não, obrigado
/ˈnɐ̃w̃ o.bɾiˈɡa.du/word by wordmasculine
The English phrase "no thank you" is translated into Portuguese as não, obrigado or não, obrigada.
Meaning: polite way of saying no (intj)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| não, obrigado | /ˈnɐ̃w̃ o.bɾiˈɡa.du/ (Brazil, word by word) | masculine |
| não, obrigada | /ˈnɐ̃w̃ o.bɾiˈɡa.dɐ/ (Brazil, word by word) | feminine |
This phrase is used as a polite way of saying no.
Which one should you use?
The form não, obrigado is used by masculine speakers, while não, obrigada is used by feminine speakers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, you might hear não, valeu instead of não, obrigado/a in informal settings.
How do you pronounce it?
The phrase consists of 4 syllables with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈnɐ̃w̃ o.bɾiˈɡa.du/.
Did you know?
- The word obrigado literally means 'obliged' or 'indebted' rather than 'thankful'. You are essentially telling the person that you are 'bound' to them by the favor they offered.
- In some Portuguese-speaking cultures, a slight shake of the head accompanied by the words não, obrigado is expected, as the verbal refusal alone can sometimes feel incomplete.
- While obrigado changes based on the speaker's gender, it is never based on the gender of the person being thanked.
Examples in context
- Não, obrigado. Estou cheio.No, thank you. I'm full.This example shows how to use não, obrigado to decline food.Tatoeba #417850 by brauliobezerra, translation #65670 by CK
- Não, obrigada. Estou grávida.No thank you, I'm pregnant.This example shows how to use não, obrigada to decline something while explaining a personal state.Tatoeba #4398483 by carloseperola, translation #543416 by blay_paul
- "Quer deixar recado?" "Não, obrigado.""Shall I take a message?" "No, thank you."This example shows how to use não, obrigado when declining an offer to take a message.Tatoeba #7253329 by carlosalberto, translation #73597 by CK
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz offers Gabriel more coffee during a break.
- BeatrizVocê quer mais um café, Gabriel?Do you want another coffee, Gabriel?
- GabrielNão, obrigado. Já bebi muito hoje.No, thank you. I've already had a lot today.
- BeatrizTem certeza? Está bem fresco.Are you sure? It's very fresh.
- GabrielTenho sim. Não, obrigado.I am. No, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no thank you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (não, obrigado, obrigada) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries não, obrigado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
