Não, obrigado
/ˈnɐ̃w̃ o.bɾiˈɡa.du/word by word
In Portuguese, "no thanks" is said as Não, obrigado.
This phrase is used to politely decline an offer or an invitation. It translates to "No, thank you" in English.
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on the gender of the person speaking. Use Não, obrigado if you identify as male and use Não, obrigada if you identify as female.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gender of the word for thanks must agree with the gender of the speaker, not the person being spoken to. If the speaker is female, the word must change from obrigado to obrigada.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnɐ̃w̃ o.bɾiˈɡa.du/
Did you know?
- The word obrigado literally means 'obliged'. By saying Não, obrigado, you are telling the other person that you are now 'obliged' or indebted to them for their kindness, even while refusing the offer.
- In some very informal Brazilian contexts, you might hear people use the word 'valeu' instead of 'obrigado' to mean 'thanks', though 'valeu' is much more colloquial.
- The word obrigado shares a common ancestor with the English word 'obligate', making the connection between the two languages clearer through this polite phrase.
Examples in context
- Não, obrigado. Eu estou cansado.No, thanks. I am tired.This example shows how to use Não, obrigado to explain why you are declining, such as being tired.Tatoeba #4773417 by KimiP, translation #456509 by lukaszpp
- Não, obrigado. Eu não bebo cerveja.No, thanks. I don't drink beer.This example demonstrates using Não, obrigado to decline a specific offer, like a drink.Tatoeba #5073813 by markpalmer, translation #5073604 by CarpeLanam
- ''Você quer deixar uma mensagem?'' ''Não, obrigado.''"Do you want to leave a message?" "No, thanks."This example shows a brief exchange using Não, obrigado in response to an offer to leave a message.Tatoeba #2097933 by MarlonX19, translation #1740921 by etala
- Agradeço, mas não. Infelizmente, já tenho outro compromissoI appreciate it, but no. Unfortunately, I already have another commitment
- Valeu, mas tô de boa. Já estou satisfeito/aThanks, but I'm good. I'm already full
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana offers Rodrigo a piece of cake at a party.
- JulianaVocê quer um pedaço de bolo, Rodrigo?Do you want a piece of cake, Rodrigo?
- RodrigoNão, obrigado. Já estou satisfeito.No, thanks. I'm already full.
- JulianaTem certeza? Está delicioso!Are you sure? It's delicious!
- RodrigoNão, obrigado. Vou comer depois.No, thanks. I'll eat later.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (não, obrigado) 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.
