In 15 Seconds
- The 'super-sized' version of thank you for big favors.
- Changes to 'obrigada' if the speaker is female.
- Perfect for professional emails and heartfelt personal moments.
Meaning
This is the 'extra' version of thank you. It is like saying 'thank you very, very much' when someone goes out of their way for you.
Key Examples
3 of 6Thanking a professor for extra help
Muitíssimo obrigado pela sua explicação, professor.
Thank you very much for your explanation, professor.
A woman thanking a neighbor for watching her cat
Muitíssimo obrigada por cuidar do meu gato!
Thank you so, so much for taking care of my cat!
Receiving a life-changing gift
Muitíssimo obrigado! Eu não sei nem o que dizer.
Thank you so very much! I don't even know what to say.
Cultural Background
Brazilians often use 'Muitíssimo obrigado' with a lot of intonation on the 'í' to show genuine emotion. It's common in professional settings to see this in email signatures. In Portugal, the phrase is slightly more common in everyday formal interactions (like at a bank or a high-end shop) compared to Brazil, where 'Muito obrigado' usually suffices. In Angolan Portuguese, formal expressions of gratitude are highly valued as a sign of respect for elders and authority figures. Similar to other Lusophone African countries, the use of formal superlatives reflects a traditional education and respect for social hierarchy.
The 'í' factor
In Brazil, if you want to sound extra sincere, slightly elongate the 'í' in 'muitíssimo'. It adds an emotional 'sing-song' quality that sounds very native.
Gender Trap
Always remember: it's about YOU. If you identify as female, it's ALWAYS 'obrigada', no matter who you are talking to.
In 15 Seconds
- The 'super-sized' version of thank you for big favors.
- Changes to 'obrigada' if the speaker is female.
- Perfect for professional emails and heartfelt personal moments.
What It Means
Muitíssimo obrigado is the superlative form of gratitude. You are taking the standard obrigado and adding a powerful suffix. It signals that a simple 'thanks' isn't enough. It carries weight, sincerity, and a touch of elegance. Think of it as the verbal equivalent of a warm, two-handed handshake.
How To Use It
Use it just like obrigado, but remember the gender rule. If you identify as male, say muitíssimo obrigado. If you identify as female, say muitíssimo obrigada. The word muitíssimo stays the same regardless of who you are talking to. It is a mouthful, so practice the 'chee-see-mo' sound. It should flow like a single, melodic wave.
When To Use It
Use this when someone does you a genuine favor. Maybe a colleague finished a report for you. Perhaps a stranger found your lost wallet. It is perfect for emails where you want to sound professional yet deeply appreciative. Use it when you want to stand out from the crowd of basic 'valeu' or 'thanks' users.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for tiny things. If someone passes the salt, a simple obrigado is fine. Using muitíssimo for small gestures can sound sarcastic or overly dramatic. It is like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard barbecue. Also, avoid it in very slang-heavy circles. Your teenage cousins might think you've suddenly become a 19th-century poet.
Cultural Background
Portuguese speakers love using suffixes to intensify emotions. The -íssimo ending comes from Latin and adds a 'super' quality to adjectives. In Brazil and Portugal, expressing gratitude is a social glue. Being 'very' thankful shows you recognize the effort someone made. It reflects a culture that values warmth and personal connection over cold efficiency.
Common Variations
In casual chats, you might hear muito obrigado. If you want to be even more intense, you could say muitíssimo obrigado mesmo. In some regions, people might just use a big smile and a valeu demais. But muitíssimo obrigado remains the gold standard for polite, high-level appreciation. It never goes out of style.
Usage Notes
This phrase is formal and high-register. It is perfectly safe for business, elders, or strangers, but might feel 'extra' among close friends unless the favor was huge.
The 'í' factor
In Brazil, if you want to sound extra sincere, slightly elongate the 'í' in 'muitíssimo'. It adds an emotional 'sing-song' quality that sounds very native.
