A1 Sentence Structure 9 min read Easy

Saying 'No': Negation in Portuguese (Não)

Simply place não before your verb to turn any Portuguese sentence into a negative one.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To make a sentence negative in Portuguese, simply place 'não' directly before the verb.

  • Place 'não' before the verb: Eu não falo (I do not speak).
  • Keep the subject pronoun before 'não' or omit it: (Eu) não como carne.
  • Double negatives are standard and encouraged: Eu não vi nada (I didn't see anything).
Subject + não + Verb

Overview

Ever tried to say no to a second coxinha and failed because you didn't know the word? Or maybe you wanted to tell your Uber driver that you're not in a rush, but you just ended up nodding politely? In Portuguese, saying no is actually one of the easiest things you'll ever do.

It's the ultimate conversation-stopper, boundary-setter, and reality-checker. The word não is your best friend when you need to decline a sketchy Tinder date or explain that you don't speak Portuguese (ironic, right?). Whether you're in the heart of Lisbon or the beaches of Rio, não works pretty much the same way.

It's short, punchy, and surprisingly powerful. You'll hear it in songs, see it in every second WhatsApp message, and use it to navigate everything from Netflix menus to ordering a pizza with no pineapple (the correct way to live). Don't worry about complex auxiliary verbs like don't or doesn't in English.

Portuguese keeps it chill. You just drop the não in there and you're good to go. It’s like a magic wand that turns any positive into a negative faster than a bad WiFi connection ruins a Zoom call.

Just remember: in Portuguese, não is the boss.

Word Order Rules

In the world of Portuguese grammar, não is a bit of a VIP. It doesn't like to wait in line. In a standard sentence, não almost always sits right before the verb.
Think of it as a bodyguard protecting the action. You have your subject (the person doing the thing), then não, then the verb itself. If you're texting a friend saying you can't go out, it's Eu não posso.
It’s simple, direct, and very consistent. In English, we have to deal with do not, does not, did not, or will not. In Portuguese?
It's just não. It doesn't care about the tense or the person. It just stays não.
However, there's a tiny twist when you use pronouns like me, te, or se. In European Portuguese, não actually pulls those pronouns to the front, before the verb. In Brazil, they usually put them there anyway, so it feels very natural.
If you're a fan of streaming, you've probably seen não used at the start of sentences to mean No as a standalone answer. But inside a sentence, its home is always right before the action. If you put it after the verb, you might sound like a 19th-century poet or just someone who's had one too many caipirinhas.

How This Grammar Works

How does it actually function in your brain? Imagine a light switch. The verb is the light.
Não is the hand that flips it off. It negates the entire action that follows it. Unlike some languages where the negative word changes based on what you're saying, não is a rock.
It's an adverb of negation. Its job is to tell the listener that the action simply isn't happening. For example, if you say Eu estudo, you're a dedicated student.
Add não before estudo, and suddenly you're pro-gaming instead. It's that easy. One cool thing is that Portuguese is totally fine with 'double negatives.' In English, your teacher might have told you that 'I don't know nothing' is wrong.
In Portuguese, Eu não sei nada is perfectly correct and actually the standard way to say it. The first não sets the negative tone, and the second word (nada, ninguém, nunca) reinforces it. It's like adding extra spice to a dish—it just makes the meaning stronger.
It's built for clarity. When you say não, people know exactly where you stand. It’s the ultimate tool for setting boundaries on social media or telling your boss you're not checking emails on the weekend.

Formation Pattern

1
Creating a negative sentence in Portuguese is a three-step process that’s easier than setting up a new Instagram profile. Follow this pattern and you'll never get lost:
2
Start with the Subject (the person or thing). Sometimes you can even drop this if it’s obvious who you’re talking about.
3
Add the magic word não. This is your anchor. It must go before the verb.
4
Place the Verb immediately after. Conjugate it normally for the person you’re talking about.
5
Example Table:
6
Subject | Negation | Verb | Translation
7
Eu | não | falo | I don't speak
8
Você | não | come | You don't eat
9
Nós | não | vamos | We aren't going
10
Eles | não | entendem | They don't understand
11
It’s basically a math formula: [Subject] + [não] + [Verb] = [Negative Sentence]. If you want to be extra lazy (like most of us on a Monday morning), you can just say Não followed by the verb. Não quero (I don't want) is a complete sentence that every Portuguese speaker uses daily. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a 'dislike' button.

