Valeu / vlw
vah-LEW
“Thanks; cheers; informal bye.”
Brazilians use valeu as a casual thanks, and often as a quick “cheers/bye” at the end of a friendly exchange. Literally it comes from valer, “to be worth,” but as slang it does not change for gender; vlw is the chat spelling.
InformalAll Brazilalso: vlw, valew, valews, valeuuReply: De nada.
How Brazilians use it
“Valeu pela carona!”
“Thanks for the ride!”
Thanking a friend for a favor
“Valeu, até amanhã.”
“Cheers, see you tomorrow.”
Ending a quick friendly conversation
“Te mando o arquivo hoje, valeu?”
“I’ll send you the file today, okay?”
Checking a casual arrangement
“Vlw! Cheguei em casa.”
“Thx! I got home.”
Texting a friend
In a real book
“— Valeu!”“Valeu?”How to reply
- De nada.The safest general reply: “You’re welcome.”
- Imagina. / Magina.Natural Brazilian reply meaning “don’t mention it / no worries.”
- Tamo junto. / Tmj.Very informal and friendly: “I’ve got you.” Common in chats.
- Valeu.Can be repeated back in very casual exchanges, but it is not the safest default.
Similar expressions
- Obrigado / obrigadaMore neutral and safer when you need to sound polite.
- TchauA simple goodbye; it does not mean thanks.
- FalouCasual “bye” or “deal,” closer to sign-off than thanks.
- Beleza / blzMeans “okay/cool”; can confirm a plan, not thank someone.
Brazil vs Portugal
In Portugal, valeu is usually understood first as the past tense of valer: “it was worth” or “it was valid.” For everyday thanks there, use obrigado/obrigada instead.
Common mistakes
- Don’t use valeu in a formal thank-you note or business email; use obrigado/obrigada, agradeço, or muito obrigado/a instead.
- Don’t change valeu for gender: a man, a woman, or a group can all say valeu.
- Don’t read every valeu as “thanks”; in valeu a pena it is the verb valer and means “it was worth it.”
Frequently asked questions
What does valeu mean in Portuguese?
In Brazilian Portuguese, valeu usually means “thanks” or “cheers.” In some casual conversations it can also close the exchange, like “thanks, bye.”
What does vlw mean in Brazilian Portuguese?
Vlw is the texting and internet spelling of valeu. You read it as valeu, not as separate letters in normal speech.
Is valeu formal or informal?
Valeu is informal. It is fine with friends, casual coworkers, delivery drivers, and in chats, but not ideal for formal emails or ceremonies.
Can a woman say valeu?
Yes. Valeu is an interjection, so it stays the same for everyone; unlike obrigado/obrigada, it does not change with the speaker’s gender.