Obrigado / obrigada
oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-duh; fast: bree-GAH-doo / bree-GAH-duh
“Thank you.”
Obrigado / obrigada is the everyday Brazilian Portuguese way to say “thank you.” Traditionally, the word agrees with the person speaking: a man says obrigado, a woman says obrigada, no matter who they are thanking.
EverydayAll Brazilalso: obg, obgd, brigado, brigada, 'brigado, 'brigadaReply: De nada.
How Brazilians use it
“Obrigada pela carona!”
“Thanks for the ride!”
A woman thanking someone for a favor.
“Muito obrigado pela ajuda.”
“Thank you very much for the help.”
A man giving a warmer thank-you.
“Obg! Te mando depois.”
“Thanks! I’ll send it to you later.”
A quick casual text message.
“Fica aqui o nosso obrigado a todos.”
“Here is our thanks to everyone.”
A written or spoken group acknowledgment.
In a real book
“ELE - Muito obrigado.”“— Obrigado pelo serviço que me prestou.”How to reply
- De nada.The standard, all-purpose “you’re welcome.”
- Imagina! / Magina!Very common in Brazil; like “don’t mention it” or “no problem.”
- Eu que agradeço.Use when the thanks goes both ways: “I’m the one who thanks you.”
- Não tem de quê.Polite: “there’s nothing to thank me for.”
Similar expressions
- ValeuInformal “thanks”; more casual than obrigado.
- Grato / grataMore formal, often written: “grateful.”
- AgradeçoPolite “I appreciate it / I thank you.”
Brazil vs Portugal
The core meaning and the traditional obrigado/obrigada rule are the same in Portugal: the form follows the person saying thanks. For Brazilian Portuguese learners, the same practical rule is safest.
Common mistakes
- Don’t say obrigada just because you are thanking a woman; the traditional rule follows the speaker’s gender, not the listener’s.
- Avoid obrigado você in careful Portuguese; use obrigado a você, obrigado eu, de nada, or eu que agradeço.
- Don’t write obligado under Spanish influence; Portuguese uses obrigado with r.
Frequently asked questions
What does obrigado mean in Portuguese?
Obrigado means “thank you” in Portuguese. In Brazilian Portuguese it is the normal everyday way to thank someone.
Is it obrigado or obrigada?
Traditionally, a man says obrigado and a woman says obrigada. The form follows the person speaking, not the person being thanked.
Do I say obrigado or obrigada to a woman?
If you are a man, say obrigado to a woman. If you are a woman, say obrigada to a man or a woman.
Is obg short for obrigado?
Yes. Obg is a common texting abbreviation for obrigado or obrigada. Keep it for casual messages, not polished writing.