ninguém
/nĩˈɡẽj̃/
The English phrase 'no one' is translated into Portuguese as ninguém.
ninguém is used as a pronoun to mean not even a single person.
Meaning: not even a single person (pron)
How does it change in a sentence?
ninguém is an indefinite pronoun that is always singular and does not change for gender.
How do you pronounce it?
/nĩˈɡẽj̃/
Did you know?
- In many Portuguese dialects, if you want to emphasize the absence of people, you might use both 'não' and ninguém in the same sentence. This 'double negative' is grammatically required rather than a mistake.
- The word ninguém is a direct descendant of the Latin 'nec quem', meaning 'not whom'.
- When used as a noun to describe a person of no importance or a 'nobody', um ninguém functions as a social label rather than just a pronoun.
Examples in context
- Não há ninguém lá.There is no one there.This sentence shows how to use ninguém to state that there is no one in a specific location.Tatoeba #6781187 by Ricardo14, translation #1841569 by CK
- Ninguém é como tu.No one else is like you.This sentence uses ninguém to say that no one else is like a certain person.Tatoeba #11189046 by carlosalberto, translation #11189036 by carlosalberto
- Ninguém quer ir aí.No one wants to go there.This sentence uses ninguém to express that no one wants to go to a certain place.Tatoeba #1784665 by alexmarcelo, translation #1670953 by Scott
- 878 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana and Rodrigo are talking about an empty cafe.
- MarianaRodrigo, por que o café está tão vazio?Rodrigo, why is the cafe so empty?
- RodrigoNão sei, parece que não tem ninguém aqui.I don't know, it seems like there is no one here.
- MarianaPois é, ninguém veio hoje.Indeed, no one came today.
- RodrigoTalvez esteja chovendo muito lá fora.Maybe it is raining a lot outside.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no one” translations and entries ninguém, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ninguém, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
