Expressing Relief with "Ainda bem que"
In Portuguese, expressing emotions, opinions, or value judgments about a situation typically requires the subjunctive mood. However, there is one major, very common exception: ainda bem que (it is a good thing that).
When you use ainda bem que to express relief about an unexpected reprieve, a canceled meeting, or a dodged inconvenience, you must always follow it with the indicative mood. Notice in the examples below how the verbs following ainda bem que remain in standard indicative tenses, such as the simple past (cancelou, fomos).
| It is a good thing that he canceled the meeting, because it was going to be an annoyance. | Ainda bem que ele cancelou a reunião, porque ia ser uma chatice. |
| It is a good thing that we did not go to the beach, because it rained a lot yesterday. | Ainda bem que não fomos à praia, porque choveu muito ontem. |
Words for Near Misses and Dodged Disasters
To add color to your stories of narrowly avoided annoyances, Portuguese has a few handy words and interjections. You will often hear the interjection ufa (phew) to express a sigh of relief, or the adverb felizmente (fortunately).
| Phew, it is a good thing that the exam was negative! | Ufa, ainda bem que o exame foi negativo! |
When describing the sticky situations themselves, you might refer to an apuro (predicament) or a complicação (complication). Escaping them brings a great sense of alívio (relief), especially if you manage to get away por um triz (by a whisker).
| Fortunately, we got out of that predicament without paying the fine. | Felizmente, saímos daquele apuro sem pagar a multa. |
| Phew, we avoided a huge complication by a whisker! | Ufa, evitámos uma complicação enorme por um triz! |
| It is a good thing that we are not in that predicament, it is a great relief. | Ainda bem que não estamos nesse apuro, é um grande alívio. |