The Focus of This Lesson Is Portuguese Greetings
Oi, tudo bem?
"Hi, everything's well?"

"Hi!" (Oi) is the easiest and most common Portuguese greeting. People use it to say "hi," "hello," or just to get someone's attention. We can use this phrase with anyone at any time of the day or night. It can also serve as a response. If someone calls your name to get your attention, you can respond with Oi. That way they know they have your attention.

Tudo bem literally means "Everything well," and you can also use it with anybody at anytime of the day or night. It's probably the most versatile phrase in Portuguese. It can mean "How are you," "I'm fine," "Everything is okay," or "No, thank you," and you can use it if you are meeting the person for the first time in your life or the first time that day. Also, if you're asking someone if they are okay, then you raise your voice intonation toward the end of the sentence. That makes it a question.

Examples:

Como se chama? ("What's your name?")
Como se chama? is a slightly more formal way of asking someone's name. It translates roughly to "What do you call yourself?" You could say Qual seu nome? which literally means "What's your name?" but Brazilians often prefer Como se chama? because it's less direct, and therefore, more polite.

To Shake or to Kiss in Brazil?

Brazilians normally greet each other by shaking hands. There is an old custom of kissing each other on the cheek, but today only women do it, and usually even then only with friends. To be safe, just shake hands.