Informal register (registo informal, coloquial) is the PT-PT of everyday life: chatting with friends, talking with family, texting on WhatsApp, ordering at a café where the staff know you, banter at work among peers. It is the register that makes a conversation feel warm rather than transactional. Learners often focus first on the formal forms — polite, safe, approvable — but mastering informal register is what lets you actually live in Portuguese.
This page is about what PT-PT speakers actually say among themselves. It covers tu, contractions, discourse markers, slang, greetings, text-message abbreviations, and the signature PT-PT colloquialisms (fixe, bué, pá, epá, fogo) that mark the speaker as inside rather than outside the language.
When to use informal register
| Context | Register |
|---|---|
| Friends, close family | Full informal |
| Siblings, cousins around your age | Full informal |
| Partner or spouse | Full informal |
| Peers at work you know well | Informal, with some neutral touches |
| Service interactions at places you frequent (local café, neighbourhood shop) | Neutral-informal, depending on rapport |
| Online chat with friends, WhatsApp, Instagram DMs | Full informal, often with abbreviations |
| Children (yours or others') | Informal, tu |
The line between informal and neutral register in PT-PT is porous — you do not drop tu and switch to você mid-sentence, but you might soften your slang when an outsider joins the conversation.
Address: tu is king in PT-PT informal
The defining marker of informal PT-PT is the pronoun tu and its associated 2nd-person verb forms. This differs sharply from Brazilian Portuguese, where você is the default even in casual speech. In PT-PT informal, você sounds cold and distant; tu is warm and peer-level.
The 2nd-person singular forms are the ones you will use constantly:
| Verb | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ser | és | Tu és incrível. |
| estar | estás | Como estás? |
| ter | tens | Tens tempo para um café? |
| ir | vais | Vais à festa? |
| vir | vens | Vens connosco? |
| fazer | fazes | O que fazes hoje à noite? |
| querer | queres | Queres uma cerveja? |
| poder | podes | Podes passar-me o sal? |
Vais à festa do João no sábado?
Are you going to João's party on Saturday?
Tens aí um carregador para me emprestares?
Do you have a charger on you to lend me?
Queres que te ajude com as malas?
Do you want me to help you with the bags?
Note the pattern: the subject tu is usually dropped, because the verb ending already encodes 2nd person. Tu vais à festa? is grammatical but slightly emphatic; Vais à festa? is the natural form.
Imperative with tu
The affirmative imperative of tu is formed by dropping the final -s of the present 2nd-person form: dizes → diz!, fazes → faz!, vais → vai!, comes → come!, bebes → bebe!.
Diz-me a verdade, por favor.
Tell me the truth, please.
Faz o que achares melhor.
Do whatever you think is best.
Vai lá, eu espero-te aqui.
Go ahead, I'll wait for you here.
Come a sopa toda, que arrefece.
Eat all the soup, or it'll get cold.
Negative imperative — subjunctive
The negative imperative in PT-PT switches to the present subjunctive for tu: Não digas, Não faças, Não vás, Não comas.
Não faças barulho, o bebé está a dormir.
Don't make noise, the baby's sleeping.
Não te preocupes, vai correr tudo bem.
Don't worry, it'll all work out.
Subject-dropping
Informal PT-PT drops the subject pronoun freely, because the verb morphology makes it redundant.
(no pronoun) Vou ao supermercado — queres que te traga alguma coisa?
I'm going to the supermarket — do you want me to bring you anything?
(no pronoun) Estás cansado? Queres sentar-te?
Are you tired? Do you want to sit down?
(no pronoun) Não sabemos ao certo, mas pensamos que chega amanhã.
We don't know for sure, but we think he arrives tomorrow.
Mentioning the pronoun at all in informal speech typically signals emphasis or contrast: EU é que vou ("It's me who's going"), tu é que decides ("it's you who decides").
Spoken contractions
In fluent informal speech, PT-PT compresses rapidly. Some of these contractions are heard constantly and, in casual writing (texts, dialogue in novels), even written out.
| Full form | Contracted (speech / casual writing) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| está | tá | is / is at |
| está bem | tá bem, tabem | OK |
| está a ver? | tás a ver? | you see?, you know? |
| para | pa, prá, pró | to, for |
| para a casa | prá casa | (to) home |
| para o café | pró café | to the café |
| estou | tou (rare, more BR) | I am |
Tá bem, falamos amanhã.
