🚫👉

How to Say ‘You can't’ in Portuguese

Você não pode

vo-SEH NOW POH-jee

[vo-SEH NOW POH-jee]

💬 Usage Tip: Portuguese usually makes negation with não before the verb: não pode, não quer, não veio. That same pattern works with lots of verbs.

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Saying você não pode to a stranger in Portugal can come off sharp because você itself often feels blunt. O senhor não pode would sound more controlled and locally natural.

Phrase Breakdown

Você

[vo-SEH]

You

A pronoun used to address the person one is speaking to.

Example

Você não pode entrar aqui.

You cannot enter here.

não

[NOW]

Not

A word used to form a negative clause or phrase.

Example

Você não pode sair.

You cannot leave.

pode

[POH-jee]

Can

Used to indicate the ability to do something.

Example

Você pode ir à festa?

Can you go to the party?

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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