Generally, Portuguese speakers write letters in a highly stylized fashion. Here are some guidelines for good letter writing.

As in English, the date is an essential part of the letter. In Portuguese the date usually goes on the top left-hand side of the paper. Take a look at how the dates are expressed in Portuguese.

Letter headings depend on purpose and the intended reader. Most of the information will be on the left, unless it is displayed in the letterhead itself. In most formal business letters, the title of the recipient is indicated. If it is not, always start the letter with Prezado Senhor (Dear Sir) or Prezada Senhora (Dear Madam). If you do not know who the letter addresses, such as all of those in an executive board, you can use Prezados Senhores (Dear Sirs). Notice that in Portuguese, abbreviations are not used when addressing the recipient.

For more personal or informal letters, you do not need to include the address, and the salutation is the next printed item. The most common salutations parallel those in English. Here are a few examples:

Common courtesy requires introductions in friendly letters. In business letters, introductions are not expected, since you want to be more efficient and get straight to the point. Here are some frequent introductions, from more informal to more formal:

The body of the letter is where you get to display your knowledge of Portuguese! There are no preset rules here, but make sure you keep on track, stick to the point, and remember to be consistent with your message.

The farewell of the letter also depends on how you started it. If you are writing a formal letter, stick to formal farewells. But if you are writing to a friend, it's always good to be friendlier at the end too. Here are some examples:

Exercise: Writing a Letter

Take a look at this letter and see how much you can understand from it. Check the translation in Appendix C.