigado/a is the standard form. Valeu and Obrigadão(a) are informal, with Obrigadão(a) being more colloquial. In formal situations, use Agradeço-lhe or Grato(a).

Is it said differently in some regions?

Valeu is used primarily in Brazil. Grato(a) is a formal alternative commonly used in Portugal.

Related words

Expression of gratitude (noun): agradecimentos.

Grateful feelings (noun): gratidão, agradecimento.

How does it change in a sentence?

The form of the word must agree with the gender of the person speaking, not the gender of the person being thanked. Use obrigada if you are female.

How do you pronounce it?

The word is pronounced /o.bɾiˈɡa.du/. It has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.

When do people say it?

When someone says obrigado/a, the most common response is de nada (you're welcome). Another way to say no problem is Não há de quê. In Brazil, Gratidão means gratitude and is used as an informal way of expressing thanks, particularly in religious or spiritual contexts.