In 15 Seconds
- A polite, slightly polished way to say 'you're welcome'.
- Literally means 'there is nothing to thank for'.
- Perfect for both professional settings and meeting new people.
Meaning
It is a polite way to say 'you're welcome' or 'don't mention it.' It literally suggests there is nothing to thank for because the favor was small or natural.
Key Examples
3 of 6At a nice restaurant
— Obrigado pelo vinho. — Não há de quê, senhor.
— Thank you for the wine. — You're welcome, sir.
Helping a neighbor
— Muito obrigada por segurar a porta! — Não há de quê, Dona Maria.
— Thank you so much for holding the door! — Don't mention it, Mrs. Maria.
Meeting a client
— Agradeço pela apresentação. — Não há de quê, o prazer foi meu.
— I appreciate the presentation. — Not at all, the pleasure was mine.
Cultural Background
In Portugal, 'Não há de quê' is very standard and used daily by all age groups. It is often preferred over 'De nada' in many social contexts to show proper 'educação'. Brazilians often find 'Não há de quê' a bit formal. You'll hear it more in the South or in professional settings in São Paulo. In Rio, 'Imagina' or 'Valeu' are more common. In Luanda, politeness is highly valued. 'Não há de quê' is used with a distinct, melodic intonation that conveys warmth and respect. Similar to Portugal, the formal register is often maintained in public life. 'Não há de quê' is the standard response in government offices and schools.
The 'Disponha' Combo
In professional settings, say 'Não há de quê, disponha'. It makes you sound incredibly professional and helpful.
The Accent Matters
Never forget the hat (^) on the 'ê' in writing. Without it, it's grammatically incorrect at the end of a sentence.
In 15 Seconds
- A polite, slightly polished way to say 'you're welcome'.
- Literally means 'there is nothing to thank for'.
- Perfect for both professional settings and meeting new people.
What It Means
Think of this as the classic 'don't mention it.' It is a polite response to obrigado. You are telling the person that their thanks, while appreciated, aren't necessary. It implies the favor was no trouble at all. It is slightly more elegant than a simple de nada.
How To Use It
Using it is incredibly simple. When someone says obrigado or obrigada, you reply with Não há de quê. You do not need to add anything else. It works as a complete sentence on its own. It feels smooth and sophisticated without being stuffy.
When To Use It
Use it when you want to sound a bit more polished. It is perfect for a waiter at a nice restaurant. Use it when a colleague thanks you for a report. It is great for meeting your partner's parents for the first time. It shows you have good manners and a solid grasp of the language.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid it in extremely high-energy, slang-heavy situations. If your best friend gives you a high-five and a 'thanks dude,' this might sound a bit too formal. Don't use it if you are actually annoyed by the favor you did. It is a phrase of genuine politeness, not sarcasm. Also, avoid it in very short text messages where tmj (tamo junto) is preferred.
Cultural Background
This phrase is a beautiful relic of Portuguese linguistic history. It follows a logic similar to the French 'de rien.' It reflects the humble nature of Lusophone culture. In Portugal, you might hear it even more frequently than in Brazil. It suggests that helping others is just part of being a good person. It is the verbal equivalent of a polite nod and a smile.
Common Variations
You will often hear De nada, which is the most common version. In Brazil, people often say Imagina, which means 'imagine that.' Another popular one is Por nada, meaning 'it was for nothing.' If you want to be very formal, you could say Não tem de quê. For a very casual vibe, just say Disponha or 'available to help.'
Usage Notes
This phrase sits in the 'Goldilocks' zone of formality—not too stiff, not too casual. It is a safe bet for 90% of social interactions where you want to show good manners.
The 'Disponha' Combo
In professional settings, say 'Não há de quê, disponha'. It makes you sound incredibly professional and helpful.
The Accent Matters
Never forget the hat (^) on the 'ê' in writing. Without it, it's grammatically incorrect at the end of a sentence.
