Imagina / magina
ee-mah-ZHEE-nuh / mah-ZHEE-nuh
How to say itPart of: Thanks
“You’re welcome; don’t mention it.”
Brazilians say imagina after obrigado/obrigada to mean the favor was nothing and the other person needn’t feel indebted. Magina is the relaxed shortened form. It is widely understood, with a strong São Paulo and service-counter feel.
Looking for all the ways to say thank you? Thank you in Portuguese: the guide
EverydayBrazil; especially São Pauloalso: maginaReply: No reply needed
How Brazilians use it
“— Obrigada pela ajuda! — Imagina, foi nada.”
“— Thanks for the help! — Don’t mention it, it was nothing.”
Friendly reply after someone thanks you
“— Valeu por me esperar. — Magina!”
“— Thanks for waiting for me. — No problem!”
Casual spoken reply among friends or coworkers
“— Desculpa incomodar. — Imagina, pode falar.”
“— Sorry to bother you. — Not at all, go ahead.”
Reassuring someone who apologizes
“Imagina a cena: todo mundo chegou atrasado.”
“Picture the scene: everyone arrived late.”
Literal verb use, not the thank-you reply
How to reply
- No reply neededIf someone answers your obrigado/obrigada with imagina or magina, you normally just smile, nod, or continue.
Similar expressions
- De nadaThe most direct “you’re welcome.”
- Que issoWarmer, like “come on, don’t mention it.”
- Não foi nadaLiterally “it was nothing.”
- Por nadaAnother casual “no problem.”
Brazil vs Portugal
In Portugal, imagina is understandable as the verb “imagine” and may appear as a filler, but it is not the safest default reply to obrigado. De nada and não tem de quê are safer in European Portuguese.
Common mistakes
- Don’t translate it word for word after obrigado: here imagina does not mean “imagine something.”
- Don’t write magína with an accent; the casual spelling is magina.
- Don’t change it for gender: unlike obrigado/obrigada, imagina stays the same for everyone.
Frequently asked questions
What does magina mean in Portuguese?
Magina means “you’re welcome,” “don’t mention it,” or “no problem” when someone thanks you. It is the casual shortened form of imagina.
Is magina short for imagina?
Yes. In this expression, magina is a relaxed spoken shortening of imagina. You will see and hear both in Brazil.
Can I reply imagina to obrigado?
Yes. If someone says obrigado or obrigada, you can reply imagina to sound warm and natural. Use magina in more casual conversations, not in formal writing.
Does imagina change to imaginado, imaginada, obrigado or obrigada?
No. As a reply, imagina does not change for gender or for the person speaking. A man and a woman can both say imagina or magina.