Portuguese · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Never" in Portuguese: nunca
nunca
Never in Portuguese is nunca. Place it before the verb: eu nunca esqueço. Nunca mais means never again.
Food preference
Eu nunca como coentro. Não gosto.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nunca
Say it
NOON-kah
/ˈnun.ka/
NOON-kah — stress NOON.
"Never" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nunca | never Default adverb. | Default adverb. |
| nunca mais | never again Strong resolution. | Strong resolution. |
| quase nunca | almost never Softening. | Softening. |
| nunca vi | I never saw / I've never seen Common combo. | Common combo. |
How to use nunca in real life
- 1Food preference
Eu nunca como coentro. Não gosto.
I never eat cilantro. I don't like it.
Nunca before the verb.
- 2Travel boast
Nunca visitei o Nordeste, mas quero ir.
I've never visited the Northeast, but I want to.
Nunca + past tense.
- 3After a bad date
Nunca mais aceito saída sem indicação.
I'll never again accept a date without a referral.
Nunca mais = never again.
Mistakes English speakers make with nunca
Incorrect: Eu never faço isso.
Correct: Eu nunca faço isso.
Use nunca, not English never.
Incorrect: Eu não nunca vou. (double negative stack)
Correct: Eu nunca vou. / Eu não vou nunca.
Nunca already negates. Não nunca together is usually wrong for learners.
Good to know
Nunca mais is a dramatic Brazilian favorite after heartbreak, food poisoning, or a terrible haircut. Quase nunca softens habits without sounding absolute.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a restaurant
ChatPal
Você nunca comeu comida baiana?
Have you never eaten Bahian food?
You
Nunca. Quero experimentar hoje.
Never. I want to try it today.
ChatPal
Então vamos. Eu quase nunca resisto a acarajé.
Then let's go. I almost never resist acarajé.
You
Perfeito. Nunca é tarde para começar.
Perfect. It's never too late to start.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Never" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Never" in Portuguese
Where does nunca go?
Usually before the verb: eu nunca faço.
How do I say never again?
Nunca mais.
How do I say almost never?
Quase nunca.
Can I say não… nunca?
Eu não vou nunca exists in speech, but eu nunca vou is the clearest learner form.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
