If you’re planning to move to Portugal, or if you’re already here, here’s a survival tip that will make you sound instantly more natural: if you’re not sure what to say, just mumble poisyeah, well, right .
Sounds too simple, right? Although it doesn’t translate neatly into English, pois is a versatile and casual word you can hear in everyday Portuguese conversations.
Sometimes it links ideas together (as a conjunction), other times it adds emphasis (as an adverb), and sometimes it simply shows agreement and keeps the conversation flowing.
Think of it like ‘yeah‘ in English, it all depends on how you say it. By itself, pois generally has two meanings: a brief, assertive pois shows you’re listening and following, while a longer, contemplative pois… (maybe with a chin scratch) means you’re thinking of a reply.
Let’s look at some common examples you’ll hear all the time:
- Pois éThat's right, Exactly (agreement)
- Pois claroOf course (strong agreement)
- Pois... não sei bemWell, I'm not really sure (conversational filler)
- Pois... não sei o que dizerYeah... I don't know what to say (filler as well)
- Pois, pois...Yeah, right... (agreement or sarcasm, depending on the tone)
- A reunião não é amanhã, pois não?The meeting isn't tomorrow, right? (confirmation of a negative statement)
- Não fui, pois estava cansadoI didn’t go, because I was tired (explanation)
- Pois então, vou-me embora!Well then, I'm leaving! (emphasis)
See what we mean? With so many different uses, pois is a great word to have in your back pocket. It might take some time to get the hang of it, but the more examples you hear, the more it starts to click.
If you want to know more, be sure to check out our full guide on pois, The Many Meanings of “Pois”.
Comments
When I was learning Portuguese for the first time in Lisbon some decades ago, we called this the “power of the pois” and it really went a long way toward making conversation feel more natural. I’m reviewing Portuguese for another stay in Portugal this year and appreciated this reminder!