How do Brazilians use valeu?
Brazilians say valeu for a quick thanks, often with a little extra: Valeu! on its own, Tá bom, valeu! ("OK, thanks!"), or Valeu pela ajuda ("thanks for the help"). These are lines from the course:
| Portuguese | Meaning | In CiaoSpeak |
|---|---|---|
| valeu | thanks (casual) | Unit 2 |
| Valeu! Até mais. | Thanks! See you. | Speak: Ride-app car |
| É, você tem razão. Valeu! | Yeah, you're right. Thanks! | Speak: New job |
| Ai, valeu! Eu vivo perdendo essa chave. | Oh, thanks! I'm always losing this key. | Speak: New job |
| Quero, sim! Valeu! | Yes, please! Thanks! (your answer at a beach kiosk) | Speak: Beach kiosk |
| Valeu pela ajuda! | Thanks for the help! | Not in the course |
Is valeu informal?
Yes, valeu is informal, but it isn't rude: it's fine with friends, coworkers, drivers and people your age. With older people, in a formal setting or in writing, obrigado or obrigada is the safe thanks; see how to say thank you in Portuguese.
| Who you're talking to | Can you say it? |
|---|---|
| Friends, people your age | Yes |
| Coworkers, drivers, the person at the counter | Yes |
| Older people, your boss, a formal email | Better obrigado / obrigada |
| Portuguese | Meaning | In CiaoSpeak |
|---|---|---|
| obrigado | thank you, said by a man | Unit 1 |
| obrigada | thank you, said by a woman | Unit 1 |
Can valeu mean bye?
Yes: among friends, Valeu! or Valeu, falou! closes a chat or a call, like "thanks, see you!". It can also mean "OK, cool" after someone tells you something.
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Valeu, falou! | Thanks, see you! (very casual) |
| Valeu, até amanhã! | Thanks, see you tomorrow! |
How can you practice Brazilian Portuguese out loud?
Practice it in short, real exchanges, out loud. CiaoSpeak's Brazilian Portuguese course teaches everyday words like valeu with a recording in a Brazilian accent, and in the Speak tab people across Brazil (a São Paulo baker, a Rio ride-app driver, your language-exchange partner Ana) ask you one question at a time. You answer by voice or typing, and the app tells you whether a Brazilian would understand you. Lessons are free; in the Speak tab, today's questions (up to five a day) are free too, and CiaoSpeak+ adds practice in any scene whenever you like. More words like this one: the Brazilian slang list.