Brazilians say 'obrigado' / 'obrigada' constantly — and the word you use depends on YOUR gender, not the person you're thanking. This lesson wraps up Unit 1 with polite expressions and a dive into the formal/informal register in Brazilian Portuguese. By the end, you'll navigate basic social interactions with warmth and confidence.
Learning tips
- Remember: men say 'obrigado', women say 'obrigada' — regardless of who they're thanking.
- 'Imagina' (literally 'imagine') is a super friendly, warm 'don't mention it' — use it freely.
- 'Desculpa' is informal (used with friends); 'Desculpe' is slightly more formal. Both work everywhere in Brazil.
- In Rio, 'você' is used with almost everyone. Save 'o senhor / a senhora' for elderly strangers, doctors, or very formal situations.
Warm-up & Active Recall
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| zero | zero |
| um | one (masc/fem) |
| dois | two (masc/fem) |
| três | three |
| quatro | four |
| cinco | five |
| o número | the number |
| o telefone | the telephone |
| o celular | the cell phone |
| por favor | please |
Dialog
Beatriz stops by a padaria (bakery) in her neighborhood for 'pão francês' (the standard Brazilian bread roll). Watch how she uses 'com licença', 'por favor', 'obrigada', and responds to wishes politely. This kind of quick interaction happens dozens of times a day in Brazil.
Vocabulary
Active words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| obrigado | /o.bɾiˈɡa.du/ | thank you (said by a male) | Agrees with the speaker's gender |
| obrigada | /o.bɾiˈɡa.dɐ/ | thank you (said by a female) | Agrees with the speaker's gender |
| de nada | /dʒi ˈna.dɐ/ | you're welcome | Literally 'of nothing' |
| desculpa | /dʒisˈkuw.pɐ/ | sorry / excuse me | Informal, used widely |
| com licença | /kõ liˈsẽ.sɐ/ | excuse me | Used when entering, passing by, getting attention |
| por favor | /poʁ faˈvoʁ/ | please | Essential polite word |
| imagina | /i.maˈʒi.nɐ/ | don't mention it / you're welcome | Warm, friendly — literally 'imagine' |
| claro | /ˈkla.ɾu/ | of course, sure | Quick, positive response |
| a pessoa | /a peˈso.ɐ/ | the person | Always feminine even for men |
| o moço | /u ˈmo.su/ | young man (friendly address) | Used for a young male stranger — like 'sir' but friendlier |
Passive words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| sem problema | /sẽj̃ pɾoˈble.mɐ/ | no problem | Common casual response |
| tranquilo | /tɾɐ̃ˈkwi.lu/ | relaxed, no worries | Carioca favorite — means 'it's all good' |
| valeu | /vaˈlew/ | thanks (very informal) | Slang — used with friends |
| é claro | /ɛ ˈkla.ɾu/ | of course (emphatic) | Stronger version of 'claro' |
| pois não | /pojz ˈnɐ̃w̃/ | yes please / can I help you? | What shop staff say to customers |
| tudo certo | /ˈtu.du ˈseʁ.tu/ | all good | Casual confirmation |
Useful chunks
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| muito obrigado / muito obrigada | thank you very much (masc./fem.) |
| com licença, por favor | excuse me, please |
Grammar: Obrigado/obrigada agreement; formal and informal register in Brazilian Portuguese
| Expressão | Quando usar | Exemplo |
|---|---|---|
| Obrigado | homem agradece | (Homem) Muito obrigado! |
| Obrigada | mulher agradece | (Mulher) Muito obrigada! |
| De nada / Imagina | resposta ao agradecimento | Obrigada! — De nada. |
| Por favor | pedindo algo educadamente | Um café, por favor. |
| Com licença | pedindo passagem / atenção | Com licença, o banheiro? |
| Desculpa / Desculpe | pedindo perdão / atenção | Desculpa pelo atraso. |
Registro no Rio / SP: No dia a dia brasileiro, 'você' é o padrão para quase todo mundo (amigos, desconhecidos, colegas). Usamos 'o senhor / a senhora' só para pessoas muito mais velhas, em situações bem formais, ou para demonstrar respeito extra (médico, idoso na rua). 'Moço / moça' é comum para se dirigir educadamente a um desconhecido jovem.
Obrigado vs. obrigada — one of the first things foreigners learn. The word agrees with YOUR gender (the speaker), not the person you're thanking.
- A man says: Obrigado!
- A woman says: Obrigada!
This is because 'obrigado' literally means 'obligated' — as in 'I am (so) obligated (to you)'. So a man uses the masculine 'obrigado', a woman the feminine 'obrigada'. If you're non-binary, either works — pick what feels right.
Standard polite expressions:
| Expression | When to use |
|---|---|
| Por favor | asking for something politely |
| Obrigado/a | thanking |
| De nada / Imagina | you're welcome |
| Com licença | getting attention, entering a room, getting past someone |
| Desculpa / Desculpe | apologizing, or 'excuse me' for bumping into someone |
Formal vs. informal register in Rio and SP:
- Você is the default with nearly everyone — friends, strangers, shopkeepers, colleagues. It is not rude; it's neutral and informal-friendly.
- O senhor / A senhora is used for elderly strangers, or in clearly formal contexts (bank manager, doctor, court). Using it with peers can feel oddly stiff.
- Moço / Moça are friendly ways to address an unknown young person — 'Oi, moço, com licença!' This is very common in everyday life.
Bonus Rio slang: 'Beleza' (cool), 'valeu' (thanks, informal), 'tranquilo' (no worries) are Carioca staples.
Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
Complete with the right polite expression.
- Um café, !(polite request)
- (Mulher agradece) Muito !(woman says 'thanks')
- (Homem agradece) Muito !(man says 'thanks')
- Obrigado! — !(response to 'obrigado')
- , o banheiro, por favor?(used to get attention)
Grammar Application
Choose the right word for each situation.
- Beatriz agradece → ela diz: (Beatriz, a woman, thanking someone)
- Thiago agradece → ele diz: (Thiago, a man, thanking someone)
- Alguém te agradece. Responda: (informal)(informal 'you're welcome')
- Você quer passar → diga: (asking to pass)
- Você esbarra em alguém → peça desculpas: (apologizing)
Translation (English → Portuguese)
Translate each polite expression.
- Thank you very much!
- You're welcome.
- Excuse me, please.
- Sorry! / My apologies.
- Of course!
Creative Construction
Write a short polite exchange at a shop, café, or on the street. Use at least 3 of the polite expressions from this lesson.
Takeaway
Men say 'obrigado', women say 'obrigada' — it agrees with the speaker's gender. 'De nada' or the warmer 'Imagina' responds to thanks. In Rio and SP, 'você' is used with almost everyone — 'o senhor / a senhora' is for clear formality only.