🙏❓

How to Say ‘If you don't mind’ in Portuguese

Se não te importares

suh naow tuh eem-poor-TAH-rish

[suh naow tuh eem-poor-TAH-rish]

💬 Usage Tip: After se about something that may or may not happen, the verb takes a special form: importares, not importas. Same pattern: se quiseres "if you want".

Phrase Breakdown

Se não

suh naow

If ... not

'Se' means 'if' and 'não' means 'not'. 'Não' is a strong nasal sound, like 'nown' said through the nose: 'se NÃU'.

Example

Se não chover, vamos à praia.

If it doesn't rain, we'll go to the beach.

Words in this phrase

[suh]

A conjunction used to introduce a condition politely.

Example

Comecei com «Se» for possível para fazer um pedido com cuidado.

I started with “If” possible to make a request carefully.

não

[naow]

Not

Used to express negation, denial, or refusal.

Example

Não sabemos como ele conseguiu.

We don't know how he managed.

te importares

tuh eem-poor-TAH-rish

you mind

'Importar-se' means 'to mind'. This is the future subjunctive form used after 'se'. Say 'te ĩ-pur-TA-resh'.

Example

Se te importares, eu saio.

If you mind, I'll leave.

Words in this phrase

[tuh]

you (yourself)

Informal pronoun used with reflexive 'importar-se' (to mind).

Example

Importas-te de esperar?

Do you mind waiting?

importares

[eem-poor-TAH-rish]

you mind

Future subjunctive of 'importar-se' (to mind), informal you.

Example

Se não te importares, fico aqui.

If you don't mind, I'll stay here.

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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