Portuguese Phrase
Boa noite, dorme bem.
Meaning
A friendly nighttime farewell that wishes the listener a good night and a restful sleep. It combines a standard greeting with an informal wish for a pleasant rest.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal settings—among friends, family, or close acquaintances—right before someone goes to bed or when you part ways after dark. It’s too casual for formal business contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Boanoite,dormebem.
Adjective agreement
"Boa" is the feminine form of "bom" and must agree with the feminine noun "noite".
Imperative mood (tu)
"dorme" is the affirmative informal imperative of the verb "dormir" for the second‑person singular (tu).
Adverb of manner
"bem" modifies the verb, meaning “well” or “well‑sleeping”.
Punctuation
A comma separates the greeting from the wish, mirroring natural speech pauses.
🗨In Conversation
Boa noite, dorme bem.
Good night, sleep well.
Obrigado, boa noite!
Thanks, good night!
✕Common Mistakes
Boa noite, dormir bem.
"Dormir bem" is the infinitive form and cannot be used as a command.
Ele vai dormir, boa noite, dorme bem.
Using "dorme bem" with a third‑person subject (ele/ela) is incorrect; you would need "durma bem".
Bom noite, dorme bem.
"Bom" is masculine; the noun "noite" is feminine, so it must be "boa noite".
↔Alternatives
Boa noite, durma bem.
Good night, sleep well.
Boa noite, tenha bons sonhos.
Good night, have sweet dreams.
Boa noite, descanse.
Good night, rest.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, "Boa noite" works both as a greeting after sunset and as a farewell before bedtime. "Dorme bem" is informal; for a more polite or formal tone you’d say "Durma bem" (imperative for "você"). Also, Brazilians often add "sonhos" (dreams) to make the wish more affectionate.