Oi
oy
How to say itPart of: Greetings
“Hi; hello.”
Oi is how Brazilians say hello: friends, shops, bosses, phone calls and texts. Olá means the same and is just as correct, but sounds a little written or formal. With a rising tone, oi? is also “pardon?”, what you say when you didn’t hear. Portugal says olá; oi there sounds Brazilian.
Looking for all the ways to say hello? Hello in Portuguese: the guide
EverydayAll Brazilalso: oii, oieReply: Oi!
How Brazilians use it
“Oi, tudo bem?”
“Hi, how are you?”
The everyday pair; the reply is tudo bem.
“Oi, gente! Desculpa o atraso.”
“Hi, everyone! Sorry I’m late.”
To a group.
“Oi? Não entendi, pode repetir?”
“Sorry? I didn’t get that, could you repeat?”
Rising tone: pardon?
“Oii, saudade de você!”
“Hiii, I miss you!”
Typed; the extra i is warmth.
How to reply
- Oi!The same back.
- Oi, tudo bem?Hello and how are you in one.
Similar expressions
Brazil vs Portugal
Portugal says olá far more; oi there sounds Brazilian, or like a nudge to get attention. Tudo bem? works in both countries.
Common mistakes
- Don’t say hola: Spanish. The Portuguese is oi or olá.
- Don’t answer the phone with oi: Brazilians say alô?, then switch to oi.
- Don’t hear oi? as a greeting: with a rising tone it means “pardon?”.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Brazilians say oi?
Because it is the everyday hello in Brazil, the way “hi” is in English. Olá exists and is correct, but it sounds a little formal or written, so oi is what you hear from everyone, to everyone.
What does oi mean in Portuguese?
Hi. Said flat, oi greets someone; said with a rising tone, oi? means “pardon?” or “what did you say?”. In a text, oii with an extra i is a warmer hi.
Do Brazilians say olá?
Yes, but less than oi. Olá turns up on signs, in presentations and from strangers being careful. Between people who know each other, and in shops, it is oi.
How do you respond to oi?
Oi! back, usually with tudo bem? attached: oi, tudo bem? The reply to that is tudo bem, or tudo, e você?