Regional Choice
If you are in Portugal, use 'Não há de quê' more often. If in Brazil, 'De nada' is your best friend for daily life.
Examples
6— Obrigado pelo vinho. — Não há de quê, senhor.
— Thank you for the wine. — You're welcome, sir.
Standard polite response in a service environment.
— Muito obrigada por segurar a porta! — Não há de quê, Dona Maria.
— Thank you so much for holding the door! — Don't mention it, Mrs. Maria.
Shows respect to an elder or neighbor.
— Agradeço pela apresentação. — Não há de quê, o prazer foi meu.
— I appreciate the presentation. — Not at all, the pleasure was mine.
Professional and courteous business interaction.
— Valeu pela dica do livro! — Não há de quê! Espero que goste.
— Thanks for the book tip! — You're welcome! Hope you like it.
Polite but friendly for someone you don't know well yet.
— Obrigado por não comer meu chocolate. — Não há de quê, mas foi difícil!
— Thanks for not eating my chocolate. — Don't mention it, but it was hard!
Using a formal-ish phrase for a silly situation adds humor.
— Obrigada por me ouvir hoje. — Não há de quê, estou sempre aqui.
— Thank you for listening to me today. — Don't mention it, I am always here.
Softens the gratitude to make the friend feel comfortable.
Test Yourself
Choose the most appropriate response to: 'Obrigado pela sua ajuda com o projeto.'
Obrigado pela sua ajuda com o projeto.
While 'De nada' is correct, 'Não há de quê' is more professional for a project context.
Fill in the missing word with the correct accentuation.
— Muito obrigada! — Não há de ____.
The word 'que' needs a circumflex accent when it ends a sentence.
Match the response to the situation.
A waiter serving a customer who says 'Obrigado'.
In a formal service setting, 'Não há de quê' is the most professional choice.
Complete the dialogue with a polite formal response.
Cliente: 'Agradeço muito a sua paciência.' Atendente: '__________.'
The client is using formal language ('Agradeço'), so the response should match.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesObrigado pela sua ajuda com o projeto.
While 'De nada' is correct, 'Não há de quê' is more professional for a project context.
— Muito obrigada! — Não há de ____.
The word 'que' needs a circumflex accent when it ends a sentence.
A waiter serving a customer who says 'Obrigado'.
In a formal service setting, 'Não há de quê' is the most professional choice.
Cliente: 'Agradeço muito a sua paciência.' Atendente: '__________.'
The client is using formal language ('Agradeço'), so the response should match.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
14 questionsYes, it is generally considered more formal and polite, though it is still very common in everyday speech.
Yes, but it might sound a bit 'proper'. With close friends, 'De nada' or 'Valeu' is more natural.
Because it is a tonic pronoun at the end of a sentence. In Portuguese, 'que' always gets an accent when it's stressed at the end.
Yes, but less frequently than in Portugal. It's mostly used in professional or formal situations in Brazil.
It literally means 'There is not of what', implying 'There is nothing to thank me for'.
Yes, especially in Portugal. In Brazil, it's less common but still understood.
It's a nasal sound. Try saying 'now' while pinching your nose, then try to make the same sound without pinching it.
Absolutely. It's a perfect response to a 'Thank you' in a professional email.
No, 'Não há de quê' is an invariable expression. It stays the same regardless of who is speaking.
In Brazil, it's 'Valeu' or 'Tamo junto'. In Portugal, it's 'De nada'.
A little bit in Brazil, but not in Portugal. In Brazil, it sounds 'classy' rather than 'old'.
No. For 'Sorry', you should say 'Não foi nada' or 'Tudo bem'.
No, the 'h' is always silent in Portuguese.
If you say 'Não há quê', it won't make sense. The 'de' is essential.
Related Phrases
De nada
synonymOf nothing
Por nada
similarFor nothing
Imagina
similarImagine
Disponha
specialized formAt your disposal
Não seja por isso
similarDon't let that be the reason
