Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| muito | /ˈmũj̃.tu/ (Brazil) /ˈmũj̃.tu/ (Portugal) |
|
| assaz | /aˈsa(j)s/ (Brazil) /aˈsa(j)ʃ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
archaic |
The most common and versatile way to say "very" in Portuguese is using muito. Depending on the nuance you want to express, you might also use bastante for "quite" or "rather" or extremamente for "extremely". In informal Brazilian contexts, you may hear bem to mean "very" or "really" and the expression pra caramba to mean "a lot" or "very".
Which one should you use?
While muito is the standard term, assaz is an archaic or highly formal synonym that is rarely used in everyday speech. For a different level of intensity, bastante translates more closely to "quite" or "rather", while extremamente is used for "extremely".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Muito is suitable for most situations. For a very high level of formality or literary effect, one might see the archaic assaz, though it is rare in spoken conversation. In casual speech, especially in Brazil, bem and pra caramba are common informal intensifiers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The words bem (meaning "very" or "really") and the expression pra caramba (meaning "a lot" or "very") are commonly used in Brazil.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an adverb meaning "very", muito is invariable, meaning it does not change its form to match gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
The word muito has two syllables and the stress is on the first syllable. The IPA is /ˈmũj̃.tu/.
Did you know?
- The word muito shares a surprising ancestor with the English word 'melt'. It stems from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'crumbled' or 'crumbled into pieces'.
- Portuguese speakers may use bastante to mean both 'very' and 'sufficient', depending on the context.
Examples in context
- Tom é muito bom.Tom is very good.This sentence demonstrates the use of muito to describe a quality.Tatoeba #4837469 by Ricardo14, translation #2273596 by CK
- Não é muito bom.It's not very good.This sentence shows a negative application of muito.Tatoeba #7525228 by Ricardo14, translation #4495025 by CK
- Ele é muito sexy.He's very sexy.This sentence uses muito as an intensifier for an adjective.Tatoeba #405226 by brauliobezerra, translation #1671 by al_ex_an_der
- Este livro é muito interessante.This book is very interesting.
- Estou muito feliz em conhecê-lo.I am very happy to meet you.
- Estou bastante cansado hoje.I am very tired today.
- Aquela montanha é extremamente alta.That mountain is extremely high.
- O filme foi extremamente emocionante.The movie was extremely moving.
- Estou bem feliz com a minha nota.I am very happy with my grade.
- A comida estava bem gostosa.The food was really tasty.
- Aquele filme é bom pra caramba.That movie is really good.
- 4904 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana and Gabriel are talking about a movie they just watched.
- MarianaO filme foi muito longo.The movie was very long.
- GabrielSim, mas a história era ótima.Yes, but the story was great.
- MarianaEu achei o final muito triste.I found the ending very sad.
- GabrielEu também, Gabriel concordou.Me too, Gabriel agreed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “very” translations and entries muito, assaz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries assaz, muito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
