🙅🎁🚫

How to Say ‘I don't want to give you anything’ in Portuguese

Não lhe quero pegar nada

nowng lyeh KEH-roo puh-GAHR NAH-dah

[nowng lyeh KEH-roo puh-GAHR NAH-dah]

💬 Usage Tip: Pegar normally means "to grab", but with illnesses it means to pass something on. Pegou-me a gripe means "he gave me the flu".

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Saying this is the polite way to skip the cheek kisses when you're ill. Older relatives will usually appreciate it rather than feel snubbed.

Phrase Breakdown

Não lhe quero

nowng lyeh KEH-roo

I don't want to (to you)

'Lhe' is the formal 'to you'. Say 'nãw ly(e) KE-ru'.

Example

Não lhe quero mentir.

I don't want to lie to you.

Words in this phrase

Não

[nowng]

no / not

A negative word used to deny or negate something.

Example

Não temos valet, mas há estacionamento perto.

We do not have valet, but there is parking nearby.

lhe

[lyeh]

to you

An indirect object pronoun used politely to mean 'to you'.

Example

Lhe trago um café grande.

I’ll bring you a large coffee.

quero

[KEH-roo]

I want

A direct way to say what you want; less soft than “Queria.”

Example

Quero um médio.

I want a medium one.

pegar nada

puh-GAHR NAH-dah

pass anything on

'Pegar' here means to pass on an illness. Say 'p(e)-GAR NAH-da'.

Example

Não me pegues a gripe!

Don't give me the flu!

Words in this phrase

pegar

[puh-GAHR]

to pass on (an illness)

Verb meaning to grab, but also to infect someone with an illness.

Example

Ele pegou-me a gripe.

He gave me the flu.

nada

[NAH-dah]

nothing

Literally means nothing. In de nada, it means it's nothing / you're welcome.

Example

Não foi nada, de nada.

It was nothing, you're welcome.

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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