Portuguese is a Romance language spoken in Portugal, Brazil, and several other countries. As with any language, it is important to understand the basics of politeness and courtesy in Portuguese to effectively communicate with native speakers. Polite words in Portuguese include greetings, expressions of gratitude, apologies, and phrases to indicate respect. In this article, we will explain the most common polite words in Portuguese and give example sentences to help you understand how to use them in conversation.
Greetings
In Portuguese, greetings play a crucial role in showing respect and building rapport with others. The most common greeting in Portuguese is “olá,” which means “hello” or “hi.” It is appropriate to use “olá” in any situation, whether formal or informal. However, when speaking with someone in a formal setting or with someone you don’t know well, it’s best to use “bom dia,” “boa tarde,” or “boa noite,” which respectively mean “good morning,” “good afternoon,” and “good evening.”
Examples:
Olá, como vai? (Hello, how are you?)
Bom dia, tudo bem? (Good morning, everything okay?)
Boa noite, senhora. (Good evening, ma’am.)
Expressions of Gratitude
In Portuguese culture, expressing gratitude is considered an essential aspect of good manners. It’s important to use polite words when thanking someone for their help or generosity. The most common expressions of gratitude in Portuguese are “obrigado” (if you’re male) or “obrigada” (if you’re female), which both mean “thank you.” Additionally, you can use “muito obrigado” or “muito obrigada,” which mean “thank you very much.”
Examples:
Obrigado pela ajuda. (Thank you for your help.)
Muito obrigada pela sua generosidade. (Thank you very much for your generosity.)
Apologies
Apologizing is an important part of polite conversation in any language, and Portuguese is no exception. When you make a mistake or hurt someone’s feelings, it’s important to apologize promptly and sincerely. The most common word for “sorry” in Portuguese is “desculpe” or “desculpa,” which means “excuse me” or “I’m sorry.” You can also say “me desculpe” or “me desculpa,” which both mean “forgive me.”
Examples:
Desculpe pelo atraso. (I’m sorry for being late.)
Me desculpa se eu te ofendi. (Forgive me if I offended you.)
Phrases to Indicate Respect
In Portuguese, there are several phrases that you can use to show respect and politeness. When addressing someone older or in a position of authority, it’s important to use the appropriate honorifics. The most common honorifics in Portuguese are “senhor” (for men) and “senhora” (for women), which both mean “sir” or “madam.” When addressing someone with a professional or academic title, it’s appropriate to use their title, such as “doutor” (for a doctor) or “professor” (for a professor).
Examples:
Com licença, senhora. (Excuse me, ma’am.)
Doutor, poderia me ajudar? (Doctor, could you help me?)
Conclusion
Learning the basics of politeness in Portuguese is essential for effective communication with native speakers. By using polite words and phrases, you can show respect and build rapport with others. Remember to use appropriate greetings, expressions of gratitude, apologies, and phrases to indicate respect when speaking with others in Portuguese. With practice, you’ll become more comfortable using these polite words
Below are categories of portuguese polite words
GREETINGS
here are some common Portuguese greetings:
Olá – Hello
Bom dia – Good morning
Boa tarde – Good afternoon
Boa noite – Good evening/night
Tudo bem? – How are you?
Como vai? – How’s it going?
Oi – Hi
Saudações – Greetings
Bem-vindo/a – Welcome
Até logo – See you later
Adeus – Goodbye
Desculpe – Sorry
Com licença – Excuse me
Por favor – Please
Obrigado/a – Thank you
De nada – You’re welcome
Feliz Ano Novo – Happy New Year
Feliz Natal – Merry Christmas
Parabéns – Congratulations
Boa sorte – Good luck
EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE
Here are some common Portuguese expressions of gratitude:
Obrigado (if you’re male) or obrigada (if you’re female) – Thank you
Muito obrigado/a – Thank you very much
Obrigadíssimo/a – Thank you very, very much
Agradeço-lhe – I thank you
Muito agradecido/a – Much appreciated
Muito obrigado/a pela ajuda – Thank you very much for the help
Agradeço de coração – I thank you from the bottom of my heart
Fico-lhe muito agradecido/a – I am very grateful to you
Obrigado/a pelo seu tempo – Thank you for your time
Agradeço imensamente – I greatly appreciate it
APOLOGIES
Here are some Portuguese expressions of apologies:
Desculpe-me – Excuse me
Sinto muito – I’m sorry
Perdão – Pardon
Peço desculpas – I apologize
Desculpa-me – Forgive me
Me desculpe – Sorry (more informal)
Mil desculpas – A thousand apologies
Desculpe pelo inconveniente – Sorry for the inconvenience
Desculpe pelo atraso – Sorry for the delay
Desculpe pela minha falta – Sorry for my absence.
