Discover The Portuguese Yes: 10 Alternatives to Sim
Sim, Não, Talvez, Por favor, and Obrigado or Obrigada. These are the first words most students acquire when they start learning Portuguese. Yet, sooner or later, they need to search for different expressions. After all, how long can you keep a conversation if you answer only with yes, no, or maybe?
In this blog post, you will explore ten different ways to answer Sim without using it:
- Claro
- Com certeza
- Está bem
- Pois é
- Certo
- OK
- Certamente
- Exatamente
- Evidentemente
- Podes crer
These words and expressions will help you adapt to whomever you speak to, regardless of the context and topic of conversation. Extend your European Portuguese vocabulary and talk like native speakers!
Expressing The Affirmative in Portuguese-speaking Countries
Sim is the most common word for agreement among native speakers of the Portuguese language. Originally derived from the Latin word Sic, it is similar to the Spanish Sí and the Italian Sì, with the addition of the nasal sound at the end. Discover how to pronounce the nasal tone in our YouTube video: Tricky Sounds of European Portuguese.
It incorporates numerous phrases and is especially useful to answer simple questions. For example, when asked: Quer um café? (Do you want a coffee?), you only need a one-word answer: Sim (Yes).
Extend your reply and emphasize the affirmation by adding the verb conjugated in the first person singular. So, for the previous example, you could answer: Sim, quero. (Yes, I do.) Or if someone asked you: Gosta de chocolate? (Do you like chocolate?), you can say: Sim, gosto. (Yes, I do.)
But just as there are many ways to say Não (No), you can find various alternatives to Sim (Yes). Let’s look into some of them and in which contexts you can use them.
10 Alternative Ways to Say Yes in The Portuguese Language
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Here are ten examples of alternate answers you can use to express agreement without saying Sim:
Claro
Claro is a standard answer for native speakers of European and Brazilian Portuguese. Its literal translation is Clear, and you might recognize it in idioms like Claro como água (Clear as water). Still, when used to agree, it is equivalent to the English: Sure.
Com certeza
Com certeza applies to formal situations. It indicates you are happy to oblige to a specific request or share the same opinion about a particular topic.
You will hear Com certeza often in situations involving customer service. It is similar to the English words Certainly, Surely, or Of course.
Está bem
This short sentence means Sim and is a universal form of agreement for Portuguese natives. You will often hear it abbreviated under the form: Tá bem. Adapting the intonation will indicate whether you are conceding or agreeing.
This expression can also introduce a contrary idea when followed with a Mas (But). Brazilian Portuguese speakers often use a variation of this expression by saying: Está bom or Tá bom.
Pois é
Pois é means That’s right, and confirms a statement made by someone else. Sometimes, you will hear natives prolonging the verb é. In these cases, the speaker recognizes they missed something or acknowledges new information.
Certo
Certo translates to Right. You will hear it on repeat in a variety of contexts. You can use it to show you are following a conversation or agree with what someone said.
It is also an appropriate answer for work-related contexts. For example, you can use it to respond when you receive specific instructions.
OK!
You most likely know OK as the abbreviation of the English word Okay. It is one of the most common loanwords across all languages, including European Portuguese. You can use it to agree with something, accept a task, or indicate you are listening to what someone else is saying.
Certamente
Certamente translates to Certainly, and it is a formal form of agreement. However, it can also apply at the beginning of a phrase, such as Certamente aconteceu alguma coisa. (Certainly, something has happened.) In this case, it adopts a meaning of almost certainty or high probability.
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Exatamente
You can say Exatamente (Exactly) to agree with any given sentence regardless of the context. Whether the other person is explaining a concept, sharing an opinion, or checking a piece of information with you, you can say Exatamente.
Evidentemente
Evidentemente is a one-word phrase for answering in more formal contexts. Its English equivalent is the word Evidently. Likewise, it indicates something is obvious or that arriving at a specific conclusion is natural, and you use it to agree with someone else.
Despite having differing meanings, Certamente, Exatamente, and Evidentemente are often applied as synonyms. Their pronunciation might be a bit challenging because they are more extensive words and include the nasal sound.
Podes crer
Podes crer is a sentence you will hear a lot among friends. Its literal translation is You can believe so. Still, depending on the topic and intonation, it can mean You bet, or That’s right.
This phrase can also say Trust me. For example, you can say: Podes crer que vai correr bem (Trust me, it will go well). Use it in formal situations by adapting the verb to the third person singular and say: Pode crer.
Learn more about the different levels of formality in European Portuguese! Watch our YouTube video: Ultimate Guide on How to Address a Portuguese (levels of formality).
Continue Exploring European Portuguese
There are numerous alternative words and expressions to show agreement in European Portuguese. With them, you can vary your vocabulary and interact more naturally with native speakers. Besides, you notice your conversations become longer and more productive.
Which of these ways to say the Portuguese Yes did you like the most? Do you know any others? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
Additionally, some of the words we saw, like those ending in -mente, you can transform from English into Portuguese. To find the rules that help you do so and explore other examples, watch 500 Common Words in 3 minutes! (European Portuguese Vocabulary).
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