🤷❓

How to Say ‘Why not?’ in Portuguese

Porque não?

POOR-keh NOWN

[POOR-keh NOWN]

💬 Usage Tip: Written as two words, por que/porque are easy to confuse. In Portugal, porque covers both "why" and "because" in speech.

Phrase Breakdown

Porque

[POOR-keh]

why

In questions, 'porque' means why; 'porque não?' means why not.

Example

Porque estás aqui?

Why are you here?

não

[NOWN]

not

Used to negate the meaning of a word or group of words.

Example

Não quero comer agora.

I don't want to eat now.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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