🚫💡

How to Say ‘It doesn't come on at all’ in Portuguese

Não acende nada

NOWN ah-SEN-d NAH-dah

[NOWN ah-SEN-d NAH-dah]

💬 Usage Tip: Portuguese happily stacks negatives: não … nada means "not… at all", not a double negative cancelling out. Same pattern: não vejo nada "I don't see anything".

Phrase Breakdown

Não

[NOWN]

not

Used to negate the meaning of a word or group of words.

Example

Não quero comer agora.

I don't want to eat now.

acende

[ah-SEN-d]

lights up

From 'acender', to light or come on.

Example

A lâmpada acende.

The bulb lights up.

nada

[NAH-dah]

at all

After a negative, emphasises 'not at all'.

Example

Não custa nada.

It costs nothing at all.

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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