OK, we'll talk tomorrow.
Tás a ver o que estou a dizer?
You see what I'm saying?
Vou já prá casa, estou cansadíssimo.
I'm heading home now, I'm exhausted.
Bora pró café? Apetece-me um galão.
Let's go to the café? I feel like a galão.
Discourse markers
PT-PT informal speech is saturated with discourse markers — little words that lubricate conversation, fill pauses, soften assertions, and signal the speaker's stance. Without them, a sentence can sound cold or robotic.
| Marker | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pois | agreement, confirmation | Pois é, tens razão. |
| olha | getting attention; start of a story | Olha, eu ontem vi o Pedro no supermercado. |
| epá / eh pá | "man, gee" — surprise, emphasis | Epá, isto é incrível! |
| pá | vocative filler — "man, dude" | Calma, pá. |
| então | "so, well" | Então, o que é que fazemos agora? |
| enfim | "anyway, in short" | Enfim, não deu para ir. |
| bem | "well" | Bem, já está a ficar tarde. |
| tipo | "like" (young speakers, filler) | É tipo impossível, percebes? |
| percebes? | "get it?" — seeking acknowledgment | Não era o que eu queria, percebes? |
| sabes? | "you know?" | Gosto desta banda, sabes? |
| não é? | "right?" — tag question | É melhor irmos já, não é? |
Olha, eu não sei, pá, mas acho que vai chover.
Look, I don't know, man, but I think it's going to rain.
Epá, que chatice! Perdi o comboio por dois minutos.
Gee, what a drag! I missed the train by two minutes.
Pois é, eu também já tinha reparado nisso.
Yeah, I'd noticed that too.
Então, amanhã ao almoço? Combinado?
So, tomorrow at lunch? Deal?
Signature PT-PT slang
These are the words that mark someone as speaking PT-PT colloquially — they are what a native speaker would reach for without thinking, and what makes textbook-trained learners sound stiff.
| Word | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| fixe | cool, nice, good | Informal, iconic PT-PT |
| giro / gira | cute, pretty, nice | Informal |
| porreiro | cool, great (older speakers) | Informal, slightly dated |
| bué | very, lots, a lot | Informal, younger speakers; Angolan origin |
| brutal | awesome, extreme (positive) | Informal, young PT-PT |
| catita | nice, cute (older speakers) | Informal, dated |
| gajo / gaja | guy / girl (can be slightly crude) | Colloquial; gendered |
| miúdo / miúda | kid; also young man/woman | Informal |
| puto / puta (miúdo) | boy / girl — puta risky: see note | Informal; puta = "bitch" in most other contexts |
| tipo | like (filler) | Young speakers; filler |
| mesmo | "really, actually" (intensifier) | All ages; increasingly heavy among young |
Foi mesmo fixe a festa de ontem — bué gente, boa música.
Yesterday's party was really cool — lots of people, good music.
Que giro o teu casaco novo! Onde o compraste?
What a cute new jacket! Where did you buy it?
O gajo é porreiro, não te preocupes — vais dar-te bem com ele.
The guy's cool, don't worry — you'll get along with him.
Conheci uma miúda brutal na praia no verão passado.
I met an amazing girl at the beach last summer.
Diminutives as an informal marker
Informal PT-PT reaches for the diminutive -inho / -inha constantly. It expresses affection, smallness, or politeness softening.
Queres uma cervejinha? Está calor.
Want a little beer? It's hot out.
Vamos beber um cafezinho antes de ir?
Shall we have a little coffee before going?
Só mais um bocadinho, e já está pronto.
Just a little bit more, and it's ready.
Anda cá, querida, dá-me um beijinho.
Come here, darling, give me a little kiss.
Diminutives on adjectives soften them or add affection: engraçadinho (cute and funny), bonitinho (sweet-looking), fofinho (soft, cuddly).
O bebé está fofinho com aquele gorro.
The baby looks so cute in that little hat.
Foi uma festa pequenina, só família.
It was a small party, just family.
Exclamations and mild expletives
Real PT-PT speech is full of exclamations. Most of them are mild — usable in mixed company — but some cross into vulgar territory, clearly labelled below.
Mild (usable almost anywhere)
Fogo, que frio que está hoje!
