Não Custa Nada: Say ‘It Doesn’t Hurt to Try’ in Portuguese

Use não custa nada before an action

Não custa nada + infinitive often means “it doesn’t hurt to” or “there is no harm in” doing something. It can also be literal: an action or item costs nothing. Context tells you whether the phrase is about money, effort, or a low-risk suggestion.

The verb custa stays singular in the common impersonal pattern. Put the action after it in the infinitive: perguntar (ask), conferir (check), or tentar (try).

Brazilian Portuguese examples with English translations: Use não custa nada before an action
Brazilian Portuguese	English meaning
Não custa nada perguntar se ainda há vaga.	It doesn’t hurt to ask if there’s still a spot.
Não custa nada conferir o endereço antes de sair.	It doesn’t hurt to check the address before leaving.
A entrada é gratuita; não custa nada.	Admission is free; it costs nothing.

Make a suggestion without turning it into pressure

The expression can make a suggestion sound simple, but repeated use may imply that another person should do it. Add a question or soften the suggestion when you want to leave room for a choice: Que tal perguntar? (How about asking?).

For a real expense, use custar with a price or amount. Não custa nada trying something and não custa nada in a free-entry context are related, but they are not the same message.

Brazilian Portuguese examples with English translations: Make a suggestion without turning it into pressure
Brazilian Portuguese	English meaning
Que tal tentar mais uma vez, se você quiser?	How about trying one more time, if you want?
Essa passagem custa cinquenta reais.	That ticket costs fifty reais.
Não custa nada mandar uma mensagem para confirmar.	It doesn’t hurt to send a message to confirm.

Remember: Use não custa nada + infinitive for a low-cost action or a no-harm suggestion; use a price or amount when you mean literal cost.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Não custa nada perguntar se ainda há vaga.

Context: Use não custa nada before an action

The recipe calls for too much sugar and too little salt.He put too much salt in the soup.The painting is above the sofa.It doesn’t hurt to ask if there’s still a spot.

Não custa nada conferir o endereço antes de sair.

Context: Use não custa nada before an action

It doesn’t hurt to check the address before leaving.The woman chose a blue towel.The leaf fell on the floor.The city is close to here.

A entrada é gratuita; não custa nada.

Context: Use não custa nada before an action

The delivery arrives tomorrow, that is, if there is no delay.Admission is free; it costs nothing.Can you bring the documents to the meeting?This app includes examples with audio.

Que tal tentar mais uma vez, se você quiser?

Context: Make a suggestion without turning it into pressure

Does the rental car have a toll tag?Where is the booth with manual payment?How about trying one more time, if you want?Do you accept cards or only cash?

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

It doesn’t hurt to ask if there’s still a spot.
Show a Portuguese answer
Não custa nada perguntar se ainda há vaga.
It doesn’t hurt to check the address before leaving.
Show a Portuguese answer
Não custa nada conferir o endereço antes de sair.
Admission is free; it costs nothing.
Show a Portuguese answer
A entrada é gratuita; não custa nada.
How about trying one more time, if you want?
Show a Portuguese answer
Que tal tentar mais uma vez, se você quiser?
That ticket costs fifty reais.
Show a Portuguese answer
Essa passagem custa cinquenta reais.
It doesn’t hurt to send a message to confirm.
Show a Portuguese answer
Não custa nada mandar uma mensagem para confirmar.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Use não custa nada + infinitive for a low-cost action or a no-harm suggestion; use a price or amount when you mean literal cost.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Não Custa Nada: Say ‘It Doesn’t Hurt to Try’ in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.

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