Portuguese · Greetings & Essentials
"Yes" in Portuguese: sim
sim
Yes in Portuguese is sim, a short firm agreement. In conversation Brazilians often add warmth with é, isso, or claro instead of repeating sim alone. For polite confirmation you can say sim, por favor.
Accepting a drink
Sim, por favor. Um suco de laranja.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce sim
Say it
seem
/ˈsim/
Seem, with a clear ee vowel. Keep it short; do not stretch it into English "seemed."
"Yes" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| sim | yes Clear yes for questions and offers. | Clear yes for questions and offers. |
| é | yeah / that's right Quick spoken agreement in Brazil. | Quick spoken agreement in Brazil. |
| isso | that's it / exactly Confirms the other person got it right. | Confirms the other person got it right. |
| claro | of course Warm yes when agreeing to help. | Warm yes when agreeing to help. |
| com certeza | for sure Stronger, friendly confirmation. | Stronger, friendly confirmation. |
How to use sim in real life
- 1Accepting a drink
Sim, por favor. Um suco de laranja.
Yes, please. An orange juice.
Sim, por favor is the clean polite acceptance pattern.
- 2Confirming a plan
Sim, eu posso ir com você amanhã.
Yes, I can go with you tomorrow.
Sim opens the sentence, then the detail follows.
- 3Agreeing in chat
Sim! Exatamente o que eu queria dizer.
Yes! That's just what I meant.
Sim is the clear yes; isso is a warm alternative when confirming an idea.
Mistakes English speakers make with sim
Incorrect: Si
Correct: Sim
Portuguese needs the final m. Si is Spanish or Italian, not Portuguese yes.
Incorrect: Yes, eu quero
Correct: Sim, eu quero
Switch the English yes to sim when speaking Portuguese.
Good to know
Brazilians rarely answer with a cold lone sim in friendly chat. A smile, é, or claro makes agreement feel warmer. In formal settings, a clear sim still sounds professional and safe.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A coworker offers you a ride home
ChatPal
Você quer carona? Eu passo perto da sua casa.
Do you want a ride? I pass near your place.
You
Sim! Me poupa um tempão no metrô.
Yes! It saves me a lot of time on the metro.
ChatPal
Ótimo. A gente sai em dez minutos, combinado?
Great. We leave in ten minutes, deal?
You
Sim, combinado. Eu pego minha bolsa e já volto.
Yes, deal. I'll grab my bag and be right back.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Yes" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Yes" in Portuguese
Is sim enough by itself?
Yes in formal answers. With friends, add claro or isso so you do not sound clipped.
How do I say yes please?
Sim, por favor. It works for food, drinks, and offers of help.
What is the opposite of sim?
Não. Soften refusals with não, obrigado or talvez outra hora.
Do people write sim in texts?
They do, often as s or ss in very casual chats, but learners should stick to full sim.
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
