Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Oi, mãe.
Is oi formal or informal?
Oi is an informal, everyday greeting in Brazilian Portuguese. It is very common and natural with family, friends, classmates, coworkers in casual situations, and in messages.
If you want something a little more neutral or slightly more formal, you could use olá. But with mãe, oi sounds completely normal.
How do you pronounce oi?
Oi is usually pronounced like oy in English boy.
It is one syllable:
- oi → oy
In Brazilian Portuguese, it is short and smooth.
How do you pronounce mãe?
Mãe is a little harder for English speakers because it has a nasal vowel.
A simple approximation is:
- mãe ≈ myng without a strong final g
- or my said through the nose
More exactly:
- the ã is nasal
- the final e is very reduced and blends into the nasal sound
You do not pronounce it like English may.