Damn, it's cold today! (*fogo* =
Caraças, não acredito!
Good grief, I can't believe it! (*caraças* — moderate)
Bolas! Esqueci-me das chaves em casa.
Shoot! I forgot my keys at home. (*bolas* — very mild)
Raio da impressora, nunca funciona quando preciso.
Darn printer, never works when I need it.
Que chatice, cancelaram o comboio.
What a pain, they cancelled the train.
Moderate (close friends, not in front of elders or at work)
Credo, que cara que ele tinha!
Good God, the face he had! (*credo* — moderate, religious overtone)
Não me digas! A sério?
No way! Really?
Mas que raio é isto?
What the heck is this?
Vulgar — recognize, but do not use lightly (vulgar)
These words are genuinely offensive in most contexts. They belong among intimate friends or in anger; using them with strangers, elders, or at work is a serious social error.
Caralho, que susto!
F***, what a scare! (vulgar — literal meaning genital; functions as 'f***', 'damn it')
Foda-se, outra vez?!
F***, again?! (vulgar — strong)
Que merda, perdi o voo.
Sh**, I missed the flight. (vulgar — comparable to English 'shit')
Mas que cabrão!
What a bastard! (vulgar — can be serious insult or affectionate banter among very close male friends)
Greetings and farewells
Greetings
Olá! Tudo bem?
Hi! Everything good?
Olá, como é que estás?
Hi, how are you?
Boas! Então, tudo fixe?
Hey! So, everything cool?
Como vai isso, pá?
How's it going, man?
E aí? Tudo na boa?
Hey? All good? (more BR influence, used by younger PT-PT speakers)
Farewells
Tchau! Falamos depois.
Bye! We'll talk later.
Até logo, um beijinho.
See you later, a little kiss.
Beijinhos e até amanhã!
Kisses and see you tomorrow!
Até já!
See you soon! (literally within minutes)
Vemo-nos por aí.
See you around.
Abraço, pá.
Hug, man. (common male-to-male farewell)
Everyday informal expressions
Tá-se bem.
It's all good. (PT-PT response to 'Como estás?')
Bora lá, estamos atrasados!
Let's go, we're running late!
Boa!
Good! / Nice! (agreement, approval)
Não me chateies, estou a trabalhar.
Don't annoy me, I'm working.
Tás a gozar comigo?
Are you kidding me?
Deixa lá, não faz mal.
Forget it, no worries.
Já está! Pronto!
Done! There!
Que seca!
What a bore!
Texting and WhatsApp
Written informal PT-PT has its own abbreviations, although overall PT-PT speakers write out more in texts than their Brazilian counterparts do. The most common abbreviations:
| Abbreviation | Full form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tb | também | also, too |
| tbm | também | also (alternative) |
| q | que | that, what |
| pq | porque | because / why |
| bjs | beijinhos | kisses (sign-off) |
| abç | abraço | hug (sign-off) |
| obg / obgd | obrigado/a | thanks |
| fds | fim de semana | weekend |
| td bem | tudo bem | all good |
Boas, td bem? Vamos ao cinema hj? Bjs.
Hey, all good? Shall we go to the cinema today? Kisses. (WhatsApp shorthand)
Obg pela ajuda, foste brutal. Abç.
Thanks for the help, you were amazing. Hug.
N me esqueci pq tenho a agenda cheia fds.
I didn't forget, I just have a full weekend schedule. (heavy abbreviation)
What not to do informally
- Don't use o senhor / a senhora with friends — it sounds bizarre, like calling your mate "Sir." Either tu (PT-PT default among peers) or humorous-formal as a joke.
- Don't use heavy formal vocabulary in casual chat — solicitar with a friend sounds pompous; use pedir.
- Don't over-precision your speech — Poderia eventualmente considerar... to a friend is ridiculous. Say Se calhar podes...
- Don't reject diminutives — they are warm and normal in PT-PT informal speech, not childish.
Mixing register on purpose
Native speakers mix register deliberately for effect. Using a formal register in an informal context is usually ironic or affectionate-playful.
Permita-me, caro amigo, oferecer-lhe uma cerveja.
Permit me, dear friend, to offer you a beer. (joke-formal tone at a barbecue)
O senhor professor vai jantar connosco?