Pattern Variations

Now, let’s get a bit spicy. While the standard não + verb is the gold standard, real people in the streets of São Paulo or Lisbon use variations that might surprise you.
  • Double Negation: This is the most common one. You use não before the verb and another negative word after. Não vi ninguém (I didn't see anyone). It's not a mistake; it's how the language breathes.
  • Colloquial BP 'Não' at the end: In Brazil, especially in casual speech, you might hear people put não at the end of a sentence for emphasis. Eu sei não (I don't know). It sounds very local and cool. Sometimes they even use it twice: Não sei não. It’s like saying 'I don't know, no.' It adds a layer of doubt or shrug-of-the-shoulders vibe.
  • Não as a Tag Question: Just like we use 'right?' in English, Portuguese speakers use não? or né? (short for não é?) at the end of sentences to get a confirmation. Você gosta de pizza, não? (You like pizza, don't you?).
  • The 'No' that means 'Yes': Okay, this is a bit advanced, but sometimes in very informal Brazilian Portuguese, people start a sentence with Não, ... when they actually agree with you. It’s weird, I know. It’s like saying 'No, for real!'
  • Nem: This is a cousin of não. It means not even or neither. Nem eu (Neither do I). It’s great for when you want to be even more negative than não allows.

Real Conversations

Let's see how this looks in the wild. Imagine you're at a café in Porto or scrolling through TikTok comments.

S

Scenario 1

Ordering Food
W

Waiter

Deseja açúcar no café? (Do you want sugar in your coffee?)
Y

You

Não, obrigado. Não gosto de açúcar. (No, thanks. I don't like sugar.)
S

Scenario 2

Technical Issues on Zoom
C

Colleague

Você me escuta? (Do you hear me?)
Y

You

Não, não escuto nada. O áudio não funciona! (No, I don't hear anything. The audio isn't working!)
S

Scenario 3

Texting on WhatsApp
F

Friend

Vamos na festa hoje? (Are we going to the party today?)
Y

You

Não posso. Não tenho dinheiro. (I can't. I don't have money.)
F

Friend

Nem eu! (Neither do I!)

In these cases, não is acting like the ultimate utility tool. Notice how it's used as a standalone answer (Não, ...) and as a part of the sentence (Não gosto...). It’s fast, efficient, and everyone understands it. Whether you're rejecting a cookie or a job offer, the structure remains your loyal companion. If you’re vlogging your trip to Lisbon, you’ll definitely use Não entendo (I don't understand) at least ten times a day. It's the survival phrase of champions.

Common Mistakes

Even the best of us trip up sometimes. Here are the classic 'gringo' mistakes you should avoid if you want to sound like a pro:
  • The 'Don't' Trap: English speakers often try to translate do not literally. They look for a word for do. Stop! There is no do in Portuguese negation. Just use não.
  • Wrong Placement: Putting não after the verb. Eu falo não is okay in very specific Brazilian slang, but for a beginner, it usually just sounds like you're confused. Stick to Não + Verb.
  • Forgetting the Pronoun Shift: In Portugal, if you say Não chamo-me, people will know what you mean, but it sounds clunky. The não should pull the pronoun: Não me chamo. Think of não as a magnet.
  • Double Negatives Fear: Don't be afraid of the 'double negative.' If you say Não vi alguém, it sounds like you're trying too hard to follow English logic. Embrace the Não vi ninguém (I didn't see nobody). It’s grammatically correct in Portuguese!
  • Mixing Não and Nada: Sometimes people just use nada to mean nothing without the não. Eu sei nada is technically understandable but usually, you need that não before the verb to make it a proper sentence: Eu não sei nada.
  • Overusing Não: Yes, it’s a great word, but don't just say Não, não, não like a broken record. Mix in some Nunca (Never) or Jamais (Never ever) to spice things up.

