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Portuguese Phrase

Tudo bem?

/ˈtu.du ˈbẽj̃/
Meaning"Everything well? / How are you?"
💡

Meaning

This is the most common way to ask how someone is doing in Portuguese. It literally translates to 'Everything well?' and is used as both a question and a standard response. It is versatile, friendly, and appropriate for almost any social situation.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase immediately after a greeting like 'Oi' or 'Olá' to start a conversation. It is suitable for friends, family, and even in professional environments to maintain a polite atmosphere.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Tudobem

1

Tudo

'Tudo' means 'everything' and is an indefinite pronoun that remains invariable regardless of the context.

2

Bem

'Bem' is an adverb meaning 'well'. In this phrase, it functions as the predicate describing the state of 'tudo'.

🗨In Conversation

A

Oi, tudo bem?

Hi, how are you?

Tudo bem, e você?

Everything is well, and you?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Como tudo bem?

    Avoid adding 'Como' (How) before 'Tudo bem' as the phrase is already a complete question on its own.

  • Tudo bem.

    While the words are the same, ensure you use a rising intonation if you are asking a question rather than stating you are fine.

↔Alternatives

  • Tudo bom?

    Everything good?

  • Como vai?

    How is it going?

  • Beleza?

    Everything cool? (Slang)

pt

Cultural Tip

In many Portuguese-speaking cultures, especially in Brazil, 'Tudo bem?' is often used as a polite formality. Much like the English 'How are you?', the expected answer is usually a positive 'Tudo bem' even if you are having a difficult day, unless you are speaking with a very close friend.