❓😊

How to Say ‘Are you well?’ in Portuguese

A senhora está bem?

ah seh-NYOH-rah shtah BAYNG

[ah seh-NYOH-rah shtah BAYNG]

💬 Usage Tip: a senhora means "you" here, and the verb takes the same form as for "she": está, not estás. Use o senhor for a man.

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Addressing your mother-in-law as a senhora is warm and respectful in Portugal, not cold. Many families keep it up for years. Wait until she invites you to use tu.

Phrase Breakdown

A senhora

ah seh-NYOH-rah

You (polite, to a woman)

'A senhora' is a respectful way to say 'you' to an older woman. The 'nh' is like 'ny' in 'canyon': 'ssi-NYO-ra'.

Example

A senhora quer café?

Would you like coffee, madam?

Words in this phrase

[ah]

the (feminine singular)

Same article "a" used before a feminine noun; often unstressed in speech.

Example

A estação é ali à direita.

The station is right there on the right.

senhora

[seh-NYOH-rah]

you (polite, to a woman); madam

Polite way to address a woman as 'you', used with the third-person verb.

Example

A senhora precisa de ajuda?

Do you need help, madam?

está bem?

shtah BAYNG

are you well?

'Estar bem' means 'to be well'. 'Bem' is nasal, close to 'bãy'. Raise your voice at the end for the question.

Example

Está tudo bem?

Is everything OK?

Words in this phrase

está

[shtah]

are (you, formal) / is

Form of 'estar' (to be, for states) used with 'você' or formal address, or for he/she/it.

Example

O senhor está cansado?

Are you tired, sir?

bem

[BAYNG]

Well / OK / Fine

Used to show agreement or to acknowledge information; in conversation at a station: “Bem.” = “Okay.”

Example

Bem, então vou já para a plataforma 6.

Okay, then I’ll go now to platform 6.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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