In Brazil there are differences between a FORMAL and an INFORMAL conversation. Just as in other languages, the difference is highlighted by some expressions and verb cases. The FORMAL expressions will be normally used in conversations with employees, clients and so on. On the other hand, the INFORMAL speech should be used in dialogues with friends and relatives. Anyway, as brazilians are well known by their extroversion, you will probably be driven to INformality as soon as possible in normal situations with a sentence like: “Não precisa me chamar de Senhora/Senhor”. (“You don’t need to call me Madam/Sir”).
Let's see some dialogues that can inspire you to start a conversation.
AN INFORMAL BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE DIALOGUE
At the Airport or at a bar for example. Starting a conversation, possibly when you have identified a potential Brazilian Portuguese speaker around.
- OLÁ, A SENHORA/O SENHOR É BRASILEIRA/BRASILEIRO?
-Hello Madam/Sir, are you brazilian?
- SIM, SOU BRASILEIRA/BRASILEIRO. NÃO PRECISA ME CHAMAR DE SENHORA/SENHOR. E VOCÊ É DAQUI DOS ESTADOS UNIDOS?
-Yes, I am. You don’t need to call me Madam/Sir. And you, are you from here, from the U.S.?
- SIM, EU SOU DAQUI. ESTOU ESTUDANDO PORTUGUÊS DO BRASIL. É BOM PODER FALAR COM ALGUÉM DO BRASIL. VOCÊ ESTÁ EM VIAGEM?
-Yes, I'm from here. I am studying Brazilian Portuguese. It is good to talk to someone from Brazil. Are you travelling?
- NÃO, ESTOU MORANDO AQUI AGORA. VOCÊ JÁ FOI AO BRASIL?
-No, I'm living here now. Have you ever been to Brazil before?
- AINDA NÃO, VOU NO FINAL DO ANO PARA CONHECER.
-Not yet, I'm going there by the end of the year, to know it.
- QUE LEGAL, TENHO QUE IR AGORA. BOA VIAGEM!
-That’s cool! I have to go now. Have a nice trip!
- OBRIGADO E BOA SORTE AQUI NOS ESTADOS UNIDOS!
-Thank you and good luck here in the United States!
As you can see, we have used the expressions OLÁ, VOCÊ É and VOCÊ ESTÁ, which clearly characterize an INFORMAL dialogue in Brazilian Portuguese. It would be as saying "You" in English, without using "Madam or Sir".
A FORMAL BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE DIALOGUE
At a Hotel reception for example.
-BOM DIA SENHORA/SENHOR, TENHO UMA RESERVA EM MEU NOME.
Good morning Madam/Sir, I have a reservation under my name
- BOM DIA SENHORA/SENHOR, PODE ME DAR SEU DOCUMENTO POR FAVOR?
Good morning Madam/Sir, could you show me your document please?
- SIM, AQUI ESTÁ.
Yes, here it is.
- OBRIGADO. SERIA ATÉ QUANDO A SUA ESTADIA?
Thank you. How long will you stay?
- AINDA NÃO É CERTO, DE TODA FORMA FICAREI CERTAMENTE ATÉ SEGUNDA FEIRA.
It is not sure yet. Anyway I will certainly stay until monday.
- ESTÁ BEM SENHORA/SENHOR, PEDIMOS QUE NOS AVISE O MAIS CEDO POSSÍVEL, PARA MANTERMOS SUA RESERVA.
That is alright madam/sir, we ask you to let us know as soon as possible, so we can keep your reservation.
- A SENHORA / O SENHOR FICARÁ NO QUARTO 101. AQUI ESTÁ O CARTÃO PARA ABRIR A PORTA.
You will stay in room 101.
here is the card to open the door.
- OBRIGADO.
Thanks.
- POR NADA
You are welcome.
The usage of the third person was not sufficient here. As in English, in Brazilian Portuguese we use nouns such as MADAM/SIR to be clearly formal.
From the late Brazilian expression "Vossa mercê" emerged the modern expression “você” ("Vossa mercê" means "Your mercy", referring to the person one is formally talking to; “você” means "YOU"). But, since it is 3rd person ("Your mercy"), “você” will be followed by the verb in the third person.
