Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Olá, estou bem.

In Portuguese, you can usually drop subject pronouns like eu (I) because the verb itself tells us who is acting. Estou only ever means "I am", so adding eu is optional and usually left out in everyday speech.

Why use estou here instead of sou?

Portuguese has two verbs for "to be": ser and estar. We use estar (like its "I" form, estou) for temporary states, feelings, or locations. How you feel right now is temporary, so we use estou. Ser is used for more permanent traits.

Does bem literally mean "fine"?

Bem literally means "well". So estou bem translates exactly to "I am well". English speakers often say "I am fine" or "I am good", which is why the translation says "fine", but Portuguese uses the adverb bem.

Can I use olá in formal situations?

Yes! Olá is a versatile, neutral greeting. It works perfectly fine in both formal and informal situations, just like "hello" in English.