Não recomendo

Use Nao recomendo when you want to advise someone against something. This could be a restaurant, a movie, a product, a route, or even a risky decision. Imagine your friend is about to order the mystery meat special at a dodgy-looking diner. You'd lean in and say, "Hmm, nao recomendo." It’s versatile! You can use it in texts, emails, or even spoken conversations. It's like a little verbal spoiler alert for bad experiences. You might even use it sarcastically for something *so* bad it's funny.

This phrase is quite flexible. It leans informal but can be used in slightly more formal contexts if delivered with a certain tone. In a casual chat with friends via WhatsApp, it's perfectly natural. In a work email, you might phrase it slightly differently, like "I wouldn't personally recommend that option," but nao recomendo can still work if the context is clear and the relationship is established. Think of it as a friendly nudge rather than a formal decree. It's the comfy sweater of Portuguese expressions – usually casual, but can be dressed up a bit.

• Your friend asks if you saw that new horror movie. You reply, "Sim, mas nao recomendo. Deu muito sono." (Yes, but I don't recommend it. It was very sleepy.)
• You're looking at a restaurant menu online. Your cousin messages, "Evita o bacalhau lá, nao recomendo de jeito nenhum." (Avoid the cod there, I don't recommend it at all.)
• Someone asks for advice on a cheap hotel. You say, "Fiquei lá uma vez. O chuveiro não funcionava. Nao recomendo."
• On a forum, someone asks about a specific software. You chime in, "Usei por um ano. Muitos bugs. Nao recomendo."
• A vlogger might say, "This particular souvenir shop? Yeah, nao recomendo. Overpriced and the quality is meh."

Use nao recomendo when you genuinely want to steer someone away from a negative outcome. It's for when you have a strong opinion based on experience. Think about warning your buddy not to date that one person who always causes drama. It's also great for funny, slightly exaggerated warnings, like telling someone not to try that super spicy pepper challenge. It’s the perfect phrase when you want to save someone from a bad haircut, a terrible date, or a movie that makes you question your life choices. It's your personal 'buyer beware' stamp.

Avoid nao recomendo if you haven't actually experienced what you're warning against. Saying it without basis sounds judgmental or uninformed. Also, don't use it in very formal settings where a more diplomatic phrase is needed, like suggesting an alternative in a business proposal. It's not ideal if you want to maintain a strictly neutral stance. And please, don't use it to discourage someone from trying something they are genuinely excited about, unless you have a *very* good, shared-experience reason. It can sound a bit gatekeeper-y otherwise.

• ✗ Eu não recomendo ele. → ✓ Eu não o recomendo. (Incorrect pronoun placement)
• ✗ Não recomendo para você. → ✓ Não recomendo para você. (This is actually correct, but learners often overcomplicate it by trying to add extra words.)
• ✗ Eu não recomendo isso, é ruim. → ✓ Isso, eu não recomendo. (More natural emphasis)
• ✗ Não recomendo a fazer isso. → ✓ Não recomendo fazer isso. (Dropping the unnecessary 'a')

• Não aconselho (I don't advise): Slightly more formal, often used in written recommendations or professional advice.
• Não vale a pena (It's not worth it): Focuses on the lack of value or reward for the effort or cost.
• Fuja disso! (Run from it!): Very informal and emphatic, used for something truly terrible.
• De pé atrás (Be wary/suspicious): Implies caution rather than outright rejection, often used when something seems too good to be true.
• Nem pensar (No way / Forget it): Very strong rejection, often used for requests or suggestions.

• Is it always negative?
• Can I use it for products?
• How polite is it?
• What if I haven't tried it?
• Is there a stronger version?
• What's a more formal way to say this?