Nowadays it is so common to say “você” that it became necessary to use a noun such as SENHORA/SENHOR (which means Madam/Sir), in order to keep the conversation FORMAL.
Let's see some dialogues that can inspire you to start a conversation.
AN INFORMAL BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE DIALOGUE
At the Airport or at a bar for example. Starting a conversation, possibly when you have identified a potential Brazilian Portuguese speaker around.
- OLÁ, A SENHORA/O SENHOR É BRASILEIRA/BRASILEIRO?
-Hello Madam/Sir, are you brazilian?
- SIM, SOU BRASILEIRA/BRASILEIRO. NÃO PRECISA ME CHAMAR DE SENHORA/SENHOR. E VOCÊ É DAQUI DOS ESTADOS UNIDOS?
-Yes, I am. You don’t need to call me Madam/Sir. And you, are you from here, from the U.S.?
- SIM, EU SOU DAQUI. ESTOU ESTUDANDO PORTUGUÊS DO BRASIL. É BOM PODER FALAR COM ALGUÉM DO BRASIL. VOCÊ ESTÁ EM VIAGEM?
-Yes, I'm from here. I am studying Brazilian Portuguese. It is good to talk to someone from Brazil. Are you travelling?
- NÃO, ESTOU MORANDO AQUI AGORA. VOCÊ JÁ FOI AO BRASIL?
-No, I'm living here now. Have you ever been to Brazil before?
- AINDA NÃO, VOU NO FINAL DO ANO PARA CONHECER.
-Not yet, I'm going there by the end of the year, to know it.
- QUE LEGAL, TENHO QUE IR AGORA. BOA VIAGEM!
-That’s cool! I have to go now. Have a nice trip!
- OBRIGADO E BOA SORTE AQUI NOS ESTADOS UNIDOS!
-Thank you and good luck here in the United States!
As you can see, we have used the expressions OLÁ, VOCÊ É and VOCÊ ESTÁ, which clearly characterize an INFORMAL dialogue in Brazilian Portuguese. It would be as saying "You" in English, without using "Madam or Sir".
A FORMAL BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE DIALOGUE
At a Hotel reception for example.
-BOM DIA SENHORA/SENHOR, TENHO UMA RESERVA EM MEU NOME.
Good morning Madam/Sir, I have a reservation under my name
- BOM DIA SENHORA/SENHOR, PODE ME DAR SEU DOCUMENTO POR FAVOR?
Good morning Madam/Sir, could you show me your document please?
- SIM, AQUI ESTÁ.
Yes, here it is.
- OBRIGADO. SERIA ATÉ QUANDO A SUA ESTADIA?
Thank you. How long will you stay?
- AINDA NÃO É CERTO, DE TODA FORMA FICAREI CERTAMENTE ATÉ SEGUNDA FEIRA.
It is not sure yet. Anyway I will certainly stay until monday.
- ESTÁ BEM SENHORA/SENHOR, PEDIMOS QUE NOS AVISE O MAIS CEDO POSSÍVEL, PARA MANTERMOS SUA RESERVA.
That is alright madam/sir, we ask you to let us know as soon as possible, so we can keep your reservation.
- A SENHORA / O SENHOR FICARÁ NO QUARTO 101. AQUI ESTÁ O CARTÃO PARA ABRIR A PORTA.
You will stay in room 101.
here is the card to open the door.
- OBRIGADO.
Thanks.
- POR NADA
You are welcome.
The usage of the third person was not sufficient here. As in English, in Brazilian Portuguese we use nouns such as MADAM/SIR to be clearly formal.
From the late Brazilian expression "Vossa mercê" emerged the modern expression “você” ("Vossa mercê" means "Your mercy", referring to the person one is formally talking to; “você” means "YOU"). But, since it is 3rd person ("Your mercy"), “você” will be followed by the verb in the third person.
Nowadays it is so common to say “você” that it became necessary to use a noun such as SENHORA/SENHOR (which means Madam/Sir), in order to keep the conversation FORMAL.