Portuguese Phrase
E o meu aperto de mão?
Meaning
Literally, 'And my handshake?' It is used when someone wants to confirm or ask about the handshake they are supposed to give or have already given, often in a playful or slightly confrontational tone.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re in a greeting situation and want to draw attention to your own handshake—e.g., after a group has already exchanged handshakes, or when you feel your handshake was missed or needs clarification.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Eomeuapertodemão?
E (conjunction)
Used to connect ideas, similar to 'and' in English.
o (definite article)
Masculine singular article that agrees with the noun that follows.
meu (possessive adjective)
Shows ownership; agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
aperto de mão (noun phrase)
Literally 'hand squeeze', the standard term for a handshake.
de (preposition)
Links two nouns, indicating a relationship similar to 'of' in English.
mão (noun)
Feminine noun meaning 'hand'; note the tilde on the 'ã' indicating nasalization.
🗨In Conversation
E o meu aperto de mão?
And my handshake?
Desculpa, eu também quero apertar a sua mão!
Sorry, I want to shake your hand too!
✕Common Mistakes
E o meu aperto mão?
Do not drop the preposition 'de'; 'aperto mão' is incorrect.
E o meu aperto de mao?
Remember the tilde: 'mão', not 'mao'.
E um meu aperto de mão?
The article must agree with the noun phrase; 'um' would change the meaning.
↔Alternatives
E o meu cumprimento?
And my greeting?
E o meu aperto?
And my shake?
E a minha saudação?
And my salute?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, a firm handshake is common in business and formal settings, but among friends you’ll often see a quick kiss on the cheek (or two, depending on the region). Make sure your handshake matches the context—too strong can be seen as aggressive, too weak as disinterested.