Portuguese · Greetings & Essentials
"Thank you" in Portuguese: obrigado/a
obrigado/a
Note: said by a man / a woman
Brazilians thank people with obrigado when a man speaks, and obrigada when a woman speaks. Both forms share obrigad- and mean thank you. Add muito for a warmer muito obrigado or muito obrigada.
After a favor
Muito obrigado pela ajuda!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce obrigado/a
Say it
oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah
/o.bɾi.ˈɡa.du/, /o.bɾi.ˈɡa.da/
oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah. Stress the ga syllable. Many Brazilian accents soften the r toward an h sound.
"Thank you" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| obrigado | thank you (said by a man) Default male-speaker form in Brazil and Portugal. | Default male-speaker form in Brazil and Portugal. |
| obrigada | thank you (said by a woman) Default female-speaker form; matches the speaker, not the listener. | Default female-speaker form; matches the speaker, not the listener. |
| muito obrigado / muito obrigada | thank you very much Warmer thanks for bigger favors. | Warmer thanks for bigger favors. |
| valeu | thanks Casual Brazilian thanks among friends. | Casual Brazilian thanks among friends. |
| agradeço | I appreciate it A bit more formal, good in emails. | A bit more formal, good in emails. |
How to use obrigado/a in real life
- 1After a favor
Muito obrigado pela ajuda!
Thank you so much for the help!
A man speaking. A woman would say muito obrigada.
- 2At a café
Obrigada! Pode deixar o troco.
Thank you! You can keep the change.
A woman thanking the waiter. Troco means change.
- 3Texting a friend
Obrigado, irmão! Te pago um café depois.
Thanks, bro! I'll get you a coffee later.
Obrigado works with friends too; valeu is a casual alternative.
Mistakes English speakers make with obrigado/a
Incorrect: Obrigada! (said by a man)
Correct: Obrigado!
The ending matches the speaker's gender, not the person you thank.
Incorrect: Obrigado você!
Correct: Obrigado! or Obrigado a você!
Alone, obrigado already means thank you. Do not stick você right after it.
Good to know
In Brazil, a thank-you is often answered with de nada, por nada, or imagina. Store staff may say disponha, inviting you to ask again. Skipping a quick obrigado after a favor can feel cold, even in short service chats.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A friend carries your bag up the stairs
ChatPal
Pronto! Sua mala está no terceiro andar.
Done! Your suitcase is on the third floor.
You
Nossa, muito obrigado! Você me salvou.
Wow, thank you so much! You saved me.
ChatPal
De nada! Precisando de mais alguma coisa, é só pedir.
You're welcome! If you need anything else, just ask.
You
Obrigado de novo. Depois pago um suco pra você.
Thanks again. I'll buy you a juice later.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Thank you" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Thank you" in Portuguese
Does obrigado change for the listener?
No. Men say obrigado and women say obrigada, no matter who they thank. The ending tracks the speaker.
Is valeu polite enough at a shop?
With friends, yes. With shop staff or older strangers, prefer obrigado or obrigada, optionally with muito.
How do you answer obrigado?
Say de nada, por nada, or imagina. Imagina softens the thank-you, like "don't mention it."
Do Portugal and Brazil use the same forms?
Yes for obrigado and obrigada. Valeu is more Brazilian; Portugal leans on obrigado and por nada.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
