In 15 Seconds
- Used to announce that a class or lesson is canceled.
- Combines the verb 'dar' (to give) with 'aula' (class).
- Essential for students and teachers in any educational setting.
Meaning
While it literally means 'not to give a class,' it's most often used to say a teacher is absent or a specific session is canceled. It describes the state of a school or professor not providing instruction on a given day.
Key Examples
3 of 6Checking with a classmate
O professor não vai dar aula hoje?
Is the teacher not giving class today?
A school announcement
A escola não dará aula durante o feriado de Carnaval.
The school will not hold classes during the Carnival holiday.
Texting a friend about a strike
Eles estão em greve, então não estão dando aula.
They are on strike, so they aren't teaching.
Cultural Background
The phrase reflects the structure of the Lusophone education system where 'giving' a class is seen as a performance or a delivery. In Brazil, unexpected cancellations due to rain, strikes, or holidays are common, making this a high-frequency phrase in student slang.
The 'Ter' Alternative
While 'não dar aula' focuses on the teacher, 'não ter aula' focuses on the student. If you say 'Eu não tive aula,' it means 'I didn't have class.'
Don't say 'Ensinar'
Avoid saying 'não ensinar aula.' While 'ensinar' means to teach, it refers to the transfer of knowledge, not the scheduling of a lesson.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to announce that a class or lesson is canceled.
- Combines the verb 'dar' (to give) with 'aula' (class).
- Essential for students and teachers in any educational setting.
What It Means
In Portuguese, you don't 'teach' a class; you 'give' a class (dar aula). When you say não dar aula, you are usually describing a cancellation. It means the professor isn't showing up. It can also mean a school is closed for a holiday. It is the bread and butter of student life in Brazil and Portugal. If you hear this, it usually means free time is coming your way.
How To Use It
You use it just like a regular verb phrase. You can conjugate dar to fit the person or time. For example, O professor não vai dar aula means the teacher won't be there. You can also use it for institutions. A escola não dá aula nos feriados means the school is closed on holidays. It is very straightforward. Just remember that aula is the noun for the lesson itself.
When To Use It
Use it whenever a scheduled lesson isn't happening. It is perfect for texting a classmate to check if you should stay in bed. Use it in professional emails if you are a teacher who is sick. It works at universities, language schools, or even for private tutors. If you are at a gym and the yoga instructor is out, this phrase fits perfectly too. It is a very practical, everyday expression.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it to say someone is a bad teacher. That would be não saber dar aula. This phrase is about the event, not the quality. Also, don't use it for general 'education' or 'parenting.' For raising kids, use educar. This phrase is strictly for formal or semi-formal instruction settings. Don't use it if a student is skipping; that is matar aula (to kill class).
Cultural Background
In Brazil, the relationship between students and teachers is often quite warm. However, bureaucracy or strikes (greves) can sometimes lead to periods where professors não dão aula. Students often celebrate a surprise não vai ter aula moment. It’s part of the 'jeitinho' of navigating school life. In Portugal, the phrase is equally common but perhaps used with a bit more formality in university settings.
Common Variations
You will often hear não vai ter aula which means 'there won't be class.' This is the most common spoken variation. Another one is o professor faltou, meaning the teacher was absent. If the teacher is present but just talking about their life, students might joke that they não deram aula de verdade (didn't really teach).
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and safe for all contexts. The only 'gotcha' is ensuring you conjugate the verb 'dar' correctly, as it is irregular in many tenses.
The 'Ter' Alternative
While 'não dar aula' focuses on the teacher, 'não ter aula' focuses on the student. If you say 'Eu não tive aula,' it means 'I didn't have class.'
Don't say 'Ensinar'
Avoid saying 'não ensinar aula.' While 'ensinar' means to teach, it refers to the transfer of knowledge, not the scheduling of a lesson.
The 'Enforcado' Holiday
In Brazil, if a holiday is on a Thursday, schools often 'hang' (enforcar) the Friday, meaning they 'não dão aula' for a long weekend.
Examples
6O professor não vai dar aula hoje?
Is the teacher not giving class today?
A common way to confirm a rumor about a cancellation.
A escola não dará aula durante o feriado de Carnaval.
The school will not hold classes during the Carnival holiday.
Uses the future tense for a formal announcement.
Eles estão em greve, então não estão dando aula.
They are on strike, so they aren't teaching.
Explaining a reason for a long-term absence.
Sinto muito, mas não poderei dar aula amanhã.
I'm sorry, but I won't be able to teach tomorrow.
A polite and professional way to cancel a session.
Oba! O professor ficou doente e não vai dar aula!
Yay! The teacher got sick and won't be teaching!
Shows the typical student reaction to free time.
Eu viajei duas horas e ele simplesmente não deu aula.
I traveled two hours and he simply didn't show up to teach.
Expresses frustration over a wasted trip.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence to say the teacher isn't teaching today.
Hoje o professor de matemática ___ aula.
The verb 'dar' is specifically used with 'aula' to mean teaching or holding a class.
How would a school formally announce they are closed?
Informamos que a instituição não ___ aula amanhã.
The future tense 'dará' is appropriate for a formal announcement.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Não dar aula'
Texting friends about a cancellation.
Ele não vai dar aula, bora pro shopping?
Asking a secretary or staff member.
O professor vai dar aula hoje?
Official university notice.
O docente não dará aula por motivos de saúde.
When to use 'Não dar aula'
Public Holiday
A faculdade não dá aula no Natal.
Teacher Illness
Ela está gripada e não deu aula.
School Strike
Os professores não estão dando aula.
Private Tutoring
Minha prof de inglês não pode dar aula hoje.
Practice Bank
2 exercisesHoje o professor de matemática ___ aula.
The verb 'dar' is specifically used with 'aula' to mean teaching or holding a class.
Informamos que a instituição não ___ aula amanhã.
The future tense 'dará' is appropriate for a formal announcement.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it specifically refers to the class not happening. To say someone is a bad teacher, you would say ele não sabe dar aula.
Yes! Any instructional setting works. You can say o instrutor não deu aula de pilates.
Faltar means to be absent. Não dar aula is the result of that absence. You can say O professor faltou e não deu aula.
Yes, it is standard Portuguese. Both Brazilians and Portuguese people use dar aula for teaching.
You can say a aula foi cancelada, but o professor não deu aula is much more common in casual speech.
Absolutely. If your Zoom tutor doesn't show up, you can say ele não deu aula hoje.
Not at all. It is a neutral, factual question about whether the session will take place.
That is when a student skips class on purpose. It is the opposite of a teacher não dando aula.
Actually, yes! In slang, dar uma aula means to do something perfectly or to show everyone how it's done, like ele deu uma aula de futebol.
You can say a escola está fechada, but students usually just say não tem aula or não vai ter aula.
Related Phrases
ter aula
to have class (from the student's perspective)
matar aula
to skip/cut class
assistir aula
to attend/watch a class
dar um show
to give a great performance (similar to 'dar uma aula' in slang)
