Portuguese words for kids · Greetings & manners
How to say “hello” in Portuguese
Hello is usually the very first word a child uses in a new language, and the one they get to use most: with family, at the door, on a video call.
Hello in Portuguese (Portugal)
olá
Sounds like ≈ oh-LAH
Good to know: Olá is the standard hello in Portugal. Among friends you'll also hear oi, which is much more common in Brazil.
Hear it in a song
Real lines from our Portuguese songs, with the English meaning shown in the app:
Olá! Tudo bem?
Hello! How are you?
from Olá, Tudo Bem? (Hi, How Are You?)
Olá, olá! Tudo bem?
Hello, hello! How are you?
from Olá, Amigo (Hi, Friend)
Olá!
Hello!
from Olá, Natureza (Hello, Nature)
3 songs that teach it
“Hello” is one of the key words in these songs. Every line is shown in Portuguese with its English meaning.
Olá, Tudo Bem?
Hi, How Are You? · Greetings · Free
- olá · hello
- tudo bem? · how are you?
- bem · good
- vamos brincar! · let's play!
Olá, Natureza
Hello, Nature · Nature · Premium
- sol · sun
- céu · sky
- árvore · tree
- flor · flower
Olá, Amigo
Hi, Friend · Greetings · Free
- olá · hello
- amigo · friend
- tudo bem? · how are you?
- nome · name
Practice ideas for parents
- 1Make olá the only way anyone says hello in your house for a week, including to the cat and to teddies.
- 2Wave at things on a walk (a bus, a dog, a tree) and say olá to each one. Silly targets get the most giggles and the most repeats.
- 3When a video call starts, let your child be the one who opens with olá.
Related Portuguese words
“Hello” in other languages
Sing it in Portuguese, free
The first unit, 6 greeting songs with lyrics and English translation, is free forever. No card needed. Premium unlocks all 134 songs.
About the pronunciation: the “sounds like” spellings are rough English approximations for parents (capital letters show the stressed syllable). Portuguesehas sounds English doesn't, so treat them as a starting point and let the songs be the model. Songs are original and produced with AI music tools. Ideas for using Portuguese songs with your family.