não correr risco

Using this phrase is easier than finding a cat video on TikTok. The verb correr (to run) is regular, so it follows the standard -er conjugation rules. You'll almost always see it paired with não at the beginning. If you want to say 'I don't want to take a risk,' you'd say Eu não quero correr o risco. Notice the little o that often creeps in there—it makes it sound more specific. You can also follow it with the word de (of) to explain exactly what you are avoiding. For example, Não quero correr o risco de chegar atrasado (I don't want to run the risk of arriving late). It’s a very flexible phrase that fits into almost any sentence structure where you’d use a verb. You can use it in the present, past, or even the future if you're feeling particularly prophetic about your own caution. It's like the safety railing on a balcony—it’s just there, doing its job, making sure you don't fall off into the abyss of regret. If you're feeling extra fancy, you can even use it in a professional email to explain why you're not launching that half-baked feature yet. Your boss will love it; it sounds responsible and 'risk-averse,' which is just corporate-speak for 'I like my job and want to keep it.'

Let’s look at some modern scenarios where this pops up. Picture this: you're at a music festival, and your phone battery is at 5%. You want to take one last video of the headliner, but you also need to call an Uber later. You turn your phone off. You're não correndo risco. Or maybe you're online shopping and you see a shirt that looks great on the model but has zero reviews. You close the tab. Não correr risco. It’s the vibe of checking the weather app three times before heading out for a hike, just in case that 10% chance of rain turns into a monsoon. In the world of social media, it's the person who saves their best photos to a 'private' album before deciding which one to post. It’s the 'better safe than sorry' energy that keeps our bank accounts—and our dignity—mostly intact. Even in gaming, if you're playing a battle royale and you hide in a bush instead of rushing a full squad, you're practicing the fine art of não correr risco. It's not cowardice; it's strategy, okay? At least that's what I tell myself when I'm the first one out in Call of Duty.

This is a 'Goldilocks' phrase—it works almost everywhere. Use it in professional meetings when you want to suggest a more conservative approach to a project. Use it with friends when you're deciding whether to try that 'secret' menu item that looks like it was invented by a mad scientist. It’s perfect for travel situations, like when you decide to arrive at the airport four hours early because you don't trust the local traffic. It’s also great for relationships—maybe you don't want to correr o risco of scaring someone off by mentioning your collection of vintage spoons on the first date. It’s a neutral, reliable phrase that bridges the gap between 'I’m being responsible' and 'I’m being a bit of a scaredy-cat.' It’s the linguistic equivalent of wearing a seatbelt even if you're just driving to the corner store. Use it whenever certainty is more important than the potential thrill of the unknown. Life is full of gambles, but sometimes you just want to win the small prizes without losing your shirt.

Don't use this if you're trying to sound like a daring adventurer or a high-stakes entrepreneur. If you tell a VC investor 'I don't want to run a risk,' they'll probably show you the door before you can finish your sentence. Avoid it in contexts where bravery or spontaneity is expected. For instance, if you're at a karaoke bar and your friends are cheering for you to sing 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' saying Não quero correr o risco de passar vergonha (I don't want to run the risk of embarrassing myself) might make you look like a bit of a party pooper. Also, be careful not to confuse it with não ter risco. Não correr risco is an action *you* take (or don't take), while não ter risco means the *situation* itself is safe. If you say 'the bridge doesn't run risk,' people might think the bridge has developed a consciousness and is making life choices. Which would be a much bigger problem than your Portuguese grammar. Stick to using it for people and their decisions.

The biggest trap for English speakers is saying tomar um risco. In English, you 'take' a risk, but in Portuguese, if you 'take' a risk (tomar um risco), people might think you're trying to drink a abstract concept like it's a shot of tequila. Remember: you corre (run) the risk. Another common slip is forgetting the article o. While não correr risco is fine as a general concept, in specific sentences, it almost always needs to be não correr o risco. Also, watch out for the preposition. It’s always correr o risco DE something. Don't use com or para. ✗ Não correr risco com perder → ✓ Não correr o risco de perder. It’s a small detail, but it’s the difference between sounding like a tourist and sounding like someone who actually knows their way around a pastelaria. Oh, and don't try to say correr do risco. That would mean 'running *away* from the risk,' which is technically what you're doing, but it’s not how we say it. We just don't 'run' it in the first place.

A very close cousin of this phrase is jogar pelo seguro. This literally means 'to play by the safe [way]' and is the direct equivalent of 'to play it safe.' While não correr risco focuses on avoiding the negative, jogar pelo seguro focuses on choosing the positive, safe option. They are often interchangeable. Another one is ir pelo caminho mais seguro (to go by the safest path). If you want to sound a bit more idiomatic, you could use não dar ponto sem nó. This literally means 'not to make a stitch without a knot,' describing someone who is extremely calculated and never does anything without a guaranteed outcome. It’s like the 'Pro' version of being cautious. Then there's seguro morreu de velho, a famous proverb which means 'Safety died of old age.' It’s basically the Portuguese way of saying 'You can never be too careful.' It’s a bit old-fashioned, but it adds a nice touch of local wisdom to your conversation. Use it when you're explaining why you brought an umbrella to a desert.

You’ll often hear não quero correr o risco (I don't want to run the risk) or melhor não correr risco (better not to run a risk). Sometimes people shorten it to just não vou arriscar (I’m not going to risk it), which uses the verb arriscar instead. While arriscar is a single word, correr o risco feels a bit more descriptive and dramatic. You might also see evitar riscos (to avoid risks), which is more formal and sounds like something you’d read in a safety manual for a microwave. In the workplace, people might say minimizar riscos (to minimize risks). If you’re talking about a very small possibility, you can say não correr o menor risco (not to run the slightest risk). This is what you say when you’re being extra, extra careful, like checking that you actually locked the front door for the fifth time before leaving for vacation. It adds that extra layer of 'I am 100% sure nothing will go wrong because I am paranoid.'

Is it 'correr risco' or 'correr um risco'? Both work! 'Correr risco' is more general, while 'correr o risco' or 'correr um risco' is used for specific situations. Can I use it for sports? Yes, if a coach decides not to play a star player who is slightly injured, they are 'não correndo o risco' of making the injury worse. Is it formal? It's neutral. You can use it with your grandma or your CEO. Why the word 'run'? It likely comes from the Latin 'incurrere' (to run into), suggesting you are moving toward a danger. Is there a slang version? Not really, but you can say 'não vou entrar nessa barca furada' (I won't get on that leaky boat) to mean you're avoiding a risky situation. Does it always take 'de'? Yes, when you specify the risk, 'de' is your best friend. For example, 'risco de chuva,' 'risco de queda.'