Quick FAQ

Q

Does não change if I'm a girl?

Nope! Não is gender-neutral. It stays the same whether you're masculine, feminine, or a cat.

Q

Can I use não with any tense?

Yes! Past, present, future—não is the universal negator. Não fui (I didn't go), Não vou (I won't go), Não vou (I'm not going).

Q

Is não different in Brazil and Portugal?

The meaning is the same. The main difference is the pronoun placement (Lisbon likes them before the verb in negatives) and some casual slang in Brazil (putting não at the end).

Q

What’s the difference between não and nem?

Não is no/not. Nem is not even or neither. If não is a slap, nem is a shrug.

Q

How do I say 'No way'?

You can say De jeito nenhum! or the very common Nem pensar!

Q

Does não have an accent?

Yes, that little squiggle is called a 'til'. It makes the sound nasal. Imagine you have a cold and you're saying 'now' through your nose. Nã-o.

Q

Can I use não twice in a row?

Totally. Não, não quero is standard for 'No, I don't want it.' It makes you sound very firm and native.

2. Common Negative Expressions

Expression Translation
Não
No/Not
Não... nada
Nothing
Não... ninguém
Nobody
Não... nunca
Never
Não... nem
Neither/Nor

Negation Structure

Subject Negation Verb Object
Eu
não
falo
português
Você
não
come
carne
Ele/Ela
não
estuda
hoje
Nós
não
queremos
sair
Vocês
não
sabem
a resposta
Eles/Elas
não
gostam
de frio

Meanings

The particle 'não' is the primary way to express negation in Portuguese, functioning similarly to 'not' or 'no' in English.

1

Simple Negation

Negating a verb or action.

“Eu não quero.”

“Ela não vai.”

2

Direct Answer

Answering a question with a negative.

“— Você vai? — Não.”

“— Está pronto? — Não, ainda não.”

3

Double Negation

Reinforcing negation with other negative words.

“Eu não vi ninguém.”

“Não tem nada aqui.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Saying 'No': Negation in Portuguese (Não)
Form Structure Example
Simple
não + verb
Eu não vou.
Question
não + verb?
Você não vai?
Double
não + verb + nada
Não vi nada.
Reflexive
não + pronoun + verb
Eu não me sinto bem.
Imperative
não + verb
Não faça isso!
Short Answer
não
— Vai? — Não.
Neither
nem + verb
Nem eu.
Never
nunca + verb
Nunca vi.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Eu não desejo ir.

Eu não desejo ir. (Declining an invitation)

Neutral
Eu não quero ir.

Eu não quero ir. (Declining an invitation)

Informal
Não quero ir.

Não quero ir. (Declining an invitation)

Slang
Tô fora.

Tô fora. (Declining an invitation)

Negation Tree

NÃO

Verbs

  • não quero I don't want

Nouns

  • não é nada it is nothing

Adverbs

  • não nunca never

English vs Portuguese Negation

English
I do not eat Auxiliary + not
Portuguese
Eu não como Direct particle
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Examples by Level

1

Eu não como carne.

I do not eat meat.

2

Ela não fala inglês.

She does not speak English.

3

Nós não vamos hoje.

We are not going today.

4

Eles não querem café.

They do not want coffee.

1

Eu não vi ninguém na rua.

I didn't see anyone on the street.

2

Não tem nada para comer.

There is nothing to eat.

3

Não quero nunca mais ver isso.

I never want to see that again.

4

Não é verdade.

It is not true.

1

Eu não o conheço bem.

I don't know him well.

2

Se eu não tivesse dinheiro, não viajaria.

If I didn't have money, I wouldn't travel.

