Signification
To praise someone for their work or effort.
Contexte culturel
In Brazil, 'Bom trabalho' is often used as a greeting or parting wish for people in service roles (like doormen or security guards) to acknowledge their presence and effort. Portuguese people value 'modéstia' (modesty). When receiving a 'Bom trabalho', a common humble response is 'São os seus olhos' (It's your eyes/perspective) or 'Fiz o que pude' (I did what I could). In Angolan Portuguese, 'Bom trabalho' is frequently used in community settings to encourage those performing manual labor, often accompanied by a handshake. The phrase is a staple of 'LinkedIn Portuguese'. It is often used in comments to build professional networks and show support for peers' achievements. Younger generations might replace 'trabalho' with 'trampo'. 'Bom trampo' is very common in casual urban environments like São Paulo.
The 'Para Você' Rule
If you say 'Bom trabalho para você', it's a wish for their future work. If you say 'Bom trabalho', it's a compliment for finished work.
Sarcasm Alert
Be careful with your tone. A flat, dry 'Bom trabalho' after a mistake is a common way to be sarcastic in Brazil.
Signification
To praise someone for their work or effort.
The 'Para Você' Rule
If you say 'Bom trabalho para você', it's a wish for their future work. If you say 'Bom trabalho', it's a compliment for finished work.
Sarcasm Alert
Be careful with your tone. A flat, dry 'Bom trabalho' after a mistake is a common way to be sarcastic in Brazil.
Email Closings
In professional emails, 'Bom trabalho' is a great, polite way to end a message to a colleague you work with frequently.
The 'LH' Sound
Mastering the 'lh' in 'trabalho' is a sign of a high-level learner. Practice by putting your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'good work'.
Parabéns pelo seu ______. O projeto foi um sucesso!
'Trabalho' is masculine singular, so it takes 'bom'.
Which phrase is used to praise a task, not a career?
Você quer elogiar o relatório do seu colega. O que você diz?
'Bom trabalho' is for tasks; 'Bom emprego' is for the job position itself.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: A friend just finished painting their house.
Painting a house is a significant task/work, making 'Bom trabalho' the appropriate praise.
Complete the dialogue.
Chefe: Aqui está o bônus pelo projeto. Funcionário: Obrigado! Chefe: Você fez um ______.
The standard word order for this idiom is Adjective + Noun.
Use the correct preposition.
Bom trabalho ____ (in the) apresentação de ontem.
'Apresentação' is feminine, so 'em + a' = 'na'.
Identify the sarcastic usage.
In which context is 'Bom trabalho' likely sarcastic?
Sarcasm uses praise to highlight a failure.
🎉 Score : /6
Aides visuelles
Trabalho vs. Emprego
Banque d exercices
6 exercicesParabéns pelo seu ______. O projeto foi um sucesso!
'Trabalho' is masculine singular, so it takes 'bom'.
Você quer elogiar o relatório do seu colega. O que você diz?
'Bom trabalho' is for tasks; 'Bom emprego' is for the job position itself.
Situation: A friend just finished painting their house.
Painting a house is a significant task/work, making 'Bom trabalho' the appropriate praise.
Chefe: Aqui está o bônus pelo projeto. Funcionário: Obrigado! Chefe: Você fez um ______.
The standard word order for this idiom is Adjective + Noun.
Bom trabalho ____ (in the) apresentação de ontem.
'Apresentação' is feminine, so 'em + a' = 'na'.
In which context is 'Bom trabalho' likely sarcastic?
Sarcasm uses praise to highlight a failure.
🎉 Score : /6
Questions fréquentes
14 questionsYes, the phrase remains the same. You can say it to one person or a whole room.
It is neutral. It works in 95% of situations, from a CEO to a child.
'Bom trabalho' is always positive. 'Bem feito' can mean 'well done' but is often used to mean 'serves you right'.
Use 'Bom trabalho' for effort/tasks and 'Parabéns' for achievements/celebrations.
A simple 'Obrigado' (male) or 'Obrigada' (female) is perfect.
In this idiomatic expression, 'Bom' almost always comes first.
Absolutely. It is universally understood and used in all Portuguese-speaking countries.
It's the slang version of 'Bom trabalho', very common in Brazil.
It's better to say 'Obrigado' or 'A comida estava ótima'. 'Bom trabalho' might sound a bit patronizing to a waiter unless they did something extra difficult.
Yes, it's a very common way to sign off or acknowledge a task in an email thread.
No, it can also mean 'homework', 'a piece of art', or 'physical labor'.
Because 'trabalho' is a noun, and 'bom' is the adjective that describes it.
Yes, if they have actually done a specific task well, but usually, it's the boss who says it to the employee.
No, because 'trabalho' is always masculine. You never say 'Boa trabalho'.
Expressions liées
Mandou bem
synonymYou did well / You nailed it
Parabéns
similarCongratulations
Bem feito
similarWell done
Ótimo desempenho
specialized formGreat performance
Bom serviço
synonymGood service
Mãos à obra
builds onLet's get to work
