Welcome to the Brazilian Portuguese lesson on farewells! In this lesson, we will focus on the most common ways to say goodbye in Portuguese.
Don't worry if you feel overwhelmed by the many ways to say goodbye in Portuguese - by the end of this class, you will be equipped with the necessary knowledge to bid farewell confidently to anyone in Portuguese. So let's get started!
Most Common Farewells in Brazilian Portuguese
The following list presents the most common farewells in Brazilian Portuguese that you'll hear in everyday life, and it's important for every beginner Brazilian Portuguese learner to have these farewells in their repertoire.
Formal Farewells:
- Até logo - This phrase translates to "See you soon" in English. It's used when you expect to see the person again relatively soon, but you don't have a specific time frame in mind.
- Até mais tarde - It means "Until later" in English. You would use this farewell when you're saying goodbye to someone, but you anticipate seeing them later on the same day.
- Até amanhã - This phrase translates to "Until tomorrow" in English. It's used when you are parting ways with someone and you expect to see them again the following day.
- Até a próxima - It means "Until next time" in English. You would use this farewell when you don't know exactly when you'll see the person again, but you hope to meet in the future.
- Tenha um bom dia - This phrase translates to "Have a good day" in English. It's a polite way to bid farewell to someone and wish them a pleasant day ahead.
- Tenha uma boa tarde - It means "Have a good afternoon" in English. You would use this farewell when it's still daytime and you want to wish the person a pleasant remainder of the day.
- Tenha uma boa noite - This phrase translates to "Have a good evening/night" in English. It's used when it's getting late or the sun has set, and you want to wish the person a pleasant evening or night.
- Adeus - It means "Goodbye" in English. This farewell is more formal and can be used when you don't expect to see the person again for a longer period of time or in more serious situations.
Informal Farewells:
- Boa noite - This phrase translates to "Good night" in English. It's an informal way to bid someone farewell when it's already nighttime or when they are going to bed.
- Boa tarde - It means "Good afternoon" in English. You would use this informal farewell when it's still daytime and you want to wish someone a good remainder of the day.
- Tchau - This is a common informal way to say "Bye" in Portuguese. It's widely used in Brazil and can be used in various situations to bid farewell to someone, both in formal and informal settings.
- Valeu - This informal farewell means "Thanks" in English and literally means "valued". It's a more casual way to express gratitude, similar to saying "Thanks" in English. It's often used among friends or acquaintances.
Navigating Between Formal and Informal Farewells in Brazilian Portuguese
In Portuguese, farewells can be classified as either formal or informal. This is somewhat different from English, where we tend to be less formal overall in our farewells. In English, we often use more casual farewells in both formal and informal situations.
In Brazil, formal farewells are used in more professional or polite contexts, while informal farewells are used among friends, family, or in casual situations.
For example, if you're saying goodbye to a teacher, a colleague, or someone you just met, it's better to use a formal farewell. In this context, a formal farewell shows respect and politeness in a professional or unfamiliar setting.
On the other hand, when you're saying goodbye to friends, family, or people you're more familiar with, you can use informal farewells. Informal farewells are more relaxed and casual, expressing a sense of closeness and familiarity.
It's important to pay attention to the situation and the person you're talking to, as it will help you determine the appropriate level of formality. If you're unsure, it's generally safer to use a more formal farewell to show respect.