👍😊

How to Say ‘You don't look bad at all’ in Portuguese

Não estás nada mal

nowng es-tahs NAH-dah mahl

[nowng es-tahs NAH-dah mahl]

💬 Usage Tip: Nada after não strengthens the "not" rather than cancelling it: não estás nada mal means "you don't look bad at all". Double negatives are normal in Portuguese.

Phrase Breakdown

Não estás

nowng es-tahs

You aren't

The first 'e' of 'estás' is almost swallowed: 'nãu shtásh'.

Example

Não estás cansado?

Aren't you tired?

Words in this phrase

Não

[nowng]

not / no

A common negation word meaning 'not' or 'no'.

Example

Não precisavas de trazer nada, e Não torna a frase negativa.

You didn't need to bring anything, and 'Não' makes the sentence negative.

estás

[es-tahs]

You are

Second person singular form of 'be', used to describe temporary or situation-specific conditions.

Example

Estás aqui há muito tempo?

Have you been here long?

nada mal

NAH-dah mahl

bad at all

'Nada mal' means 'not bad at all', often as a compliment. The 'l' at the end of 'mal' is dark, like in English 'full'.

Example

Nada mal para um principiante.

Not bad at all for a beginner.

Words in this phrase

nada

[NAH-dah]

at all

After a negative, emphasises 'not at all'.

Example

Não custa nada.

It costs nothing at all.

mal

[mahl]

bad

Adverb meaning badly; 'nada mal' means 'not bad at all'.

Example

O jantar não estava mal.

Dinner wasn't bad.

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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