nada
/ˈna.dɐ/
The Portuguese word for nothing is nada. Wiktionary also lists nenhuma coisa.
Meaning: not any thing (pron)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nada | /ˈna.dɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈna.dɐ/ (Portugal) |
|
| nenhuma coisa | /nẽˈɲũ.mɐ ˈkoj.zɐ/ (Brazil, word by word) | feminine |
nada is the standard way to express the concept of not any thing. The phrase de nada is the standard response to obrigado (thank you), literally meaning "of nothing".
Which one should you use?
While nada is the most common term, nenhuma coisa is a more emphatic or formal way to say nothing. Coisa alguma also serves as a slightly more formal alternative to nada.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the informal expression porra nenhuma is used to mean absolutely nothing.
How do you pronounce it?
Two syllables. The stress is on the first syllable: /ˈna.dɐ/.
When do people say it?
When someone says obrigado to thank you, the standard cultural response is de nada.
Did you know?
- The word coisa, meaning 'thing', evolved from the Latin word causa, which originally meant 'cause' or 'reason'.
- The word nada is an evolutionary relative of the Galician word nada, showing the shared history of the Iberian languages.
- In Brazil, nada can be used as a slang term for 'not at all' or 'no way' in casual disagreements.
Examples in context
- Eu não vi nada.I saw nothing.This sentence shows the use of nada in a negative context.Tatoeba #960410 by alexmarcelo, translation #256395 by CK
- É tudo ou nada.It's either everything or nothing.This sentence uses nada to express an all-or-nothing situation.Tatoeba #964881 by alexmarcelo, translation #4036841 by eeyinn
- Ele não é nada.He is nothing.This sentence uses nada to describe a person's status or character.Tatoeba #1148500 by alexmarcelo, translation #1388967 by marcelostockle
- Desculpe, mas não tenho nada a declarar sobre o assunto.I'm sorry, but I have nothing to declare on the matter.
- Infelizmente, não tenho coisa alguma a oferecer-lhe.Unfortunately, I have nothing to offer you.
- Não se preocupe, nadinha vai dar errado!Don't worry, nothing will go wrong at all!
- 1181 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana and Rodrigo are checking the grocery supplies.
- MarianaRodrigo, tem algum leite na despensa?Rodrigo, is there any milk in the pantry?
- RodrigoNão, não tem nada.No, there is nothing.
- MarianaQue pena, não temos nada para o café.That's a pity, we have nothing for breakfast.
- RodrigoEu vou ao mercado agora.I will go to the market now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nothing” translations and entries nada, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (nenhuma, coisa) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coisa, nada, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
