vamos
/ˈvɐ̃.mus/
In Portuguese, vamos means "let's go".
The phrase is used to suggest that a group of people move from one place to another. Beyond physical movement, it is frequently used as an exhortation to start an action or to express encouragement, similar to the English "let's do it".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word vamos is the first-person plural present indicative form of the verb ir (to go).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈvɐ̃.mus/. The word has 2 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
When do people say it?
In Brazil, you may encounter several informal variations of this idea. The slang expression Bora is an abbreviation of vamos embora and is used to mean "let's go", "let's get going" or "let's bounce". You might also hear Bora lá as an informal way of saying "let's go", or the popular phrase Vamos nessa to mean "let's do it!"
Did you know?
- While vamos is the indicative form, it is used as an imperative to give a command to a group, a grammatical quirk where the present tense takes over the role of a command.
- In sports, Brazilian fans often chant Vamos! repeatedly as a rhythmic cheer to motivate players, which functions more like a drumbeat than a sentence.
- In Portuguese, Vamos can be used to initiate a collective decision-making process, serving as a verbal 'nudge' to move a conversation toward a conclusion.
Examples in context
- Bora lá comer alguma coisaLet's go grab something to eat
- Vamos nessa!Let's do it!
- Vamos lá! Gosto dessa ideia.Let's go then! I like that idea.
- Bora lá! Estou precisando relaxar.Let's go! I need to relax.
- Vamos para a praia agora.Let's go to the beach now.
- O filme começou, vamos!The movie started, let's go!
- Vamos embora, já está tarde.Let's leave, it is already late.
Example conversation
Two friends are finishing a coffee at a cafe.
- GabrielBeatriz, vamos para casa?Beatriz, shall we go home?
- BeatrizSim, Gabriel, eu estou cansada.Yes, Gabriel, I am tired.
- GabrielVamos, pegamos o carro.Let's go, we'll take the car.
- BeatrizCombinado, vamos logo.Agreed, let's go right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vamos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
