How To Say “You’re Welcome” In Portuguese

When you start learning Portuguese, one of the first things you will do is memorize polite expressions. Doing so allows you to apply what you learn almost immediately. It helps you establish a small bridge of communication with the locals and kickstart your Portuguese speaking.

You might have heard expressions like Obrigada or Obrigado (Thank you), Por favor (Please), or Com Licença (Excuse me). In this post, we will explore how you can say You’re welcome in Portuguese. Explore the different ways native speakers answer expressions of gratitude and learn 10 foolproof ways to do so yourself.

How do You Say “You’re welcome” in Portuguese?

At Portuguese with Carla & Friends, we want to help you reach fluency in European Portuguese! Our interactive course, The Journey, allows you to immerse yourself in the Portuguese language and culture. You learn much more than polite expressions, digging into specific vocabulary, grammar, and idioms. Learn more about it HERE!

5 Ways to Say “You’re Welcome” in Portuguese

Much like in other languages, there are many ways to say “You’re welcome” in Portuguese. For example, in English, you might hear “No problem” or “My pleasure.” But what do the Portuguese use in everyday life?

De nada: Your Best Default Answer

In Portuguese, De nada is the most common way to answer a “Thank you.” Its literal translation is “Of nothing,” as it relates to the meaning of the Portuguese expression for “Thank you”.

The Portuguese expression Obrigada, for females, and Obrigado, for males, literally means “Obliged.” When you use it, you are saying that you are obliged to the person who did something for you. Their answer means that, despite their positive actions toward you, they are freeing you of any obligation toward them.

You can use De nada in any context or situation. It is one of the best first expressions to memorize in Portuguese because of its versatility. Regardless of formality, age, or responsibility, you can say De nada and be sure you are being polite and respectful.

A Formal Reply: Não tem de quê

Não tem de quê also conveys the sense of not having anything to be obliged for, but it is a more formal way to express it. You can use this phrase with strangers and in official services. This reply might be a bit trickier to master since it includes the nasal sound in the word Não.

Although it is the appropriate choice for formal contexts, it has an informal equivalent you can use casually. Não tens de quê has the same meaning, but features the verb Ter (To have) conjugated in the second person singular. You can apply it when interacting with young people or people you already know.

Another Polite Expression: Sempre às ordens

Another sentence Portuguese people often use is Sempre às ordens. Although you translate it to “Always at your orders” or “Always at your service,” it conveys the sense of “Glad to help.”

You will often hear it from people who work in services. But you might also notice family members say it to each other, especially after doing a favor for someone. This particular expression is neither formal nor informal. Thus, you can say it to a stranger as you can to a friend.

Colloquial Reply: Ora essa

Ora essa is a very common reply in Portugal. Because it is an idiomatic expression, its literal translation makes no sense in English. It is a more pragmatic way to answer, but still polite and considered respectful, whether in formal or casual contexts. Its meaning is closer to expressions like: “Of course!” “Don’t mention it!” “No problem!” or “That’s nothing!”

Obrigado eu – When You Also Want to Say Thank You

Someone might thank you, but you also want to thank them back. For example, if you buy something at a clothing store or visit a local café. In that case, you can say Obrigado/a eu, which translates to “Thank you”. Otherwise, you can also say Eu é que agradeço, which is longer but has the same meaning.

European Portuguese vs. Brazilian Portuguese

As always, you will find differences between the two variants of the Portuguese language. While the Portuguese say De nada (Of nothing), Brazilians usually say Por nada (For nothing). Also, Não tem de quê in Portugal, turns into Não há de quê in Brazil.

Still, there are some expressions you can use in both countries without fault. For example, you can say Foi um prazer (It was a pleasure). In some contexts, you will find completely different expressions. For example, the equivalent of Não seja por isso in European Portuguese would be Imagina in Brazilian Portugeuse. Notice the following example:

European Portuguese

• Speaker 1: Obrigada por me levares ao aeroporto. Fico-te a dever uma. (Thank you for taking me to the airport. I owe you one.)
• Speaker 2: Não seja por isso! (Don’t mention it!/It was nothing!)

Brazilian Portuguese

• Speaker 1: Obrigada por me levar ao aeroporto. Fico te devendo uma. (Thank you for taking me to the airport. I owe you one.)
• Speaker 2: Imagina! (Don’t mention it!/No problem!)

What About Welcome… To A Place?

In English, the term “Welcome” can be used in all sorts of situations. Depending on context, it can be a verb, a noun, an adjective, or an interjection. So when learning how to say “You’re welcome” in Portuguese, English speakers can easily become confused.

To welcome someone to a place, you use a completely different expression than De nada. You say Bem-vindo if you are talking to a man or Bem-vinda if you are talking to a female. For a more formal welcome, Portuguese native speakers add the verb To be and say Seja bem-vindo/a. For a group of people, you will hear Sejam bem-vindos.

Example Dialogues

Here are four short example dialogues of real-life conversations you might hear or have in Portugal.

Dialogue 1 – De nada

• Speaker 1: Obrigada pela ajuda! (Thank you for the help!)
• Speaker 2: Sempre às ordens! (Always happy to help!)

Dialogue 2 – Não tem de quê

• Speaker 1: Muito obrigado pelo café. (Thank you so much for the coffee.)
• Speaker 2: Não tem de quê! (No problem!/Don’t mention it!)

Dialogue 3 – Ora essa

• Speaker 1: Obrigado por me explicares isto. (Thank you for explaining this to me.)
• Speaker 2: Ora essa! (Of course!/No problem!)

Dialogue 4 – Bem-vindo and De nada

• Speaker 1: Bem-vindo a Lisboa! (Welcome to Lisbon!)
• Speaker 2: Muito obrigada! (Thank you very much!)
• Speaker 1: De nada! (You’re welcome!)

How do You Say “You’re Welcome” in Portuguese?

“You’re welcome” is one of the most basic polite expressions in any language. You will need it every day, regardless of where you are in the world, and Portugal is no exception. Whether you want to answer someone who is thanking you or understand a native’s answer, you will need to know these and other phrases. Comment below your favorite European Portuguese expression for “You’re welcome”!

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Watch Our YouTube Video!

In the video below, you will discover 10 different ways to say “You’re welcome” in Portuguese. You will explore both European and Brazilian Portuguese to understand when and how to use each. Try to learn and practice the native pronunciation by paying attention and copying Carla!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFWe91JYHE8

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