Saying No in Portuguese: Não, Nunca, Nada and Double Negatives
How Portuguese forms negatives, why double negatives are correct, and the common negative words.
Portuguese negation is straightforward, with one feature that surprises English speakers: double negatives are standard.
The basic negative: não
Put não before the verb:
- Falo português. → Não falo português. — I don't speak Portuguese.
- Tenho fome. → Não tenho fome. — I'm not hungry.
- Ela mora aqui. → Ela não mora aqui. — She doesn't live here.
Negative words
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| nada | nothing | Não tenho nada. — I have nothing. |
| nunca | never | Nunca fui a Lisboa. — I've never been to Lisbon. |
| ninguém | nobody | Não vejo ninguém. — I don't see anybody. |
| nenhum / nenhuma | none, not any | Não tenho nenhum problema. |
| também não | neither | Eu também não. — Me neither. |
| nem ... nem | neither ... nor | Nem café nem chá. |
| não ... mais | no longer | Não fumo mais. — I don't smoke any more. |
| ainda não | not yet | Ainda não comi. — I haven't eaten yet. |
Double negatives
When the negative word comes after the verb, não is also required:
- Não vi ninguém. — I didn't see anyone.
- Não digo nada. — I say nothing.
- Ele não vem nunca. — He never comes.
Words like nunca and ninguém can also come before the verb, and não is then dropped:
- Nunca vou lá. — I never go there.
- Ninguém sabe. — Nobody knows.
- Nada é impossível. — Nothing is impossible.
Answering
- Não, obrigado. — No, thank you.
- De jeito nenhum. — No way. (Brazil)
- Nem pensar. — Not a chance.
Prohibitions
Use não with the subjunctive-form imperative: Não fale. (Don't speak.) Não vá. (Don't go.)
Common mistakes
- Dropping não after the verb: Vejo ninguém is wrong.
- Applying English logic to double negatives.
- Forgetting agreement in nenhum/nenhuma.
Tips
- Learn the negative words.
- Practise both positions.
- Use the dictionary for examples.
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