Meaning
An exhortation to begin or proceed.
Cultural Background
In Brazil, 'Vamos lá' is often shortened to 'Vamo lá' or even just 'Vamo'. It is used constantly in social media captions to show productivity. In Portugal, the phrase is used but often competes with 'Força!' (Strength!) for encouragement in sports or difficult tasks. The phrase is common across the Lusophone world, often used with a rhythmic cadence in music and dance contexts.
The Intonation Trick
Rise your pitch at the end for excitement, and drop it for 'let's get this over with'.
The Brazilian 'Vamo'
Drop the 's' in 'Vamos' to sound 10x more like a local in Brazil.
Meaning
An exhortation to begin or proceed.
The Intonation Trick
Rise your pitch at the end for excitement, and drop it for 'let's get this over with'.
The Brazilian 'Vamo'
Drop the 's' in 'Vamos' to sound 10x more like a local in Brazil.
Don't over-nasalize
The 'm' in 'Vamos' is soft; don't let it block your nose too much.
Test Yourself
Which phrase would you use to start a football match?
O jogo vai começar!
'Vamos lá' is the standard exhortation to start.
Complete the sentence with the missing word.
Vamos ____, pessoal! Não podemos parar.
The idiom is fixed as 'Vamos lá'.
Match the tone to the situation.
A tired sigh before washing dishes.
A slow 'Vamos lá' indicates resignation.
What would Maria say to encourage João?
João: 'Não consigo terminar.' Maria: '_______, João! Você é forte.'
It is used for encouragement.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
When to say 'Vamos lá!'
Action
- • Starting work
- • Starting a race
- • Opening a gift
Support
- • Cheering a friend
- • Encouraging a student
- • Sports fans
Practice Bank
4 exercisesO jogo vai começar!
'Vamos lá' is the standard exhortation to start.
Vamos ____, pessoal! Não podemos parar.
The idiom is fixed as 'Vamos lá'.
A tired sigh before washing dishes.
A slow 'Vamos lá' indicates resignation.
João: 'Não consigo terminar.' Maria: '_______, João! Você é forte.'
It is used for encouragement.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questionsYes, it is neutral enough for most professional environments to signal the start of a task.
'Vamos lá' is the correct written form. 'Vamo lá' is how people actually speak in Brazil.
Yes, but 'Bora' is much more informal and slangy.
Absolutely! It's a very common way to self-motivate.
There isn't a direct opposite, but 'Pára tudo' (Stop everything) is often used to halt action.
Yes, it is universal across all Portuguese-speaking countries.
Related Phrases
Bora
synonymLet's go (slang)
Mãos à obra
similarHands to work
Partiu
similarI'm off / Let's go
Vá lá
contrastOh, come on / Fair enough
