Seja bem-vindo!
This is a classic and warm way to say 'Welcome!', making people feel invited and comfortable.
Literalmente: Be well-come!
En 15 segundos
- The standard way to say 'Welcome' in any Portuguese-speaking country.
- Must change the ending based on gender and number of people.
- Used for homes, offices, cities, and events to show hospitality.
Significado
This is the classic, warm way to tell someone 'Welcome!' It makes people feel invited and comfortable in your space.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6Welcoming a female friend to your apartment
Seja bem-vinda à minha casa!
Welcome to my house!
A boss greeting a new male employee
Seja bem-vindo à equipe, Ricardo.
Welcome to the team, Ricardo.
Greeting a group of tourists
Sejam bem-vindos ao Brasil!
Welcome to Brazil!
Contexto cultural
Brazilians are known for 'calor humano' (human warmth). A 'Seja bem-vindo' is often accompanied by a hug (abraço) or a kiss on the cheek (beijo), depending on the region and level of intimacy. In Portugal, hospitality is deeply rooted in the concept of 'acolhimento'. While perhaps more formal than in Brazil, the welcome is very sincere and often involves offering regional wine or sweets. In Angola, welcoming guests is a matter of great pride. The phrase 'Estamos juntos' (We are together) often follows a welcome, emphasizing solidarity. The concept of 'Morabeza' is the spirit of hospitality in Cape Verde. 'Seja bem-vindo' is the verbal expression of this national identity.
Gender is Key
Always look at the person you are talking to before you finish the word. 'O' for men, 'A' for women.
Not for Thanks
Never use this as a response to 'Obrigado'. It will confuse native speakers.
En 15 segundos
- The standard way to say 'Welcome' in any Portuguese-speaking country.
- Must change the ending based on gender and number of people.
- Used for homes, offices, cities, and events to show hospitality.
What It Means
Seja bem-vindo is the gold standard for welcoming someone. It is more than just a greeting. It signals that the person is truly invited into your space. It combines the verb ser (to be) with bem-vindo (well-come). It sounds elegant yet incredibly warm.
How To Use It
You must match the ending to the person you are greeting. This is a common trip-up for beginners! If you talk to a man, say bem-vindo. For a woman, use bem-vinda. If it is a group of women, use bem-vindas. For a mixed group or all men, use bem-vindos. It is like a linguistic chameleon.
When To Use It
Use it when someone enters your home. Use it when a new colleague joins the team. It is perfect for the start of a presentation. You will see it on doormats and shop signs. It works perfectly in a text when a friend arrives in your city. It is the ultimate 'open arms' expression.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it if someone is just passing by. It is for someone who is staying for a bit. Don't use it as a response to 'Thank you.' That is de nada. If you say bem-vindo after a 'Thank you,' people will think you are inviting them to live with you! Also, avoid it in very brief, cold transactions. It implies a level of hospitality.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture is famous for its 'hospitalidade'. Welcoming someone is a sacred ritual. In Brazil, it often comes with a hug or a cup of coffee. In Portugal, it might be a bit more formal but equally sincere. The phrase reflects a history of seafaring and receiving travelers. It is deeply rooted in the idea of making a stranger a friend.
Common Variations
You might hear boas-vindas as a noun. For example, 'Dar as boas-vindas' means 'to give the welcomes.' In very casual Brazilian Portuguese, people might just say Bem-vindo! and skip the Seja. If you want to be extra fancy, try Sinta-se em casa. That means 'Feel at home.'
Notas de uso
The phrase is neutral and highly versatile. The most important 'gotcha' is the gender and number agreement: vindo (m), vinda (f), vindos (m. pl), vindas (f. pl).
Gender is Key
Always look at the person you are talking to before you finish the word. 'O' for men, 'A' for women.
Not for Thanks
Never use this as a response to 'Obrigado'. It will confuse native speakers.