3

Não me diga que você esqueceu!

Don't tell me you forgot!

4

Não se pode fumar aqui.

One cannot smoke here.

1

Nem ele, nem ela sabiam a resposta.

Neither he nor she knew the answer.

2

Não é que eu não goste, é que estou cansado.

It's not that I don't like it, it's that I'm tired.

3

Não obstante a chuva, saímos.

Notwithstanding the rain, we went out.

4

Não há quem saiba a verdade.

There is no one who knows the truth.

1

Não fosse a sua ajuda, eu teria falhado.

Were it not for your help, I would have failed.

2

Não é pouco o que ele fez.

It is not a little what he did.

3

Não queira saber o que aconteceu.

Don't even want to know what happened.

4

Não há mal que sempre dure.

There is no evil that lasts forever.

1

Não se há de negar a evidência.

One must not deny the evidence.

2

Não é senão uma questão de tempo.

It is but a matter of time.

3

Não se viu jamais tamanha audácia.

Never was such audacity seen.

4

Não me venha com desculpas.

Don't come to me with excuses.

Easily Confused

Saying 'No': Negation in Portuguese (Não) vs Não vs. Nem

Learners mix up 'not' and 'neither'.

Saying 'No': Negation in Portuguese (Não) vs Não vs. Nunca

Learners use 'não' when they mean 'never'.

Saying 'No': Negation in Portuguese (Não) vs Nada vs. Ninguém

Learners use 'nada' for people.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu não do falo.

✓

Eu não falo.

Learners add 'do' from English.
✗

Eu falo não.

✓

Eu não falo.

Incorrect word order.
✗

Não quero nada.

✓

Não quero nada.

Actually correct, but learners often think it's wrong.
✗

Eu não comer.

✓

Eu não como.

Forgot to conjugate.
✗

Eu não vi nada.

✓

Eu não vi nada.

This is correct, but learners often avoid it.
✗

Não tem ninguém.

✓

Não tem ninguém.

Correct, but learners struggle with 'tem' vs 'há'.
✗

Eu nunca não vou.

✓

Eu nunca vou.

Redundant negation.
✗

Eu não o vi ele.

✓

Eu não o vi.

Redundant object pronoun.
✗

Não é que eu não gosto.

✓

Não é que eu não goste.

Subjunctive needed.
✗

Não sei se ele não vai.

✓

Não sei se ele vai.

Unnecessary negation.
✗

Não fosse ele, eu não teria ido.

✓

Não fosse ele, eu não teria ido.

Correct, but learners often use indicative.
✗

Não é senão que ele quer.

✓

Não é senão o que ele quer.

Syntax error.
✗

Não há quem não sabe.

✓

Não há quem não saiba.

Subjunctive error.

Sentence Patterns

Eu não ___.

Não tem ___ aqui.

Eu não ___ que você ___.

Não ___ a verdade.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Não posso ir.

Ordering food very common

Não quero gelo.

Job interview common

Não tenho essa experiência.

Travel common

Não entendo.

Social media very common

Não concordo!

Delivery apps common

Não deixar na portaria.

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💡

Keep it simple

Don't look for complex structures. Just 'não' + verb.
⚠️

Watch the nasal

Make sure you nasalize the 'ão' so it sounds like a native.
🎯

Double negatives

Don't be afraid of them. They are correct in Portuguese.
💬

Regional usage

In Brazil, you might hear 'não' at the end of a sentence for emphasis.

Smart Tips

Don't translate 'do'. Just say 'Eu não como carne'.

Eu não do como carne. → Eu não como carne.

Don't be afraid. It's correct.

Eu vi nada. → Eu não vi nada.

Add 'obrigado' after 'não'.

Não. → Não, obrigado.

Use 'não' as a standalone answer.

Não vou. → — Vai? — Não.

Pronunciation

/nɐ̃w̃/

Nasalization

The 'ão' in 'não' is nasal. Let air escape through your nose.

