Portuguese Phrase
Sê educado e respeitoso.
Meaning
A direct command telling someone to behave politely and with respect. It combines two positive qualities—politeness (educado) and respect (respeitoso)—into a single piece of advice.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to give friendly, informal advice or a gentle reminder, for example to a child, a peer, or a colleague in a relaxed setting. In Portugal it sounds natural; in Brazil you would more likely say ‘Seja educado e respeitoso’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sêeducadoerespeitoso
Sê (imperative)
‘Sê’ is the informal tu‑imperative of the verb *ser* (to be) used mainly in European Portuguese.
educado (adjective)
Adjective meaning ‘polite’; it agrees in gender and number with the subject (masc. singular here).
e (conjunction)
Simple coordinating conjunction meaning ‘and’.
respeitoso (adjective)
Adjective meaning ‘respectful’; also agrees in gender and number with the subject.
🗨In Conversation
Sê educado e respeitoso.
Be polite and respectful.
Claro, farei isso.
Sure, I’ll do that.
✕Common Mistakes
Se educado e respeitoso.
Missing the acute accent changes the meaning; ‘se’ is a reflexive pronoun, not the imperative.
Seja educado e respeitoso.
‘Seja’ is correct in Brazil but sounds overly formal in Portugal; use ‘sê’ for informal contexts.
Sê educada e respeitoso.
Adjective must agree with the gender of the person you’re addressing; use ‘educado’ for a male or mixed group, ‘educada’ for a female.
Sê educado e respeitosa.
Same agreement rule applies; both adjectives should match the same gender.
↔Alternatives
Seja educado e respeitoso.
Be polite and respectful.
Comporte‑te com educação e respeito.
Behave with politeness and respect.
Tenha educação e respeito.
Have politeness and respect.
Cultural Tip
Politeness is a cornerstone of Portuguese social interaction. Using ‘sê’ signals a familiar, informal relationship and is typical of Portugal; Brazilian speakers prefer the more formal ‘seja’. Adjust the adjective endings to match the gender of the person you’re addressing (e.g., ‘Sê educada e respeitosa’ for a woman).