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How to Say ‘I can't hear you well.’ in Portuguese

Não te ouço bem.

nowng tuh OH-soo bayng

[nowng tuh OH-soo bayng]

💬 Usage Tip: After não, small words like te "you" move before the verb: ouço-te becomes não te ouço. The same happens with me: não me vês? "can't you see me?"

Phrase Breakdown

Não te

nowng tuh

I don't ... you

'Não' is nasal. 'Te' is the informal 'you' as an object, and it goes before the verb because of 'não'.

Example

Não te conheço.

I don't know you.

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.

[tuh]

you

An object pronoun meaning 'you', used informally for one person.

Example

Trouxe este bolo para te receber melhor.

I brought this cake to welcome you better.

ouço bem.

OH-soo bayng

hear well.

'Ouço' means 'I hear', with the 'ç' sounding like 's': 'OH-soo'. 'Bem' has a nasal ending.

Example

Agora ouço bem.

Now I hear well.

Words in this phrase

ouço

[OH-soo]

I hear

First person singular present of 'ouvir' (to hear).

Example

Ouço música todos os dias.

I listen to music every day.

bem

[bayng]

well

Adverb meaning well; with ficar, it means suits someone well.

Example

Termina com bem em “Essa cor fica-lhe bem.”

It ends with well in “That colour suits you.”

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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