Brazilian Portuguese Basics
Brazilian Portuguese Greetings and Goodbyes: What to Say and How Many Kisses?
In Brazilian Portuguese, you say oi or olá to greet someone, tchau or até mais to say goodbye, and in many regions you seal it with a kiss on the cheek, one in São Paulo, two in Rio, and sometimes none in parts of the South. This guide covers the phrases Brazilians actually use, plus the regional kiss count so you don't get it wrong.
By Renata · October 12, 2026 · 6 min
The greetings Brazilians actually use
Forget the textbook dialogues that start with bom dia, boa tarde, boa noite only. Those are correct and you should know them, but in real life Brazilians open with oi, which works at any hour and in almost any setting. Olá is fine too, slightly more formal, and você is the default pronoun for 'you' in most of Brazil.
If you are meeting someone for the first time, você is safe. In some regions, especially Rio and the Northeast, people may use tu with a different verb conjugation, but as a learner você will never sound rude. The key is to greet, make eye contact, and smile, Brazilians read warmth before they read grammar.
- Oi, hi (any time, informal but universal)
- Olá, hello (slightly more formal)
- Bom dia / Boa tarde / Boa noite, good morning / afternoon / evening
- Tudo bem? how are you? (the standard follow-up)
- E aí? what's up? (very casual, common among friends)
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Oi | Hi | Any time, any setting |
| Olá | Hello | Slightly formal, safe everywhere |
| Bom dia | Good morning | Until around noon |
| Boa tarde | Good afternoon | Noon to dark |
| Boa noite | Good evening / night | After dark, also for goodbye at night |
| Tudo bem? | How are you? | Right after the greeting |
| E aí? | What's up? | Friends, casual |
Goodbyes: tchau, até mais, falou
Tchau is the default goodbye and it works everywhere. Até mais means 'see you later' and is slightly warmer, often used when you expect to see the person again soon. Falou is the casual one, it literally means 'it spoke' but functions like 'later' or 'talk to you soon'. You will hear falou constantly among younger Brazilians and in informal settings.
Other useful goodbyes: até logo (see you soon), até amanhã (see you tomorrow), and a gente se vê (we'll see each other). For phone calls, tchau or falou both work. If you are leaving a shop, a simple tchau or obrigado/obrigada with a nod is enough. Brazilians rarely leave without some form of verbal goodbye.
- Tchau, bye (universal)
- Até mais, see you later (warm, common)
- Falou, later / talk soon (very casual)
- Até logo, see you soon
- Até amanhã, see you tomorrow
- A gente se vê, we'll see each other
The kiss on the cheek: how many, and where?
This is the part that trips up visitors. In Brazil, a kiss on the cheek is a standard greeting between women, and between men and women, in most regions. The number of kisses varies by state and sometimes by city. São Paulo and most of the Southeast: one kiss. Rio de Janeiro: two kisses. Minas Gerais: often one, sometimes two depending on the city.
In the South, especially in Porto Alegre and parts of Santa Catarina, a handshake is more common, and kisses may be reserved for closer friends or family. In the Northeast, two kisses are common, and sometimes three in parts of Bahia. In the North, it varies. The safest approach: offer your hand if unsure, and follow the other person's lead. If they lean in for a kiss, match their count.
| Region | Typical kisses | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| São Paulo | 1 | Standard for greetings |
| Rio de Janeiro | 2 | One on each cheek |
| Minas Gerais | 1 or 2 | Varies by city |
| Bahia / Northeast | 2, sometimes 3 | Warm and expressive |
| Porto Alegre / South | Handshake | Kisses for friends/family |
| Brasília / Central-West | 1 | Similar to São Paulo |
Formal vs informal: você, senhor, senhora
Brazilian Portuguese has a clear informal/formal split. Você is informal but not rude; it is the default in most of Brazil. Senhor and senhora are formal and show respect, used with older people, in professional settings, or when you do not know someone well. In very formal writing or speeches, you may see o senhor or a senhora, but in speech, senhor/senhora alone is common.
For greetings, formal settings often use bom dia, boa tarde, or boa noite followed by senhor/senhora. Example: Bom dia, senhora. Tudo bem? For goodbyes, a formal setting might use até logo or tchau with a handshake. Avoid falou in formal contexts, it is too casual.
- Você, you (informal, default)
- Senhor / Senhora, sir / madam (formal)
- Bom dia, senhor, good morning, sir
- Até logo, see you soon (formal or neutral)
- Falou, avoid in formal settings
Common mistakes English speakers make
The biggest mistake is translating 'goodbye' literally as adeus. In Brazilian Portuguese, adeus sounds final and dramatic, like you will never see the person again. Use tchau or até mais instead. Another mistake is using tu with the wrong verb form. In Rio, tu fala is common, but in São Paulo, você fala is standard. As a learner, você is safer.
Also, don't forget the accent on até. Without it, ate means 'ate' in English but in Portuguese it is a different word. And remember that boa noite can mean both 'good evening' when you arrive and 'good night' when you leave. Context makes it clear.
- Avoid adeus, too final
- Use tchau or até mais instead
- Você is safer than tu for learners
- Boa noite works for hello and goodbye at night
- Don't skip accents: até, não, você
How to practice these greetings with a native teacher
If you want to use these greetings naturally, you need to practice them in conversation. I am Renata, a Brazilian Portuguese teacher. Brazilian Portuguese is my native language. I teach online to English speakers, evenings only, a few lessons per week. My capacity is small and I state that honestly. I do not teach European Portuguese and I do not prepare anyone for the CIPLE exam, because that exam tests European Portuguese and marks Brazilian usage wrong.
I offer a paid diagnostic lesson for 45 EUR, credited against a later package. One-to-one evening lessons are 65 EUR per hour, a 5-lesson pack is 300 EUR, a small group of max 4 people is 89 EUR per month, and children are 69 EUR per month. There is no A1-A2 self-study course on sale yet, only a waiting list. To ask about lessons, WhatsApp me at +351 935 328 206.
Common questions
What is the most common Brazilian Portuguese greeting?
Oi is the most common greeting in Brazil. It works at any time of day and in almost any setting. Olá is also correct but slightly more formal. Bom dia, boa tarde, and boa noite are time-specific and equally common.
How do you say goodbye in Brazilian Portuguese?
Tchau is the standard goodbye. Até mais means 'see you later' and is warmer. Falou is very casual, used among friends. Avoid adeus, which sounds final and dramatic in Brazil.
How many kisses on the cheek in Brazil?
It depends on the region. São Paulo and most of the Southeast: one kiss. Rio de Janeiro: two. Bahia and the Northeast: often two, sometimes three. In Porto Alegre and parts of the South, a handshake is more common. Follow the other person's lead if unsure.
Is it rude to not kiss on the cheek in Brazil?
Not rude, but it can seem distant. A handshake is acceptable, especially in business settings or with older people. If someone leans in for a kiss, match their count. If you are unsure, offer your hand first.
What does falou mean?
Falou literally means 'it spoke' or 'he/she spoke', but in casual Brazilian Portuguese it is used as a goodbye, like 'later' or 'talk to you soon'. It is very informal and common among younger people.
Can I use tchau in formal situations?
Tchau is informal but widely accepted. In very formal settings, use até logo or a simple bom dia/boa tarde/boa noite with a handshake. Falou should be avoided in formal contexts.
Learning this with someone is faster
Renata teaches Brazilian Portuguese one to one, in the evening, in small numbers. A paid diagnostic lesson is 45 EUR and it is credited against a later package.
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