algarcia66

Formal / Informal

The rules about formality in Brazilian portuguese are unclear or at least, very different from most languages in most countries. And besides pronunciation, that's the easiest way to recognize a foreigner, or a "gringo", as we usually refer to them.

Well, the first important thing you must know is that although we are way less formal than the British, we have a formality system as complex as the Japanese one.

Follow the rules below to sound more natural, while in Brazil:

1. HOW TO DEAL WITH NAMES AND TITLES

Forget the last names. People seldom use them or even think about them. I know 3 or 4 friends' last names. When you're introduced to someone, you're supposed to exchange only the first names, even in a formal situation.

e.g.:

 - Bill, este é o José, nosso diretor de marketing. José, este é o Bill, da filial nos Estados Unidos.

- Olá, José. Como vai?

-Como vai, Bill?

However, once in a while, you'll meet some men (and never women) who prefer to be called by their middle or last name. It usually happens for two basic reasons. The man just hates his first name or there's another guy at school/college or at work who has the same first name.

e.g.: 

- Fábio, quanto tempo! (first name)

- Fala, Pereira! (middle or last name)

This has become more and more old-fashioned. You'll rarely see men in their 20's, 30's or even 40's who are called by their middle or last name. If they hate the first one or know any namesakes, it's common to use a nickname, instead.

e.g.:

- O Eduardo 'tá aí? (first name)

- Não, saiu com o Bira. (nickname - short for "Ubirajara")

By the way, especially in informal conversations (but not seldom in formal conversations too) nicknames are largely used. Mainly for women in São Paulo, the nicknames mostly consist of the first and/or second syllable of their first names. e.g: Natália = Ná / Náti ; Flávia = Flá ; Juliana = Ju / Júli; etc... Men who have compound names, usually make up their nicknames gathering one syllable of each two names. e.g.: José Carlos = Zeca; João Carlos = Joca; Carlos Eduardo = Cadu; etc....

The only people who are effectively called by their first and last names are famous people, such as politicians, actors and actresses, singers, and so on... e.g.: Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Marta Suplicy, Antônio Fagundes, Débora Secco, Jerry Adriani, Daniela Mercury, etc...

We have titles. They are "senhor (sr.)", "senhora (sra.)" and "senhorita (srta.)", respectively, Mr. , Mrs. and Ms.. But you must use them with first names: Sr. José, Srta. Márcia. And it's way too formal, it's only used in formal letters and by call center operators. And believe me, when they call me "senhor Alvaro", that sounds really weird, I feel like I'm 80 years old. Formality in Brazil is very related to age. Titles are often used when you talk to elderly people. But then you should use other two titles: "seu" (male)  and "dona" (female). These two are a little paradoxical, because they show a huge respect for the elderly, it's almost like bowing. But at the same time, they're so coloquial that sounds like "wrong" or "bad" portuguese, as if they were slang. Effectively, they're not. Everybody uses it, you can see reporters on TV using them, I used to call my former boss "seu Carlos", now I call my current one "Alê" (short for "Alexandra") because she looks much younger. My mother will always be known in the neighborhood and wherever she goes as "dona Luzia".

...TO BE CONTINUED...

| | |