vamo

Vamo is an informal contraction of the Portuguese verb phrase vamos, meaning “let us” or “we are going.” It is most commonly found in Brazilian Portuguese and is used in casual speech and writing. In standard Portuguese, the corresponding form is vamos; vamo is considered nonstandard outside informal contexts, though it is widely understood.

Etymology and form

The form vamo reflects phonetic reduction in colloquial speech, where the final -s of vamos is dropped. It is often written as vamo or vamo’ in informal text to indicate elision. The pronunciation typically corresponds to a single syllable with the stress on the first element.

Usage

Vamo appears frequently in everyday conversation, music lyrics, memes, and social media targeting younger audiences. It carries the same core meaning as vamos but conveys a more casual, emphatic, or enthusiastic tone. Examples include: “Vamo ver o jogo” (Let’s watch the game), “Vamo nessa!” (Let’s go for it!), and “Vamo lá” (Let’s go there). In formal writing, however, the standard form vamos should be used.

Regional notes

While vamo is predominantly associated with Brazilian Portuguese, similar clipped spellings and pronunciations occur in other informal dialects where syllable reduction is common. It is not typically used in formal or academic Portuguese.

See also

Vamos, Brazilian Portuguese, informal speech, slang.