Writing a formal email in Portuguese: openings and sign-offs
For the landlord, the school, the Finanças or a job: the phrases that make a Portuguese email sound polite and natural.
Opening
Very formal: Exmo. Senhor / Exma. Senhora (to an official or someone you don't know). Formal but friendlier: Caro Sr. Silva / Cara Dra. Marta. Many people simply start with Bom dia, or Boa tarde,.
Titles matter in Portugal: graduates are often addressed as Dr. / Dra. (doutor/doutora) even without a PhD, and engineers as Eng.
Useful middle phrases
Venho por este meio pedir informações sobre…
I am writing to ask for information about…
Junto envio o documento solicitado.
Please find attached the requested document.
Fico a aguardar a sua resposta.
I look forward to your reply.
Signing off
Com os melhores cumprimentos (kind regards) is the safe choice; Cumprimentos is shorter; Atenciosamente is formal. Then your full name.
Try thisUse the third person (o senhor / a senhora, or just the verb: poderia enviar-me…?), never tu (and avoid você, which can sound abrupt).
Quick check
The safest sign-off for a formal email is…
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