It’s worth noting that these expressions may vary depending on the context, the level of formality, and the region where they are used.
POLITE REQUESTS
here are some Portuguese expressions that can be used to make polite requests:
Por favor – Please
Você poderia me ajudar? – Could you help me?
Será que você poderia me emprestar um lápis? – Could you lend me a pencil, please?
Será que poderíamos conversar por um momento? – Could we talk for a moment, please?
Você poderia me passar o sal, por favor? – Could you pass me the salt, please?
Desculpe incomodá-lo(a), mas seria possível me dar uma carona? – Sorry to bother you, but would it be possible to give me a ride?
Será que eu poderia ter um copo de água, por favor? – Could I have a glass of water, please?
Será que você poderia me explicar isso novamente? – Could you explain that to me again, please?
Desculpe interromper, mas você poderia me ajudar com algo? – Sorry to interrupt, but could you help me with something?
Será que você poderia me indicar o caminho para a estação de trem, por favor? – Could you tell me how to get to the train station, please?
Note: These expressions are just some examples of polite requests in Portuguese. There are many other ways to make a request politely depending on the context and the relationship with the person you are talking to.
POLITE REFUSALS
Here are some Portuguese expressions for polite refusal:
Infelizmente não posso – Unfortunately I cannot.
Desculpe-me, mas não será possível – I’m sorry, but it won’t be possible.
Agradeço o convite, mas não poderei ir – Thank you for the invitation, but I won’t be able to go.
Gostaria muito de ajudar, mas não posso – I would love to help, but I can’t.
Lamento, mas não estou disponível – I’m sorry, but I’m not available.
Não quero incomodá-lo(a), mas preciso recusar – I don’t want to bother you, but I need to decline.
Não é possível, mas agradeço mesmo assim – It’s not possible, but thank you anyway.
Fico grato pelo convite, mas não poderei aceitar – I appreciate the invitation, but I won’t be able to accept.
Desculpe-me por não poder atender ao seu pedido – I’m sorry I can’t fulfill your request.
Agradeço a oferta, mas infelizmente não posso aceitar – Thank you for the offer, but unfortunately I can’t accept.
EXPRESSIONS OF AGREEMENTS
Here are some common Portuguese expressions of agreement:
Com certeza – Certainly
Concordo – I agree
Sem dúvida – Without a doubt
Está certo – That’s right
Claro que sim – Of course
Concordo plenamente – I fully agree
Não poderia concordar mais – I couldn’t agree more
É isso aí – That’s it
Sem sombra de dúvida – Without a shadow of a doubt
Realmente – Really
Note that these expressions can vary slightly depending on the region and context in which they are used.
FAREWELLS
here are some Portuguese expressions of farewell:
Adeus – Goodbye (formal)
Tchau – Bye (informal)
Até logo – See you soon
Até amanhã – See you tomorrow
Até breve – See you soon
Boa jornada – Have a good journey
Boa viagem – Have a good trip
Fique bem – Take care (informal)
Cuide-se – Take care (formal)
Tenha um bom dia – Have a good day
Tenha uma boa noite – Have a good night
Vá com Deus – Go with God
Que tudo corra bem – I hope everything goes well
Descanse em paz – Rest in peace (for a final farewell)
Felicidades – Best wishes
BLESSINGS
Here are some common Portuguese expressions of blessing:
Deus te abençoe – God bless you
Que Deus te proteja – May God protect you
Que Deus te guarde – May God keep you safe
Que a paz esteja contigo – May peace be with you
Que a graça de Deus esteja com você – May God’s grace be with you
Que a luz divina te ilumine – May divine light shine upon you
Que o amor de Deus te acompanhe sempre – May God’s love be with you always
Que a felicidade te siga por onde fores – May happiness follow you wherever you go
Que você seja abençoado(a) – May you be blessed
Que todos os seus desejos se realizem – May all your wishes come true.
Originally posted 2023-07-17 22:40:58.