Add 'Muito'
Adding 'muito' (Seja muito bem-vindo) makes you sound much more fluent and genuinely happy to see the person.
Ejemplos
6Seja bem-vinda à minha casa!
Welcome to my house!
Uses the feminine singular 'vinda' for a female guest.
Seja bem-vindo à equipe, Ricardo.
Welcome to the team, Ricardo.
Professional yet welcoming tone.
Sejam bem-vindos ao Brasil!
Welcome to Brazil!
Uses the plural 'Sejam' and 'vindos' for a group.
Bem-vindo! Me avisa quando chegar no hotel.
Welcome! Let me know when you get to the hotel.
Dropping the 'Seja' makes it slightly more casual for text.
Olha só, seja bem-vindo à festa... finalmente!
Look at that, welcome to the party... finally!
The tone makes this humorous and playful.
Seja bem-vindo de volta, meu filho.
Welcome back, my son.
Adding 'de volta' means 'back'.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'bem-vindo' for a woman.
Olá, Sra. Silva! Seja ________.
Since Sra. Silva is a woman, we use the feminine singular form 'bem-vinda'.
Which phrase would you use to welcome a mixed group of friends to your party?
Greeting a group of 5 people (3 men, 2 women):
For a mixed group, we use the masculine plural form 'Sejam bem-vindos'.
Match the response to the situation.
Someone says 'Obrigado!' after you help them.
Remember, 'Seja bem-vindo' is NOT a response to 'Thank you'. Use 'De nada'.
Complete the dialogue at the airport.
Turista: Acabei de chegar ao Rio! Guia: ________ ao Brasil!
The guide is welcoming the tourist to the country.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
The Four Forms of Welcome
Singular
- • Seja bem-vindo (Masc)
- • Seja bem-vinda (Fem)
Plural
- • Sejam bem-vindos (Masc/Mixed)
- • Sejam bem-vindas (Fem only)
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosOlá, Sra. Silva! Seja ________.
Since Sra. Silva is a woman, we use the feminine singular form 'bem-vinda'.
Greeting a group of 5 people (3 men, 2 women):
For a mixed group, we use the masculine plural form 'Sejam bem-vindos'.
Someone says 'Obrigado!' after you help them.
Remember, 'Seja bem-vindo' is NOT a response to 'Thank you'. Use 'De nada'.
Turista: Acabei de chegar ao Rio! Guia: ________ ao Brasil!
The guide is welcoming the tourist to the country.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes! If your dog just came home from the vet or a trip, you can say 'Seja bem-vindo' (masculine) or 'Seja bem-vinda' (feminine).
'Bem-vindo' is perfectly fine and very common, especially in casual settings or in Portugal. 'Seja bem-vindo' is just a bit more complete and formal.
Use the masculine plural: 'Sejam bem-vindos'. In Portuguese, the masculine plural is the default for mixed groups.
Yes, it's very common to start a welcome email to a new subscriber or employee with 'Seja bem-vindo(a)'.
'Bem-vindo' is an adjective/greeting used for people. 'Boas-vindas' is a noun meaning 'the welcome'. You 'give' (dar) boas-vindas.
In Brazil, you might hear 'Chega mais' or 'Cola aí', which are very informal ways to welcome someone into a space.
Absolutely! It's a very common thing to say to a newborn: 'Seja bem-vindo ao mundo!' (Welcome to the world!).
The hyphen is used because it's a compound word where 'bem' is a prefix that has lost its independent meaning in this specific greeting context.
It is 'Sê-ja' with an open 'e' sound in some regions, but usually a closed 'e' /e/ like in 'hey'.
No. For someone leaving, use 'Volte sempre' (Come back often) or 'Boa viagem' (Safe trip).
Frases relacionadas
Sinta-se em casa
similarFeel at home
Boas-vindas
specialized formWelcome (noun)
A casa é sua
similarThe house is yours
Bem-vindo
synonymWelcome
