não
standard
In Brazil "no" is não, pronounced with a nasal ending. To refuse politely say Não, obrigado (no, thanks), and for a firm refusal Nem pensar (no way).
Meaning: negative answer (adverb)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| não | standard |
| Não, obrigado | polite |
| Nem pensar | strong |
Não answers questions and negates verbs, as in Eu não sei (I do not know). A man says obrigado and a woman says obrigada for thanks.
Which one should you use?
Nem pensar is strong and means "do not even think about it". Que nada! is another way to brush something off and means "not at all".
How do you pronounce it?
Não ends in a nasal "ow" sound, close to "nowng" without the final "g".
Did you know?
- Double negatives are normal in Portuguese, so Não vi ninguém literally means "I did not see nobody" and just means "I saw no one".
Examples in context
- Não, obrigado.No, thank you.
- Eu não sei.I do not know.
- Nem pensar!No way!
Example conversation
Waiter Sílvio offers dessert to the guest Cláudia in a restaurant in Curitiba.
- SílvioQuer sobremesa?Would you like dessert?
- CláudiaNão, obrigada.No, thank you.
- SílvioUm café, então?A coffee, then?
- CláudiaEsse sim.That one yes.