Will the gentleman professor be dining with us? (playful use of title among peers — teasing)
Generational differences
PT-PT informal speech correlates tightly with age. Younger speakers (under 35) use heavy anglicisms and innovations; older speakers use more conservative slang.
(young, 2020s) Foi mesmo brutal, tipo, bué fixe.
It was really awesome, like, super cool. (Gen Z)
(older, 50+) Foi muito porreiro, gostei imenso.
It was really nice, I liked it a lot.
(young) Random, mas que filme era aquele?
Random question, but what film was that? (anglicism)
(older) Por falar noutra coisa, que filme era aquele?
Changing the subject, what film was that?
Common mistakes
❌ (with a friend) Você vai à festa?
*Você* with a close friend in PT-PT sounds cold or sarcastic. Use *tu*.
✅ Vais à festa?
Are you going to the party? (*tu* implicit)
❌ (negative imperative) Não fazes isso!
The negative imperative of *tu* uses the subjunctive: *não faças*.
✅ Não faças isso!
Don't do that!
❌ (casual chat) Solicito que me passes o sal.
*Solicito* with a friend is ridiculous register-mixing — hyperformal vocabulary in a casual context.
✅ Passas-me o sal, se faz favor?
Can you pass me the salt, please?
❌ (greeting a friend) Bom dia, estimado colega.
Good-morning-plus-*estimado* is a formal opening; totally wrong with a friend.
✅ Olá! Tudo bem?
Hi! Everything good?
❌ (PT-PT) Eu tô legal, e você?
*Tô* and *você* are PT-BR patterns, not PT-PT. PT-PT uses *Estou bem, e tu?*
✅ Estou bem, e tu?
I'm good, and you?
❌ (with older relative you know well) Você quer mais vinho?
Even with elders, *você* can sound cold in PT-PT. Better: implicit subject or *tu* (if the relationship permits).
✅ Quer mais vinho, mãe? / Queres mais vinho?
Want more wine, Mum? / Want more wine? (second form if *tu* is welcomed)
Key takeaways
- Informal PT-PT uses tu — not você. Subject pronouns are mostly dropped; the verb form alone carries the person.
- Negative tu imperatives use the subjunctive: não digas, não faças, não vás.
- Contractions like tá (está), pa (para), prá (para a), pró (para o) belong to speech and dialogue writing only.
- Discourse markers — pois, epá, pá, olha, então, enfim, tipo, sabes? — are essential; without them speech sounds robotic.
- Signature slang: fixe (cool), giro (cute/nice), bué (very/lots), brutal (awesome), porreiro (great, older), gajo/gaja (guy/girl).
- Diminutives (-inho/-inha) are a major informal marker: cafezinho, cervejinha, bocadinho, beijinhos.
- Mild exclamations (fogo!, bolas!, caraças!, que chatice!) are usable almost anywhere. Vulgar exclamations (caralho, foda-se, merda, cabrão) are strong — recognize but use with care.
- Text/WhatsApp abbreviations: tb (também), q (que), pq (porque), bjs (beijinhos), abç (abraço).
- Native speakers mix register deliberately for humour — using formal vocabulary in informal contexts signals playfulness, not confusion.
- Informal PT-PT differs from informal PT-BR: PT-PT uses tu not você, avoids vc/tô, prefers fixe/porreiro over legal, and has its own set of discourse markers.
Related Topics
- Register and Style OverviewA2 — A map of formality levels in European Portuguese — from intimate slang to literary elevation — and the grammar, vocabulary, and address forms that mark each one.
- Formal RegisterB1 — The grammar, vocabulary, and conventions of formal European Portuguese — business correspondence, academic writing, legal documents, and official speech.
- Tu vs Você in European PortugueseA1 — When to use tu and when to use você in Portugal — and why the choice matters socially
- Subject Pronouns with VerbsA1 — Eu, tu, ele/ela, nós, vós, eles/elas and when to include or omit them
- Formal Register DifferencesB2 — European and Brazilian Portuguese share a Latinate formal register but diverge sharply in address protocols, title use, archaic survivals, email closings, and bureaucratic idiom — the formal gap is wider than the everyday one.
- Register and Formality ErrorsB1 — How to avoid the most common register mistakes in European Portuguese — wrong pronouns, mismatched verb forms, and inappropriate slang.