Portuguese · Greetings & Essentials

"Good afternoon" in Portuguese: boa tarde

boa tarde

Say it: BOH-ah TAR-jeephrase/ˈboa ˈtaʁ.dʒi/

Good afternoon in Portuguese is boa tarde. Use it as a greeting from midday into early evening. It is both hello and a polite shop entrance line.

Entering a shop

Boa tarde! Vocês têm esse tênis no 38?
Good afternoon! Do you have this sneaker in size 38?
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How to pronounce boa tarde

Say it

BOH-ah TAR-jee

/ˈboa ˈtaʁ.dʒi/

BOH-ah TAR-jee. Soft d in tarde like j in many Brazilian accents.

"Good afternoon" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
boa tardegood afternoon

Greeting after midday.

Boa tarde! Tudo bem?Good afternoon! How are you?

Warm opener.

boa tarde a todosgood afternoon everyone

Meetings and classes.

tenha uma boa tardehave a good afternoon

Parting wish.

How to use boa tarde in real life

  1. 1Entering a shop

    Boa tarde! Vocês têm esse tênis no 38?

    Good afternoon! Do you have this sneaker in size 38?

    Standard polite entry.

  2. 2Work call

    Boa tarde, Ana. Podemos falar agora?

    Good afternoon, Ana. Can we talk now?

    Professional phone start.

  3. 3Leaving a café

    Obrigada. Tenha uma boa tarde!

    Thanks. Have a good afternoon!

    Friendly closing.

Mistakes English speakers make with boa tarde

Incorrect: Bom tarde!

Correct: Boa tarde!

Tarde is feminine, so boa, not bom.

Incorrect: Boa tarde (at 10 a.m.).

Correct: Bom dia.

Morning uses bom dia; boa tarde starts around midday.

Good to know

Brazilians often keep bom dia until lunchtime vibes fade, then switch to boa tarde. In shops, staff greet you with boa tarde even if you only browse. Around dusk, boa noite takes over for both good evening and good night.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Checking into a clinic

  1. ChatPal

    Boa tarde! Tem horário livre?

    Good afternoon! Do you have an open slot?

  2. You

    Boa tarde. Quero remarcar minha consulta.

    Good afternoon. I want to reschedule my appointment.

  3. ChatPal

    Claro. Boa tarde ainda tempo.

    Of course. There's still time this afternoon.

  4. You

    Perfeito. Obrigada, boa tarde!

    Perfect. Thanks, good afternoon!

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"Good afternoon" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Good afternoon" in Portuguese

Exact phrase?

Boa tarde.

Why boa not bom?

Tarde is feminine.

When do I switch from bom dia?

Around midday / after lunch culture.

Can it be a goodbye?

Yes: tenha uma boa tarde.

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