Bpeh-'leh-zuh?
(please take a look at Pronunciation Key, located on the tabs above)
Beauty? Grace?
At face value, this expression is as confusing as "What's up?" (the roof?) to someone unfamiliar with colloquial English.
Interpreted as an expression, "Beleza?" is an informal greeting, a shortened version of (2) "Está tudo beleza?" (ehs-'dtá 'dtoo-doo beh-'leh-zuh? -- is everything beautiful, good, gracious, etc?).
A similar greeting is (3) "Tudo jóia?" ('Dtoo-doo 'zhaw-ee-uh? -- everything OK)? Note: Jóia also means jewel.
For more formal situations, let's go over standard greetings and expressions:
(4) Oi!
Oee!
Can't go wrong with "Hi!", it's short and easy to pronounce.
(5) Olá!
O-'lah!
Similar to "Hello!", and like "hello", I don't hear this very often.
(6) Alô?
Ah-'lo?
Speaking of "Hello", it is important to know this telephone greeting.
(7) Bom dia!
Bong 'djee-uh!
"Good morning!" Also used as "have a nice day."
(8) Boa tarde!
'Boo-uh 'tahr-djee!
"Good afternoon!" Sometimes used as "good evening" halfway into the evening, because there's no expression with the meaning "Good evening."
(9) Boa noite!
'Boo-uh 'noee-chee!
"Good evening!" and "Good night!"
(10) Tchau!
Chaoo!
"Bye!" Just like the Italian "Ciao", but unlike in Italian, this expression is only used when saying goodbye.
Listen to the numbered words and phrases in this video:
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