15秒でわかる
- The standard Portuguese phrase for offering condolences after a death.
- Equivalent to 'I am sorry for your loss' in English.
- Used in funerals, wakes, or when hearing sad news.
意味
This is the standard way to offer your condolences when someone passes away. It is like saying 'I am sorry for your loss' or 'my deepest sympathies' in English.
主な例文
3 / 6At a funeral service
Meus pêsames a você e a toda a sua família.
My condolences to you and your whole family.
Texting a friend who lost a pet
Fiquei sabendo do seu cachorrinho. Meus pêsames.
I heard about your little dog. My condolences.
Formal email to a business partner
Em nome da empresa, enviamos nossos pêsames pelo falecimento de seu pai.
On behalf of the company, we send our condolences for your father's passing.
文化的背景
Wakes (velórios) often happen in dedicated funeral homes and can last 24 hours. It is common to serve strong coffee and small snacks. 'Meus pêsames' is said upon arrival. The tone is generally more formal and somber. 'Os meus sentimentos' is the standard phrase, and black clothing is still very common for mourners. Funerals (óbitos) are major community events that can last several days. Offering condolences is a vital social duty. The 'Missa de Sétimo Dia' is a key time to offer 'pêsames' if you couldn't attend the funeral.
Physical Contact
In Brazil, a hug is common even if you aren't very close. In Portugal, a handshake is safer unless you are family.
Avoid 'Meu pêsame'
Always use the plural. The singular sounds like you are a time traveler from the 1800s.
15秒でわかる
- The standard Portuguese phrase for offering condolences after a death.
- Equivalent to 'I am sorry for your loss' in English.
- Used in funerals, wakes, or when hearing sad news.
What It Means
Meus pêsames is the heart of Portuguese empathy. It comes from the word pesar, which relates to grief and sorrow. When you say this, you are literally offering your 'sorrows' to someone else. You are acknowledging their pain. It is the most common way to show support during a death.
How To Use It
You usually say it while shaking hands or giving a hug. In Brazil and Portugal, physical touch is common even in sad times. You can say just the phrase or add Sinto muito (I am very sorry) before it. It is short, powerful, and very respectful. Don't overthink the grammar; it is almost always used in the plural.
When To Use It
Use it when you hear about a death. Use it at funerals or wakes (velórios). It works for a colleague, a close friend, or even a stranger. If you see a sad post on social media about a passing, comment Meus pêsames. It is the 'safe' choice for any grieving situation. It shows you have good manners and a kind heart.
When NOT To Use It
Never use this for minor problems. Did your friend lose their wallet? Don't use meus pêsames. Did someone fail a test? Definitely not. Using it for small things can sound sarcastic or even mean. It is strictly reserved for the loss of a person or a very beloved pet. Using it for a broken phone will get you some very weird looks.
Cultural Background
Lusophone cultures value family and community deeply. Funerals are often large, social, and emotional events. Showing up and saying the right thing is a big deal. The phrase has been around for centuries. It carries a weight of tradition and shared human experience. It is a linguistic bridge during a time when words usually fail us.
Common Variations
You might hear Meus sentimentos (My feelings/sentiments). This is a bit softer and very common in Portugal. Some people say Sinto muito pela sua perda (I am sorry for your loss). If you are very close to the person, you might just say Conte comigo para o que precisar (Count on me for whatever you need). But Meus pêsames remains the undisputed king of condolences.
使い方のコツ
The phrase is naturally formal but used across all social classes. It is the 'gold standard' for condolences and carries a tone of solemn respect.
Physical Contact
In Brazil, a hug is common even if you aren't very close. In Portugal, a handshake is safer unless you are family.
Avoid 'Meu pêsame'
Always use the plural. The singular sounds like you are a time traveler from the 1800s.
The 'Viu?' addition
In Brazil, adding 'viu?' or 'tá?' at the end of 'Meus pêsames' in a text makes it sound much warmer and less like a template.
例文
6Meus pêsames a você e a toda a sua família.
My condolences to you and your whole family.
Adding 'to the family' makes it feel more inclusive and warm.
Fiquei sabendo do seu cachorrinho. Meus pêsames.
I heard about your little dog. My condolences.
It is acceptable for pets in modern contexts to show deep empathy.
Em nome da empresa, enviamos nossos pêsames pelo falecimento de seu pai.
On behalf of the company, we send our condolences for your father's passing.
Very professional and appropriate for a corporate setting.
Sinto muito, meus pêsames.
I'm so sorry, my condolences.
Short and direct for a brief encounter.
Você vai casar? Meus pêsames, cara!
You're getting married? My condolences, man!
Only use this with very close friends who share your sense of humor.
Meus pêsames. Que ele descanse em paz.
My condolences. May he rest in peace.
A standard respectful comment for digital mourning.
自分をテスト
Fill in the blank with the correct possessive.
_______ pêsames pela sua perda.
'Pêsames' is masculine plural, so it requires 'Meus'.
Match the situation to the best phrase.
Your friend's dog died.
Even for a pet, 'Meus pêsames' is appropriate to show you take their grief seriously.
Which of these is the most common way to offer condolences in Portugal?
In Lisbon, you would most likely say:
While 'Meus pêsames' is understood, 'Os meus sentimentos' is the regional preference in Portugal.
Complete the dialogue at a funeral.
A: Meus pêsames pela sua mãe. B: __________________.
The standard response to condolences is to thank the person for their presence or support.
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
When to use 'Meus pêsames'
Appropriate
- • Death of a relative
- • Death of a pet
- • Funeral/Wake
Inappropriate
- • Job loss
- • Breakup
- • Failed test
練習問題バンク
4 問題_______ pêsames pela sua perda.
'Pêsames' is masculine plural, so it requires 'Meus'.
Your friend's dog died.
Even for a pet, 'Meus pêsames' is appropriate to show you take their grief seriously.
In Lisbon, you would most likely say:
While 'Meus pêsames' is understood, 'Os meus sentimentos' is the regional preference in Portugal.
A: Meus pêsames pela sua mãe. B: __________________.
The standard response to condolences is to thank the person for their presence or support.
🎉 スコア： /4
よくある質問
10 問Yes, it is increasingly common and shows great empathy for the owner's loss.
Yes, if you cannot be there in person, a thoughtful text with 'Meus pêsames' is perfectly acceptable.
Usually 'Obrigado' or 'Obrigada'. If you are close, you might say 'Agradeço o carinho'.
Yes, it is formal and very respectful, especially in Portugal.
Yes, you are offering sympathy to the living person you *do* know.
It's a linguistic tradition in Portuguese for many polite expressions (like 'obrigados' in old Port. or 'parabéns').
Yes, it is appropriate for all family members.
Yes, to acknowledge a colleague's bereavement.
Not at all. It sounds respectful. If you want to be warmer, add 'Sinto muito'.
Not really. Death is a 'slang-free' zone in Portuguese culture, though 'Força' is a casual addition.
関連フレーズ
Os meus sentimentos
synonymMy feelings/condolences
Sinto muito
similarI'm very sorry
Luto
builds onMourning
Descanse em paz
similarRest in peace
Minhas condolências
specialized formMy condolences
