The Meaning of Obrigado – Saying Thank You in Portuguese

Thank you is one of the first expressions you learn when you start exploring a new language. It is a polite expression you will use every day. Besides, natives will appreciate hearing you use it even if it is the only word you can say in their language.

What Does Obrigado Mean?

Most people know that the Portuguese word for Thank you is Obrigado. But there is more to explore about the term. For example, did you know there are different Portuguese words to show gratitude depending on the speaker’s gender?

Men say Obrigado and women say Obrigada because the word literally means “obliged” or “indebted.” It is the most common way to say thank you in both Portugal and Brazil. Additionally, you can use other common expressions similar to the English Thank you very much or Many thanks. Knowing these expressions helps you convey the right meaning and broadens your vocabulary.

So, how should you say thank you in Portuguese? Where did the expression Obrigado originate from? What are its alternatives? And how do you answer someone thanking you?

Related Resources

• Watch Obrigado or Obrigada
• Read How to say thank you in Portuguese – Obrigado or Obrigada
• Watch 10 Ways to Say Thank You
• Read 10 Ways to Say Thank You in Portuguese
• Read 8 Ways to Say You’re Welcome
• Watch 10 ways to say “You’re Welcome” in European Portuguese (impress the natives)

How to Say Thank You in Portuguese

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Obrigado/a and Muito Obrigado/a

Obrigado (male) and Obrigada (female) are the most common ways to say thank you in Portuguese. The form you use depends on your own gender, not the one of the person you are speaking to. The word itself is the Past principle of the verb Obrigar

, often used as an adjective meaning Obliged or Indebted. However, it is usually applied as an interjection that expresses gratitude.

Thus, Muito obrigado

(male) and Muito obrigada

(female) translate to Much obliged in English. Yet, these expressions are not particularly formal or informal. You can use them in any context, as you would say Thank you very much, which holds the same meaning.

Expression	Meaning	Used by
Obrigado	Thank you	Men
Obrigada	Thank you	Women
Muito obrigado	Thank you very much	Men
Muito obrigada	Thank you very much	Women

The Origin of Obrigado

The word Obrigado comes from the Past Participle of the Latin verb Obligo. In turn, this verb has the root meaning To bind. Many languages have interjections used to show gratitude. But in Portuguese, the word used to express thanks has a complex and relatively recent origin.

Some people link it to the Japanese word Arigato. However, using Obrigado as a form of gratitude is much more recent. There are many Japanese words of Portuguese origin. But Obrigado is not one of them, as it only emerged with this specific meaning in the 19th century. Before this, the Portuguese used other expressions like Agradecido

(Thankful).

The transformation likely started from the final expressions used in the formal letter and eventually simplified. It was common practice to finish these letters with the sentence: Obrigado a Vossa Mercê

, which translates to Obliged to Your Mercy. With time, the expression was cut short, and the verb became the primary term to express thanks in Portuguese.

How Portuguese People Actually Say Thank You

Real-Life Examples

At a café

• Um café, por favor. (A coffee, please)
• Obrigado. (Thank you)

After receiving directions

• Obrigada pela ajuda
  ! (Thank you for your help!)

After receiving a gift

• Muito obrigado! (Thank you very much!)

Like in other languages, you will find a few different ways for a native speaker to say thank you in Portuguese. Some are only appropriate for formal situations, while others suit informal settings. Additionally, certain words are mostly used among young people in a casual context.

Remember that saying thank you is not the only form of politeness in Portuguese. Other expressions, such as greetings (Bom dia

, Boa tarde

, Boa noite

) and saying please (Por favor or Se faz favor

), are also essential.

Formal Expressions of Gratitude

In formal situations, you can use expressions like Muitíssimo obrigado/a

or Obrigadíssimo/a (Thank you very much). You can also start a spoken or written thank you message by saying Quero agradecer

.mp3″] (I want to thank). Another very formal way to say thanks in Portuguese is Estou grato/a

(I am grateful). You can replace it by simply saying Grato/a

(Grateful).

