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How to Say ‘I didn't catch your name’ in Portuguese

Não percebi o teu nome

naow per-seh-BEE oo tay-oo noh-may

[naow per-seh-BEE oo tay-oo noh-may]

💬 Usage Tip: perceber looks like "perceive", but in everyday Portuguese it means "understand" or "catch". Não percebi is the go-to way to say you didn't follow something.

Phrase Breakdown

Não percebi

naow per-seh-BEE

I didn't catch

In Portugal, 'perceber' means 'to understand' or 'to catch'. The first 'e' is nearly silent: 'p'rceBI'.

Example

Desculpa, não percebi.

Sorry, I didn't understand.

Words in this phrase

Não

[naow]

Not

Used to express negation, denial, or refusal.

Example

Não sabemos como ele conseguiu.

We don't know how he managed.

percebi

[per-seh-BEE]

I understood / got it

Past tense of 'perceber' (to understand), first person singular.

Example

Percebi a explicação.

I understood the explanation.

o teu nome

oo tay-oo noh-may

your name

'Teu' is the informal 'your', used with the article 'o'. 'Nome' sounds like 'NOM'.

Example

Qual é o teu nome?

What's your name?

Words in this phrase

[oo]

the

A masculine singular definite article used before nouns.

Example

O prazer de participar foi grande.

The pleasure of taking part was great.

teu

[tay-oo]

Your

Possessive adjective used to denote something belonging to the person being addressed.

Example

Teu amigo chegou.

Your friend arrived.

nome

[noh-may]

Name

A word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or object.

Example

Qual é o teu nome?

What is your name?

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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