e aí
/i aˈi/
The English phrase "wassup" can be translated into Portuguese as e aí.
e aí is a common and widely used informal greeting that roughly translates to "what's up?" It is used to ask someone how they are or what is happening.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase e aí is highly informal and should only be used with friends or people of a similar social standing.
How do you pronounce it?
/i aˈi/
When do people say it?
A common response to e aí when nothing specific is happening is nada (nothing).
Did you know?
- You might hear people use E aí, beleza? as a single unit. Even though 'beleza' means 'beauty', in this context, it simply means 'Is everything good?'
- The word aí is thought by some linguists to have roots in the Old Tupi language, rather than just its Latin origins.
- While e aí is universal, in some Brazilian regions it is often paired with a chin flick or a slight upward nod of the head to signal a casual greeting.
Examples in context
- E aí, tudo bem?Wassup, everything good?
- E aí, cara, beleza?Wassup, man, you good?
Example conversation
Beatriz and Rodrigo meet on the street.
- BeatrizE aí, Rodrigo!Wassup, Rodrigo!
- RodrigoE aí, Beatriz! Tudo certo?Wassup, Beatriz! Everything alright?
- BeatrizTudo ótimo, e com você?Everything's great, and with you?
- RodrigoTudo tranquilo também.Everything is chill too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry e aí, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aí, e, e aí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
