sim, senhor
/ˈsĩ sẽˈɲoʁ/word by word
The English phrase "yes, sir" is translated into Portuguese as sim, senhor.
sim, senhor is a polite way to say yes when speaking to a man in a formal context. It is commonly used in professional settings, such as when a subordinate is speaking to a male superior or a customer is speaking to a male staff member.
Which one should you use?
While sim, senhor is used for men, you should use sim, senhora when responding to a woman in a formal context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word senhor is the formal way to address a man.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsĩ sẽˈɲoʁ/
Did you know?
- While senhor is used as a title for people, it can also be applied to inanimate masculine nouns to give them a sense of importance or social status.
- In some Brazilian contexts, sim, senhor can be used ironically to signal that someone is being overly bossy or acting like a strict superior.
- In very traditional or military settings, sim, senhor is often accompanied by a rigid posture and a slight nod to emphasize the hierarchy.
Examples in context
- Sim, senhor, eu entendi.Yes, sir, I understood.
- Sim, senhor, farei isso agora.Yes, sir, I will do it now.
Example conversation
Mariana is talking to her boss, Lucas, in the office.
- MarianaVocê pode revisar este relatório, Mariana?Can you review this report, Mariana?
- LucasSim, senhor, eu reviso hoje.Yes, sir, I will review it today.
- MarianaObrigado, eu preciso dele amanhã.Thank you, I need it tomorrow.
- LucasSem problemas, senhor.No problem, sir.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (sim, senhor) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries senhor, sim, CC BY-SA 4.0.
