Phrase · 👋 Greetings & goodbyes
Bom dia, dona Lúcia! Como vai a senhora?
Good morning, Mrs Lúcia! How are you?
A1greeting someone formallyformalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Bomadjectivegoodmasc. · sing.dianoundaymasc. · sing.,dona1nounMrs. (respectful)fem. · sing.LúcianounLúcia!Como2adverbhowvai3verbgoes, are (you) doingir · present · 3rd sing.a4determinertheo · fem. · sing. · definitesenhora4nounyou (to a woman, polite)senhor · fem. · sing.?
- Bom → dia: agrees (m.)
- dona → Lúcia: title + first name
- vai → senhora: 3sg with a senhora
- a → senhora: agrees (f.)
Word for word: “Good day, lady Lúcia! How goes the lady?”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1dona + first name is a warm, respectful way to address an older woman; for a man, seu.
- 2Como vai? = how are you? A little more polite than tudo bem? Questions & question words (incl. cadê) →
- 3vai comes from ir (irregular): literally "how goes…?" Core irregular verbs in the present →
- 4a senhora = polite "you" to a woman (o senhor to a man). It takes the 3sg verb. Subject pronouns & the spoken person system →
Variations
- Bom dia, seu Antônio! Como vai o senhor?
- Bom dia, dona Lúcia! Tudo bem com a senhora?