Servimo-nos do presente

Using this phrase is like following a recipe.

Start your email with this exact string of words.

Always follow it with the word para.

After para, add a verb in the infinitive.

For example: Servimo-nos do presente para solicitar...

This means 'We use this letter to request...'.

You can also use it to inform someone.

Servimo-nos do presente para informar... works perfectly.

Do not try to change the words inside.

It is a fixed block of formal language.

Think of it as a LEGO brick.

You just snap it onto the front.

It makes your writing look instantly more polished.

Just don't forget the para at the end!

This phrase lives at the top of the mountain.

It is very formal and strictly professional language.

You will see it in legal contracts often.

Banks love using this in their official notices.

Government agencies use it to sound authoritative.

It is not for your WhatsApp group chat.

If you use this with friends, they will laugh.

They might think you are acting like a robot.

Save it for job applications and formal complaints.

It belongs in a PDF, not a text message.

In the digital age, it is still very common.

Lawyers on LinkedIn use it to sound traditional.

It signals that you respect the formal protocols.

It is like the 'Tuxedo' of Portuguese openings.

Look at a formal resignation letter from Brazil.

It often starts with Servimo-nos do presente.

Check a notice from your apartment building manager.

They use it to tell you about repairs.

'We use this to inform you about the water'.

You might find it in a bank statement.

They use it to explain a new fee.

In a job offer email, it sets the stage.

'We use this to offer you the position'.

It appears in court documents every single day.

Even some old-school university letters still use it.

It is a staple of the 'Corporate Portuguese' world.

If you work in a Brazilian office, learn it.

You will see it in your inbox eventually.

It is better to know it than be confused.

Use it when you need to be serious.

Writing a letter of complaint to a company?

This phrase shows them you mean business.

Applying for a high-level corporate job in Lisbon?

This opening shows you know the local codes.

Sending a formal invitation to a wedding?

It adds a touch of class and tradition.

Use it when writing to a landlord or bank.

It is perfect for any official document or notice.

Use it when you want to sound older.

Younger generations find it a bit 'old school'.

But in business, 'old school' means 'trustworthy'.

It creates a distance between you and the reader.

That distance is exactly what 'formal' means here.

Never use this when ordering food on Uber.

'We use this to ask for a burger' is weird.

Don't use it in a DM on Instagram.

You will look like a very strange bot.

Avoid it when talking to your Portuguese cousins.

They will ask why you are being so cold.

Do not use it in a casual blog post.

It will kill the 'friendly' vibe of your site.

Never use it in a spoken conversation either.

It is almost exclusively for written communication only.

Saying this out loud sounds like a movie villain.

If you say it, people will look around.

They will search for the legal document you mentioned.

Keep it in the keyboard, not the mouth.

Presente here is NOT a gift or souvenir.

It refers to the document in your hand.

Do not translate it as 'we serve ourselves'.

It means 'we make use of' in this context.

Even if you are alone, use the 'we'.

It is the 'Royal We' of the corporate world.

It sounds much more professional and less personal.

Don't forget the do between the words.

✗ Servimo-nos o presente is a common learner error.

Always include that little do (de + o).

It glues the whole phrase together for natives.

Without it, the sentence falls completely flat.

In Portugal, people prefer Vimos por este meio.

It means 'We come by this means' (this letter).

It serves the exact same purpose and formality.

You can also say Aproveitamos o ensejo.

This means 'We take this opportunity' to do something.

It is slightly more modern but still very formal.

Pelo presente documento is another very strong alternative.

This is even more 'legalistic' and heavy.

If you want something shorter, try Através desta.

It means 'Through this (letter)' and is common.

Servimo-nos desta is a rarer, feminine variation.

It refers to 'esta carta' (this letter) specifically.

Most people stick to the masculine o presente though.

It covers all types of documents and emails.

Is presente a gift in this phrase?

No, it refers to the document you are reading.

Can I use this in an email?

Yes, it is very common in formal emails.

Is it okay for spoken Portuguese?

No, it is strictly for formal writing only.

Do I have to use 'we' (plural)?

Yes, it is the standard professional way to say it.

Is this phrase used in Portugal?

Yes, though Vimos por este meio is more common there.

Is it too old-fashioned?

In business and law, it is still very standard.

What comes after the phrase?

Usually the word para and an action verb.

Can I use it with my boss?

Only if the email is very official or serious.

Should I capitalize the word Presente?

Usually no, unless it starts the entire sentence.