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Portuguese Phrase

Foi bem legal, valeu!

/ˈfoj ˈbẽj leˈɡaw ˈvɐˈlew/
Meaning"It was really cool, thanks!"
💡

Meaning

‘Foi bem legal, valeu!’ translates to ‘It was really cool, thanks!’ The speaker is expressing that something was enjoyable and is thanking the other person in a relaxed, friendly tone.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase right after a shared activity, a joke, a movie, a party, or any situation that you found enjoyable and want to thank the other person for making it happen. It’s perfect among friends, classmates, or coworkers in informal settings.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Foibemlegal,valeu!

1

Foi (passado de ser/estar)

‘Foi’ is the third‑person singular preterite of ‘ser/estar’, used here to describe a past event or experience.

2

bem (advérbio de intensidade)

‘bem’ works as an adverb meaning ‘very’ or ‘quite’, intensifying the adjective that follows.

3

legal (adjetivo informal)

In Brazilian Portuguese ‘legal’ means ‘cool, nice, fun’; it’s colloquial and widely used among friends.

4

valeu (pretérito de valer)

‘Valeu’ is the informal past form of ‘valer’ used as a short way to say ‘thanks’ or ‘thanks a lot’.

🗨In Conversation

A

Foi bem legal, valeu!

It was really cool, thanks!

Que bom que curtiu! Vamos repetir?

Glad you liked it! Shall we do it again?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Foi bem legal, valei!

    ‘Valei’ is not used as a thank‑you; the correct informal form is ‘valeu’. ‘Valei’ would be the first‑person singular past, which doesn’t make sense here.

  • Foi bem legal, valeu!

    While ‘bem legal’ is acceptable, many learners over‑use ‘bem’ where ‘muito’ sounds more natural. Both are correct, but ‘muito legal’ is more common.

↔Alternatives

  • Foi muito legal, obrigado!

    It was very cool, thank you!

  • Curti demais, valeu!

    I really enjoyed it, thanks!

  • Adorei, valeu!

    I loved it, thanks!

pt

Cultural Tip

‘Valeu’ is strictly informal. It’s great with friends, peers, or in casual online chats, but you should avoid it in formal emails, business meetings, or when speaking to strangers. In those contexts, use ‘obrigado/a’ or ‘muito obrigado/a’. Also, the word ‘legal’ can sound a bit dated in some regions; younger speakers may prefer ‘da hora’ or ‘massa’.