How to ask how someone is in Brazilian Portuguese

Introduction

When you meet someone in English, you probably say "How are you?" without thinking about it. You might not even wait for a real answer. It's just what people say. The same thing happens in Brazilian Portuguese, but with different words. Learning how to ask someone how they are is one of the first things you need to know because you'll use it every single day.

The good news is that Brazilians use the same few phrases over and over. Once you learn them, you'll recognize them immediately when someone says them to you. Even better, the responses follow a pattern. You don't need to understand every word someone says back to you. You just need to recognize the pattern.

This article will teach you the main ways to ask how someone is, what to expect when they answer, and what to say back. You'll learn one phrase that works in almost every situation, then a few variations for specific contexts.

The one phrase that works everywhere

The most common way to ask how someone is in Brazilian Portuguese is:

Tudo bem?

This literally means "Everything well?" but functions exactly like "How are you?" in English. You can use tudo bem with family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and strangers. It works in the morning, afternoon, and evening. It works in casual situations and relatively formal ones.

To pronounce it, say "TOO-doo bayn" with the emphasis on the first part of each word. The "bem" rhymes with "pain" but without the "p."

Tudo bem is your default. When you're not sure what to say, say this.

What people will say back to you

Here's the important part: when you ask tudo bem, people will usually respond with one of these phrases:

Tudo bem (Everything's well)
Tudo (Everything's good)
Bem (Well)
Tudo bom (Everything's good)

Notice something? They all sound similar to what you just said. Most of the time, people are simply confirming that yes, everything is fine. They might say it as a statement instead of a question, but the words are almost identical.

Sometimes people will add a word before their response:

Sim, tudo bem (Yes, everything's well)
É, tudo bem (Yeah, everything's well)

The word sim means "yes" and é means something like "yeah." Both are just friendly ways of agreeing that everything is fine.

You don't need to understand every variation right now. Just listen for the words tudo, bem, or bom. If you hear any of those words, the person is saying they're doing fine.

How to complete the exchange

After someone answers your question, you need to respond. This is where English speakers often freeze up, but it's actually simple. You have two options.

Option one: Acknowledge their answer

Just say:

Que bom

This means "That's good" and it's pronounced "keh bohn." The "que" sounds like "keh" (rhymes with "meh") and "bom" rhymes with "home" but shorter.

This works perfectly when someone tells you they're doing well. It shows you heard them and you're glad.

Option two: Turn the question back to them

In English, you might say "I'm good, how are you?" Brazilians do the same thing. After they answer, they'll often ask you the same question back. You can say:

E você?

This means "And you?" and it's pronounced "ee voh-SEH." The "e" sounds like "ee" in "see" and "você" sounds like "voh-SEH" with the emphasis on the last part.

When someone asks e você, they're checking in on you. You can respond with any of the phrases you learned earlier: tudo bem, tudo, or bem.

Here's what a complete exchange looks like:

You: Tudo bem? Them: Tudo bem. E você? You: Tudo

That's it. Three short phrases and you've had a complete interaction in Portuguese.

Variations for different situations

While tudo bem works almost everywhere, there are a few other phrases you might hear or want to use in specific situations.

When you want to sound slightly more formal

If you're meeting someone for the first time or talking to someone older, you can say:

Como vai?

This means "How goes it?" and it's pronounced "KOH-moo vai." The "vai" rhymes with "pie."

People will typically respond with:

Bem (Well)
Tudo bem (Everything's well)
Vou bem (I'm going well)

The phrase vou bem is a direct response to como vai. The word vou means "I go" or "I'm going." Don't worry about understanding why it's structured this way. Just recognize that when you hear vou bem, it means they're doing fine.

When you're in a professional setting

In medical offices, business meetings, or other professional contexts, some people use:

Como está?

This is pronounced "KOH-moo esh-TAH" and means "How are you?" in a more formal way. People will respond similarly to como vai:

Bem (Well)
Estou bem (I am well)

The word estou means "I am." When you hear estou bem, they're saying "I am well."

You'll hear como vai and como está more often than you'll need to say them yourself. As a beginner, you can stick with tudo bem and people will understand you perfectly. But knowing these phrases helps you recognize them when others use them.

When someone you know well greets you first

Sometimes a friend or family member will skip straight to asking about you. They might say:

E aí?

This is pronounced "ee AH-ee" and it's very casual. It's like saying "What's up?" in English. You can respond the same way you would to tudo bem: just say tudo bem, tudo, or bem.

Putting it all together

When you're learning these phrases, it helps to think of them as one complete unit rather than separate pieces. You're not just learning to ask a question. You're learning a short back-and-forth exchange that happens the same way almost every time.

The basic pattern is:

You greet and ask: Tudo bem?
They respond: Tudo bem
They ask you: E você?
You respond: Tudo bem

Sometimes people combine steps. They might say Tudo bem, e você? all at once, answering your question and asking about you in the same breath. When this happens, just answer with tudo bem or bem.

Common mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake beginners make is overthinking these exchanges. You don't need to come up with a detailed answer about your day. Even when Brazilians are not having a great day, they'll usually say tudo bem in these quick exchanges. It's a greeting ritual, not an invitation to share your life story.

Another common mistake is forgetting to ask back. In Brazilian culture, when someone asks how you are, they expect you to ask about them too. If someone says tudo bem, e você?, make sure you answer. Don't leave them hanging.

Finally, don't worry about perfect pronunciation at first. Brazilians are used to hearing Portuguese spoken with different accents and they're generally patient with learners. If you say tudo bem and they understand you, that's success.

Practice strategies

The best way to get comfortable with these phrases is to use them out loud, even when you're alone. Say tudo bem while you're driving, cooking, or getting ready in the morning. Practice the whole exchange by playing both roles:

You: Tudo bem? You: Tudo bem, e você? You: Tudo bem

This might feel awkward, but it builds the muscle memory you need for real conversations. When you actually use these phrases with someone, your mouth will already know what to do.

If you know someone who speaks Portuguese, ask them if you can practice this exchange with them a few times. Tell them you're learning and you want to get used to hearing the responses. Most people are happy to help.

You can also listen for these phrases in Brazilian Portuguese videos, shows, or music. Even if you don't understand everything else, you'll start recognizing tudo bem and the other phrases. This helps your ear get used to how they sound in natural conversation.

What comes next

Once you're comfortable with tudo bem, you've unlocked the beginning of almost every Portuguese conversation you'll have. This single phrase opens doors. It shows people you're trying to connect with them in their language.

After you've mastered this greeting exchange, you'll want to learn how to introduce yourself, say where you're from, and ask basic questions. But those all come later. For now, focus on tudo bem until it feels natural.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is communication. When you can ask tudo bem and understand when someone responds with tudo bem, you've taken your first real step into Portuguese conversation.