Informal Expressions of Gratitude

Informal situations are much less rigid and allow you to express yourself in a more relaxed way. For example, Obrigadão

is a very common colloquialism among friends and schoolmates.

Sometimes, you might also hear natives use Obrigadinho/a

. In this case, the intonation and body language of the speaker will indicate if it signifies thank you or if it is being used sarcastically.

Thank You For (Obrigado por…)

One of the most meaningful ways to show gratitude is by being specific. In Portuguese, you can say that by adding the word Por (meaning For or By). Thus, use Obrigado por (male) or Obrigada por

(female), followed by what you want to thank for.

For example, if someone helped you, you can say Obrigado pela ajuda

or Obrigada pela ajuda (Thank you for the help). It is a polite way to express gratitude toward someone who gave you directions on the street or helped you at a store.

Another common situation is when someone cooks for you. In that case, you can say Obrigado por cozinhar

or Obrigada por cozinhar

(Thank you for cooking). Additionally, if you invite someone to do something together or even go to your house, it is polite to say Obrigado por vir

or Obrigada por vir

(Thank you for coming).

Other Expressions of Gratitude

There are many ways to say thank you in Portuguese. The Portuguese verb Agradecer, which means To thank, can apply to a wide variety of situations, replacing more colloquial expressions. It adapts to both casual and formal situations. For example, you can replace the Obrigado/a in the examples above as so:

• Obrigado/a por cozinhar – Agradeço-lhe por ter cozinhado
• Obrigado/a por vir – Agradeço que tenha vindo
• Obrigado/a pela ajuda – Agradeço a sua ajuda

Another expression you will hear a lot in Portugal and Brazil is Dar graças

(Give thanks). Most of the time, natives use it to indicate they were glad for how a situation ended. This expression stems from the religious background of these countries. Thus, you will frequently hear Dou graças a Deus

(I give thanks to God) or simply Graças a Deus

(Thank God).

Finally, especially in northern Portugal, it is common for natives to say Bem haja

! Similarly to the English expression Cheers, it expresses good wishes toward the person you are grateful to.

Brazilian Portuguese Vs. European Portuguese

You can also use it to replace Obrigado/a when specifying what you are thankful for. For example, you can say Valeu

pela ajuda (Thanks for the help). Other common expressions include Brigado/a or Brigado/a, viu? Brazilian natives often include Viu at the end of sentences. It does not change the meaning but makes what was said seem more friendly.

The ways to say thank you in Portuguese differ between its two main variants. So far, you have learned about what is most common to hear in Portugal. In Brazil, one of the most prevalent ways to say thanks and to answer when someone thanks you is Valeu. Like Bem haja, it is equivalent to Cheers and suits mostly informal situations.

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Responding to Thank You in Portuguese

De nada

is the most common way to respond to thank you in Portuguese. It means You are welcome, or It was nothing. An alternative expression you can use is Não tem de quê

, which conveys the meaning of You have nothing to thank me for.

In Brazilian Portuguese, natives use Por nada in addition to De nada. They also often say Não há de quê instead of Não tem de quê.

Learn to say you are welcome in Portuguese:

• Read 8 Ways to Say You’re Welcome
• Watch 10 ways to say “You’re Welcome” in European Portuguese (impress the natives)

Muito Obrigado! – Say Thank you in Portuguese

Thank you is one of the most basic polite expressions across all languages. Regardless of where you are in the world and what languages you speak, you must know how to show gratitude towards others. In Portuguese, the most common term to do that is Obrigado/a.

The evolution of this word shows the continuous adaptation and reinvention within the Portuguese language. Additionally, there are many ways to say thank you in Portuguese, whether in the European or Brazilian variant. Besides, you must also learn how to respond when someone thanks you.

So, what is your favorite way to say thanks in Portuguese? Did you know about the origin of the Portuguese word Obrigado/a? What is the one word used to say thank you in your mother tongue? Comment your thoughts below!