não presta
The English phrase "no good" can be translated into Portuguese as não presta.
The expression não presta is an informal way to say that something is of poor quality, does not work or is no good. You can also use the informal phrase Não tá legal to express that something is not good or not going well.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from não (not) and presta (the third-person singular form of the verb prestar, meaning to serve or to be useful). Literally, it means "does not serve" or "is not useful".
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb prestar must be conjugated to agree with the subject. For example, while não presta is used for singular subjects, you should use não prestam when referring to plural subjects (they/they are no good).
Did you know?
- If you describe a person as não presta, you are not just saying they are incompetent, but that they are a person of bad character or a 'bad egg'.
- The word não shares a common ancestor with the English word 'none', tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *né meaning 'not'.
- The word presta comes from the verb prestar, which is also used in the phrase prestar atenção to mean 'pay attention'.
Examples in context
- Estas pessoas não prestam.These people are up to no good.This sentence is useful for showing how to say people are up to no good using não presta.Tatoeba #13595658 by supermarinete, translation #13595656 by supermarinete
- Esta situação não é boaThis situation is no good
- Essa solução não serveThis solution is no good
- Essa festa não tá legalThis party is no good
- Desculpa, mas não está bom. Não consegui me conectar com a história.Sorry, but it's not good. I couldn't connect with the story.
- Este carro não presta.This car is no good.
- Esse brinquedo não presta mais.That toy is no good anymore.
Example conversation
Lucas and Mariana are looking at a broken kitchen appliance.
- LucasMariana, esse liquidificador não presta.Mariana, this blender is no good.
- MarianaEu sabia que ele não prestava.I knew it was no good.
- LucasPreciso comprar um novo.I need to buy a new one.
- MarianaEu te ajudo a escolher.I will help you choose.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries não, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
