Are Brazilians Always Informal? Not Really — Here’s What You Need to Know
When I first saw that video of President Emmanuel Macron scolding a teenager, I was shocked.
But not because of what he said. I was shocked because, as a Brazilian, I knew that wouldn’t fly here.
Let me explain.
Macron was doing what presidents usually do — waving, smiling, chatting with people. That’s when a young man addressed him with something like, “What’s up, Manu?” (in French, of course).
And Macron didn’t like that.
He gave the kid a little lecture: “You call me Mr. President. I’m not your buddy. Show some respect.”
Many people agreed with Macron. After all, he’s the president of France.
But for Brazilians? That kind of reaction felt… odd.
In Brazil, it would’ve gone very differently
A Brazilian politician probably would’ve grabbed the kid’s hand, smiled big, and said something like,
“Hey, we’re all friends here! Vote for me in the next election!”
That’s the kind of thing you’d expect.
Brazilians are known for being informal, warm, and approachable — even with authority figures.
But let me tell you something important.
Brazilians aren’t always informal
I know what you’re thinking: “So I should just be casual all the time in Portuguese?”
Not exactly.
There are moments when being formal is the smart (and polite) thing to do — like when you’re at the bank, calling customer service, or meeting someone’s grandmother for the first time.
And in this quick lesson, I’ll show you exactly how to sound formal or informal in Brazilian Portuguese — and when to switch between the two.
Why Brazilians sound informal most of the time
The way Brazilians speak today has a lot to do with our history.
For centuries, Portuguese wasn’t the main language in Brazil. Indigenous languages were dominant. Enslaved people brought other languages too. And colonizers? They weren’t exactly eager to teach Portuguese to everyone.
So the language evolved in unpredictable ways.
Take this: what’s called a “papa-formigas” in Portugal (literally, an “ant-eater”) is just “tamanduá” here in Brazil.
Fun, right?
Even the way we say “you” has changed.
From “Your Mercy” to “You” — seriously
Centuries ago, the most respectful way to address someone in Portuguese was “Vossa Mercê,” which means “Your Mercy.”
Over time, that phrase got shortened and simplified.
First “Vosmecê,” then “vancê/vossuncê,” and finally: “você.”
(of course, that’s an oversimplification for teaching purposes – you can see more in this article about using tu or você in Portuguese)
But although it started off as a formal version (which it still is in Portugal), in Brazil, você became the most common and neutral way to talk to someone.
So when Brazilians want to sound formal today, they go one level up — they use “o senhor” or “a senhora.”
And believe me, you’ll hear those a lot in customer service, job interviews, and in any situation where you’re expected to show respect.
Want to sound polite in Portuguese? Length matters
Here’s something most learners don’t know:
Formality in Portuguese isn’t only about the words you use — it’s also about how you say them and how many.
Let’s say someone at the bank says:
- “Assine aqui.” Sign here. (That’s very direct — might come off rude.)
- “Você pode assinar aqui, por favor?” Can you sign here, please? (Softer, but still neutral.)
- “O senhor poderia assinar aqui, por favor?” Could you sign here, please? (Now we’re getting polite.)
- “Será que o senhor podia assinar aqui, por favor?” Would you mind signing here, please?
- “Será que o senhor podia assinar aqui, por gentileza?” Would it be possible for you to sign here, kindly? (Super formal — but yes, it happens.)
The more polite you want to be, the more you pad your sentences with conditional verbs and softeners like “por gentileza” (kindly).
It takes longer to say, but it goes a long way.
So… how do I talk to people if I don’t know their name? Do I use você? Do I use o senhor or a senhora?
If you’re in Brazil and need to call someone politely, here’s what you can do:
- If the person is older or in a position of authority, go with “senhor” or “senhora”.
- If the person is young, “moço” (young man) or “moça” (young woman) is a good choice. But only if you’re referring to that person or if you’d like to address that person to draw their attention.
So you’d say:
- “Moça, você podia me dizer onde fica a estação de trem?” “Miss, could you tell me where the train station is?”
- “Senhor, o senhor sabe onde é que eu posso colocar crédito no meu celular?” “Sir, do you know where I can top up my cell phone credit?”
It’s all about reading the room and matching the tone of the conversation.
Quick Recap — and One Friendly Tip
If you’re not sure how formal to be in Portuguese:
- Start formal.
- Watch how the other person talks to you.
- Then adjust.
It’s easier to sound “too formal” and loosen up than to sound “too casual” and be seen as disrespectful.
And yes — Brazilians are chill. But they still appreciate good manners.
If you want a simple breakdown of common expressions like senhor, dona, moço, and more — plus example dialogues and practice questions — check the guide I’ve put together for you to go deeper.
And if you’ve ever had an awkward moment with Brazilian Portuguese because you didn’t know what to say… tell me in the comments! I’d love to hear about it.
See you next time — tchau!
