How to Say ‘Hi!’ in Portuguese
Olá!
💬 Usage Tip: Pronounced roughly “oh-LAH”. In Portugal, the “á” is clearly stressed.
🇵🇹 In Portugal: A friendly, neutral greeting you can use anytime; pair it with “Bom dia/Boa tarde” if you want to sound extra local.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Olá
[oh-LAH]
Hello / Hi
Common greeting in European Portuguese, used in informal and neutral situations (any time of day).
No metro, digo "Olá" ao funcionário antes de perguntar como ir para Lisboa.
On the subway, I say "Hello" to the employee before asking how to get to Lisbon.
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