Greetings and Farewells in Portuguese
Lesson Objective:
By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to recognize, understand, and use common Portuguese greetings and farewells appropriately in daily conversations.
Vocabulary List:
- Olá: Hello
- Oi: Hi (informal)
- Bom dia: Good morning
- Boa tarde: Good afternoon
- Boa noite: Good evening / Good night
- Como vai?: How are you? (formal)
- Tudo bem?: Everything good? / How are you? (informal)
- Até logo: See you later
- Até amanhã: See you tomorrow
- Tchau: Bye (informal)
- Adeus: Goodbye (more formal or permanent)
Grammar Point:
In Portuguese, greetings and farewells change depending on the time of day and the level of formality.
For example:
- "Bom dia" is used in the morning (usually until noon).
- "Boa tarde" is used from noon to sunset or early evening.
- "Boa noite" is used after dark and can be used either as a greeting or a way to say goodbye.
Formal vs. Informal Speech:
- Formal:
Used with people you don't know well, older people, or in professional situations.
Example: "Como vai o senhor/a senhora?" (How are you, sir/ma'am?) - Informal:
Used with friends, family, or peers.
Example: "Oi, tudo bem?" (Hi, how are you?)
Exercises:
Reading Comprehension:
Read the dialogue and answer the questions below:
Maria: Bom dia!
João: Bom dia, Maria! Tudo bem?
Maria: Sim, tudo ótimo. E com você?
João: Também estou bem. Até logo!
Maria: Tchau!
Questions:
- What time of day is this conversation likely taking place?
- Are Maria and João speaking formally or informally?
- What does João say at the end of the conversation?
Listening Comprehension:
Listen to a short audio clip of different greetings and farewells in Portuguese.
Task: Identify the time of day and whether the greeting is formal or informal in each example. (Audio file to be provided by instructor.)
Speaking Practice:
Practice the following dialogue with a partner or record yourself:
You: Boa tarde!
Partner: Boa tarde! Como vai?
You: Muito bem, obrigado/obrigada. E você?
Partner: Estou bem também. Até amanhã!
You: Tchau!
Summary:
- We learned common greetings and farewells in Portuguese, including both formal and informal phrases.
- We discussed how greetings vary based on the time of day.
- We practiced reading, listening, and speaking using real-life dialogues.
Homework:
- Write a short dialogue (5-6 lines) using appropriate greetings and farewells in both formal and informal situations.
- Memorize the vocabulary list and be prepared for a flashcard quiz in the next class.
- Practice saying the phrases aloud to improve pronunciation and fluency.