Greeting Expressions

Portuguese greetings follow a few simple rules of nature. First, gender matters. The word for 'good' changes based on the noun it describes. Bom is masculine, while boa is feminine. Second, time is everything. We don't just say 'hello' all day. We track the sun. The day is split into morning, afternoon, and night. Third, formality is a sliding scale. You talk to your boss differently than your best friend. In Portuguese, we use você or o senhor/a senhora for respect. For friends, we use tu (in Portugal) or just você (in Brazil). Most greetings also come with a built-in question. Saying 'hello' usually means asking 'how are you?' at the same time. It’s a two-for-one deal! It keeps the conversation flowing without any extra effort from you.

1. 1Start with the 'Good' part. Use Bom for masculine words like dia. Use Boa for feminine words like tarde or noite.
2. 2Add the time of day. Bom + dia = Bom dia (Good morning). Boa + tarde = Boa tarde (Good afternoon). Boa + noite = Boa noite (Good evening/night).
3. 3Choose your 'Hello'. Olá is the gold standard. It works everywhere. Oi is more informal and very common in Brazil.
4. 4Add the 'How are you?'. The most common is Tudo bem?. Literally, 'Everything well?'. You can also say Como vai?.
5. 5Combine them for a pro level. Olá, bom dia! Tudo bem? is the perfect triple threat. It’s polite, timely, and friendly.
6. 6Remember the response. If someone asks Tudo bem?, just say Tudo bem! back. It’s the easiest conversation you’ll ever have.

Use Bom dia from the moment you wake up until you eat lunch. In the Portuguese world, lunch is the great divider. Once the fork hits the plate, it’s Boa tarde. This lasts until the sun goes down. Once it’s dark, switch to Boa noite. Use Olá in shops, cafes, and when meeting someone new. It’s safe and polite. Use Oi with friends, family, or people your own age. If you are entering a restaurant, a general Boa noite to the staff is expected. It’s like a verbal tip before the meal even starts. If you are at a job interview, stick to the time-based greetings followed by Como vai o senhor?. It shows you have class and respect for the hierarchy.

Don't use Oi with your grandmother or a judge. It might feel a bit too 'chilled out' for them. Avoid saying Bom dia at 2 PM. You will get a few funny looks, as if you’ve been sleeping all day. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes, but usually after a very long party! Don't use Boa noite only when leaving. Unlike in English where 'Goodnight' is a goodbye, in Portuguese, Boa noite is also a 'Hello'. If you walk into a bar at 10 PM, you say Boa noite. If you leave, you also say Boa noite. It’s a multi-tasking phrase. Also, try not to use Tudo bem? if you are in a huge rush and can't wait for the one-second response. It’s a social contract, not just a filler.

One big mistake is mixing up the gender of 'good'. People often say Bom noite or Boa dia. Remember: dia is a boy, tarde and noite are girls. Think of it like a grammar traffic light—get the color wrong and things get messy. Another mistake is using Tchau (Goodbye) as a greeting. It sounds like 'Ciao' in Italian, but it only works when you are leaving. Also, don't forget the question mark in your voice. Tudo bem as a statement is 'everything is fine'. Tudo bem? with a rising tone is the question. If you forget the tone, people might think you are just reporting the news of your own well-being. Finally, don't be too stiff. If everyone is saying Oi, don't insist on a formal Como passastes a noite?. You’ll sound like a 19th-century poet at a beach party.

Let's look at Tudo bem? vs Tudo bom?. They are basically twins. Tudo bem asks if things are 'well'. Tudo bom asks if things are 'good'. You can use either, but Tudo bem is slightly more common. What about Olá vs Alô? Olá is for people in front of you. Alô is strictly for answering the phone. If you walk into a room and shout Alô!, people will look for your mobile. Then there is Como vai? vs Como está?. Como vai is 'How is it going?'. Como está is 'How are you?'. Como vai feels a bit more dynamic. It’s like asking about the direction of someone's life, rather than just their current state of being.