🎉🔥🙌

How to Say ‘Happy São João to you!’ in Portuguese

Bom São João para ti!

bohng sowng zhoo-OWNG PAH-ruh tee

[bohng sowng zhoo-OWNG PAH-ruh tee]

💬 Usage Tip: ão in São and João is nasal, like "ow" said through the nose with no hard n at the end: (sowng zhoo-OWNG).

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Bom São João! is the standard greeting all night on 23 June, especially in Porto. Shout it to anyone passing by, often with a tap of the hammer.

Phrase Breakdown

Bom São João

bohng sowng zhoo-OWNG

Happy St. John's

This is the greeting for Porto's St. John festival in June. All three words are nasal: 'bong sow zhoo-OW'.

Example

Bom São João a todos!

Happy St. John's, everyone!

Words in this phrase

Bom

[bohng]

good

Adjective meaning good; often used to react positively to plans or ideas.

Example

Esse horário é bom para mim.

That time is good for me.

São

[sowng]

Saint

Title used before male saints' names starting with a consonant.

Example

São Pedro é em junho.

Saint Peter's day is in June.

João

[zhoo-OWNG]

John

Male name; here Saint John, patron of Porto's June festival.

Example

A noite de São João é animada.

Saint John's night is lively.

para ti!

PAH-ruh tee

to you!

'Ti' is the informal 'you' after a preposition. 'Para' is often said as 'pra'.

Example

Isto é para ti.

This is for you.

Words in this phrase

para

[PAH-ruh]

for

Preposition used to show who something matters to.

Example

Este tipo de ambiente é ideal para quem gosta de colaborar.

This type of environment is ideal for someone who likes collaborating.

[tee]

you

Informal 'you' used after prepositions like 'de', 'para'.

Example

Isto é para ti.

This is for you.

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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