Manda um Abraço: Send Greetings Through Someone in Portuguese
Send the greeting through the listener
Manda um abraço para sua mãe is an informal “Give your mother my best” or “Send your mother a hug.” Manda addresses the person who will convey the greeting. Para introduces the final recipient. The expression is social: it does not require the listener to deliver an actual physical hug on your behalf.
Manda um abraço para sua mãe.
Give your mother my best.
The listener conveys the greeting.
Manda lembranças para o pessoal.
Give everyone my regards.
A group is the final recipient.
Identify whose greeting it is
De minha parte means “from me” or “on my behalf.” It is useful when a greeting passes through another person. Manda um abraço para o Pedro, de minha parte distinguishes your message from the listener’s own greeting. When receiving greetings, a Ana mandou um abraço identifies Ana as the source, not the person being greeted.
Pode mandar um abraço para a Ana, de minha parte?
Could you give Ana my best?
De minha parte identifies you as the source.
A Ana mandou um abraço para você.
Ana sends you her best.
Reports a greeting from an absent person.
Choose a form that fits the relationship
Manda lembranças para… is another way to ask someone to pass on regards. A more explicit request is pode mandar um abraço para…? In Brazil, command forms vary with everyday address patterns. You can keep the request natural and clear without assuming that every recipient wants affectionate language or that every relationship calls for abraço.
Manda outro para ela!
Send her one back!
Returns the greeting to the original sender.
Pode deixar. Eu falo com ela hoje.
Of course. I will talk to her today.
Accepts the task of passing it on.
Acknowledge a relayed greeting
In this original dialogue, pode deixar accepts the small task. If someone tells you a Ana mandou um abraço, respond with another greeting if you want: manda outro para ela. Here outro refers to another abraço, so the actual meaning is returning the good wishes. The source and destination swap in the reply.
Você: Você vai ver sua mãe hoje?
Will you see your mother today?
Amigo: Vou, sim.
Yes.
Você: Manda um abraço para ela, de minha parte.
Give her my best.
Amigo: Pode deixar.
Of course.
Do not confuse a greeting with a factual message
A recado may contain information someone needs to act on. Um abraço often serves only a social connection. If you have both, keep them separate: tell the time or task clearly, then add the greeting. A warm phrase should not obscure who must call whom or when an actual arrangement happens.
Practice before opening the answers
These are original written practice activities. Try a reply first, then compare the suggested answer and explanation. Other answers can work when they keep the intended meaning.
- Original practice: Your friend will see Ana. Ask them to pass on your greeting.
Suggested answer and explanation
Manda um abraço para a Ana, de minha parte.
Para marks the recipient and de minha parte identifies the source of the good wishes.
- Original practice: A friend says Pedro sent you a greeting. Return it.
Suggested answer and explanation
Que bom! Manda outro abraço para ele.
The reply sends good wishes back to Pedro rather than thanking the messenger for a physical object.
- Original practice: You agree to convey a greeting when you see someone later. Respond.
Suggested answer and explanation
Pode deixar. Eu falo com ela mais tarde.
The response accepts the small task without pretending that the message has already been delivered.
- Original practice: You need to relay a meeting time and a greeting. Keep the actions clear.
Suggested answer and explanation
Avise que o encontro é às sete. E mande um abraço de minha parte.
The factual message and the social greeting remain separate, so warmth does not hide the practical detail.
Practice a reply of your own
Practice sending a greeting, reporting who sent it and returning it. Explore Real Life Portuguese for more Brazilian Portuguese expressions in conversation. Explore Real Life Portuguese.