Gender Trap
Always remember: it's about YOU. If you identify as female, it's ALWAYS 'obrigada', no matter who you are talking to.
Email Etiquette
Using 'Muitíssimo obrigado/a' as a closing in a professional email is a great way to stand out as a respectful and high-level learner.
Examples
6Muitíssimo obrigado pela sua explicação, professor.
Thank you very much for your explanation, professor.
Shows high respect in an academic setting.
Muitíssimo obrigada por cuidar do meu gato!
Thank you so, so much for taking care of my cat!
The speaker is female, so she uses 'obrigada'.
Muitíssimo obrigado! Eu não sei nem o que dizer.
Thank you so very much! I don't even know what to say.
Expresses deep emotional impact.
Muitíssimo obrigada pelo convite, amei!
Thank you so much for the invite, I loved it!
Adds extra enthusiasm to a text message.
Muitíssimo obrigado por... não fazer nada!
Thank you ever so much for... doing nothing!
The high formality creates a funny contrast with the sarcasm.
Muitíssimo obrigado pela sua atenção e tempo.
Thank you very much for your attention and time.
Standard polite closing for professional correspondence.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrase based on the speaker's gender (Female).
A Maria disse: '________ pela sua ajuda com as malas.'
Since Maria is female, she must use the feminine form 'obrigada'.
Which situation is most appropriate for 'Muitíssimo obrigado'?
In which of these scenarios should you use 'Muitíssimo obrigado'?
This is a significant, formal, and deeply emotional situation where the absolute superlative is appropriate.
Complete the formal dialogue.
Entrevistador: 'Obrigado por vir hoje.' Candidato: '________ pela oportunidade.'
In a job interview, 'Muitíssimo obrigado' maintains the necessary formal register.
Match the phrase to the register.
Match 'Muitíssimo obrigado' to its register.
It is used to show high levels of gratitude in a polite or formal way.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
The Gratitude Scale
Practice Bank
4 exercisesA Maria disse: '________ pela sua ajuda com as malas.'
Since Maria is female, she must use the feminine form 'obrigada'.
In which of these scenarios should you use 'Muitíssimo obrigado'?
This is a significant, formal, and deeply emotional situation where the absolute superlative is appropriate.
Entrevistador: 'Obrigado por vir hoje.' Candidato: '________ pela oportunidade.'
In a job interview, 'Muitíssimo obrigado' maintains the necessary formal register.
Match 'Muitíssimo obrigado' to its register.
It is used to show high levels of gratitude in a polite or formal way.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, you can use it with many adjectives, like 'muitíssimo importante' (extremely important) or 'muitíssimo interessante' (extremely interesting).
Yes! If a group of men (or a mixed group) is speaking, they say 'Muitíssimo obrigados'. If it's a group of only women, they say 'Muitíssimo obrigadas'.
It might sound a bit formal or sarcastic unless they did something truly huge for you. For friends, 'obrigadão' or 'valeu' is usually better.
'Muitíssimo' is more formal and grammatically sophisticated. 'Muito, muito' is more common in casual, spoken language for emphasis.
People say it all the time! Especially in professional settings, news broadcasts, and formal social events.
The standard 'De nada' works, but in a formal setting, 'Não tem de quê' or 'O prazer foi meu' (The pleasure was mine) sounds even better.
It must have the accent on the 'í' because it is a proparoxytone word (stressed on the third-to-last syllable), and in Portuguese, all proparoxytones are accented.
No, that would be a 'clash of registers.' 'Muitíssimo' is very formal and 'valeu' is very informal. They don't mix well.
Yes, it is very common in Portugal, perhaps even more so than in Brazil in daily formal interactions.
It comes from the idea of being 'obliged' to return a favor. It's a way of saying 'I owe you one.'
Related Phrases
Muito obrigado
similarThank you very much
Muitíssimo grato
synonymExtremely grateful
De nada
contrastYou're welcome
Obrigadão
specialized formBig thanks
