de nada
/d͡ʒi ˈna.dɐ/
de nada is the Portuguese phrase for "you're welcome".
de nada is a polite response used to tell someone that they do not need to thank you. It is the most common and versatile way to respond to obrigado or obrigada in both casual and polite settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition de (of/from) and the pronoun nada (nothing).
Which one should you use?
While de nada is the standard response, não há de quê is a more formal alternative used to say "there is no need to thank me."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the northeastern region of Brazil, locals might use Por nada to mean "you're welcome".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /dʒi ˈna.dɐ/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In very casual settings, particularly in Brazil, you might hear people skip the full phrase and just say imagina!, which literally means 'imagine!'
- The word nada is an unexpected relative of the English word 'natality' or 'born', as it traces back to the Latin concept of something that was 'not born' or 'non-existent'.
- Portuguese speakers sometimes use disponha, meaning 'be at your disposal', as a more professional or service-oriented version of de nada.
Examples in context
- De nada, meu amigo.You're welcome, my friend.
- Não precisa agradecer, de nada.No need to thank me, you're welcome.
- De nada, foi um prazer ajudar.You're welcome, it was a pleasure to help.
Example conversation
Beatriz thanks Lucas for holding the door.
- BeatrizMuito obrigada por segurar a porta, Lucas.Thank you very much for holding the door, Lucas.
- LucasDe nada, Beatriz!You're welcome, Beatriz!
- BeatrizVocê é muito gentil.You are very kind.
- LucasImagina, não foi nada.No problem, it was nothing.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry de nada, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, nada, CC BY-SA 4.0.
