Bom and bem are some of the first words every Portuguese learner learns. Yet, these words are frequently misused, even by advanced speakers. To help clear up any confusion, here’s a guide to using bom and bem in Portuguese correctly, with examples to illustrate their proper use. I’ve also included a practice exercise at the end of this lesson 💪🏼
How to use Bom in Portuguese
Here’s what you need to know about bom to use it correctly:
✓ Bom = good. Memorization tip: Both words contain the letter O.
✓ Bom is an adjective, which means it has both feminine and plural forms.
✓ The feminine form of bom is boa.
✓ The plural forms are bons (masculine) and boas (feminine).
✓ The opposite of bom is mau (note the U at the end, and not an L).
✓ The feminine form of mau is má.
✓ The plural forms are maus (masculine) and más (feminine).
Examples:
1) Tiago é um bom aluno e tem bom comportamento. (Tiago is a good student and has good behavior.)
2) O mau comportamento das crianças torna o trabalho do professor mais difícil. (The bad behavior of children makes the teacher’s job harder.)
3) Clarinha é boa aluna, mas Ana é má aluna. (Clarinha is a good student, but Ana is a bad student.)
4) Os pais têm que dar bons exemplos aos filhos. (Parents must set good examples for their children.)
5) Pais que têm maus hábitos são uma má influência para os filhos. = Parents with bad habits are a bad influence on their children. (Yes, I know parents are just human too. Sorry if the example is too harsh.)
6) Como foi a sua viagem ao Brasil? Foi boa? (How was your trip to Brazil? Was it good?)
Tip: Also use boa in your answer, and not bem. Or you can say, “Foi ótima!” (It was great.)
7) Como foi o seu dia? Foi bom? (How was your day? Was it good?)
Tip: Also use bom in your answer, and not bem.
8) Antônio é um bom cozinheiro. (Antônio is a good cook.)
How to use Bem in Portuguese
Here’s what you need to know about bem to use it correctly:
✓ Bem = well. Memorization tip: Both words contain the letter ‘E’.
✓ Bem is an adverb, so it does not have plural or feminine forms.
✓ The opposite of bem is mal (note the L at the end).
✓ Bem and mal do not have plural or feminine forms.
Examples:
1) Márcia não está se sentindo bem hoje. Ela dormiu mal e acordou gripada. (Márcia isn’t feeling well today. She slept poorly and woke up with a cold.)
2) No escritório, todo mundo percebeu que Márcia estava se sentindo mal. (At the office, everyone noticed that Márcia was feeling unwell.)
3) Antônio cozinha muito bem. (Antônio cooks really well.)
4) E aí, Paula? Tudo bem? (Hey, Paula? How are you?)
Tudo Bem? Tudo Bom?
The phrases “Tudo bem?” and “Tudo bom?” are interchangeable when greeting someone:
- Tudo bem?
- Tudo bom?
Similarly, you can answer with either “tudo bem” or “tudo bom”.
But keep in mind that bom and bem in Portuguese are not interchangeable in other contexts.
These greetings are so integral to Brazilian culture that my lesson on Tudo bem is one of my most watched videos on YouTube.
Expand your vocabulary: Bem Meaning Very
In Brazilian Portuguese, bem can also mean “very”. This usage is so common that I’ve dedicated a separate lesson to it. I highly recommend checking it out to understand this versatile word fully.
I have an older video for this lesson. While the production quality may not reflect the latest advancements in technology, it offers a great opportunity to hear the pronunciation of all the examples.
Make sure you do the practice exercises below!
Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks using Bom, Mau, Bem, Mal. Use the feminine or the plural forms as needed.
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This post was originally published in 2017 and has been updated.