Falling

Não. ↘

Finality or disagreement.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'não' as a 'No-Go' sign that you place right in front of the action.

Visual Association

Imagine a red 'Stop' sign (a 'não' sign) appearing right before a person doing an action, like a person about to eat, but the sign blocks the spoon.

Rhyme

To say no, don't be slow, put 'não' before the verb, and you're good to go!

Story

Maria wanted to eat cake. She saw the cake, but her doctor said no. She looked at the cake and said, 'Eu não como bolo'. The 'não' stood like a wall between her and the cake.

Word Web

nãonadaninguémnuncanemtampouco

Challenge

Spend 5 minutes writing 5 things you do NOT like to do today.

Cultural Notes

Brazilians often use 'não' at the end of sentences for emphasis, e.g., 'Vou não'.

European Portuguese speakers are more likely to use standard 'não' placement.

Negation is often reinforced with specific regional particles.

The word 'não' comes from the Latin 'non'.

Conversation Starters

“

Você gosta de café?

“

Você vai sair hoje?

“

Você já viu esse filme?

“

Você concorda com isso?

Journal Prompts

Write 5 things you don't like to eat.
Describe a day where nothing went right.
Write about a rule you don't agree with.
Discuss a historical event that didn't happen as expected.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ falo português.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: não
Simple negation.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não falo.
Word order.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu não do falo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não falo.
No do-support.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

comer / não / eu / carne

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não como carne.
Correct order.
Is this true? True False Rule

Double negatives are incorrect in Portuguese.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
They are standard.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

— Você vai? — ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não
Direct answer.
Negate the verb. Conjugation Drill

Eu como -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não como
Standard negation.
Match the negation. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nunca
Vocabulary match.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ falo português.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: não
Simple negation.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não falo.
Word order.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu não do falo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não falo.
No do-support.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

comer / não / eu / carne

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não como carne.
Correct order.
Is this true? True False Rule

Double negatives are incorrect in Portuguese.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
They are standard.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

— Você vai? — ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não
Direct answer.
Negate the verb. Conjugation Drill

Eu como -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não como
Standard negation.
Match the negation. Match Pairs

Match: 'Never' to Portuguese.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nunca
Vocabulary match.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Negate the sentence: 'Eu tenho tempo.' Fill in the Blank

Eu ___ tenho tempo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: não
Translate 'We don't know'. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós não sabemos
Fix the sentence 'I don't see anyone'. Error Correction

Eu não vejo alguém.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não vejo ninguém.
Translate into Portuguese. Translation

The phone doesn't work.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O telefone não funciona.
Which one is a correct negative response? Multiple Choice

Do you speak French? (Você fala francês?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não, não falo.
Match the English and Portuguese phrases. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I don't want: Eu não quero, I don't know: Eu não sei, I don't have: Eu não tenho, I don't like: Eu não gosto
Fill in the blank for 'He never studies'. Fill in the Blank

Ele ___ estuda.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nunca
Put the words in order: 'They don't understand anything'. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles não entendem nada
Find the mistake: 'I don't like milk.' Error Correction

Eu não gostar de leite.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não gosto de leite.
Say 'It's not expensive'. Fill in the Blank

___ é caro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, Portuguese does not use auxiliary 'do'. Just use 'não'.

Yes, they are standard and encouraged.

Always before the verb.

They are similar, but 'não' is nasalized.

Yes, it's a common way to say 'no'.

'Não' is for simple negation, 'nem' is for 'neither/nor'.

No, it's neutral. Use 'obrigado' to be polite.

Place 'não' before the pronoun and verb.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

no

Portuguese 'não' is nasalized.

French partial

ne... pas

French requires two particles.

German moderate

nicht

German word order is more complex.

Japanese low

nai

Japanese uses suffixation.

Arabic moderate

la

Arabic negation changes with tense.

Chinese moderate

bù

Chinese 'bù' is not nasalized.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Yes/No Questions: The Intonation Rule

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