sim
/ˈsĩ/
The English word 'yes' is translated into Portuguese as sim.
sim is the most common and straightforward way to say 'yes' in Portuguese. It can function as a particle to indicate agreement or acceptance, or as a noun meaning 'an answer that shows agreement'.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Which one should you use?
While sim is the standard word, afirmativo can be used as a noun to mean a positive answer. Additionally, sim is the direct antonym of não, which means 'no'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or technical settings, such as radio communications, you may use afirmativo to mean 'affirmative'. In casual conversation, if you want to express 'sure' or 'absolutely', you can use com certeza.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsĩ/
Did you know?
- In Brazil, it is common to answer a negative question with sim to contradict the negation. For example, if asked 'You are not coming?', responding sim means 'Yes, I am coming'.
- In some regions of Brazil, people may respond to a question with sim while shaking their head from side to side. This gesture can be confusing for foreigners who associate the head shake only with 'no'.
- The word sim shares a distant linguistic lineage with the Latin word 'sic', which is why it feels familiar to speakers of Romance languages.
Examples in context
- Isso é um sim?Is that a yes?This sentence is useful for asking if a specific answer is a sim.Tatoeba #8539208 by Ricardo14, translation #7812408 by Hybrid
- O Tom disse sim.Tom said yes.This sentence shows how to use sim to report that someone said yes.Tatoeba #6781009 by Ricardo14, translation #4394831 by CK
- Ele já disse sim.He has already said yes.This sentence demonstrates using sim to indicate a completed agreement.Tatoeba #384804 by brauliobezerra, translation #290307 by CK
- 403 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo asks Beatriz if she wants to go to the cinema.
- RodrigoBeatriz, você quer ir ao cinema hoje?Beatriz, do you want to go to the cinema today?
- BeatrizSim, eu adoraria!Yes, I would love to!
- RodrigoPodemos ir às oito?Can we go at eight?
- BeatrizSim, combinado.Yes, it's a deal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries sim, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sim, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
