Nem… Nem… in Portuguese: Say “Neither… Nor…” Clearly — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Link two excluded nouns
Nem means neither or nor in a paired construction. Use it before each item you exclude: não tomo nem café nem chá (I drink neither coffee nor tea).
Keep the two items in the same role in the sentence. Parallel examples are easier to follow and make clear what the speaker excludes.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Hoje não tenho nem tempo nem energia. | Today I have neither time nor energy. |
| Ela não come nem carne nem peixe. | She eats neither meat nor fish. |
Use the pair with actions or places
Nem… nem… can connect two actions or destinations. Keep verb forms parallel when possible: não quero sair nem ficar em casa (I don’t want to go out or stay home).
Brazilian speakers also use nem to mean not even in other patterns. The paired meaning comes from the repeated construction and alternatives it connects.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| A gente não visitou nem o museu nem o mercado. | We visited neither the museum nor the market. |
| Ele não ligou nem mandou mensagem. | He neither called nor sent a message. |
Notice where the negative appears
A sentence can begin with não and then use nem for each alternative. In another construction, nem itself carries negative force, as in nem eu (me neither). Learn the whole pattern instead of adding negative words mechanically.
A short nem eu is a natural reply to a negative statement: ‘Não gosto de acordar cedo.’ ‘Nem eu.’
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Não conheço nem o bairro nem a estação. | I know neither the neighborhood nor the station. |
| — Não vi o final. — Nem eu. | — I didn’t see the ending. — Me neither. |
Remember: Repeat nem before the alternatives you exclude. Keep items parallel and learn nem eu as a natural short reply.
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.
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.
Today I have neither time nor energy.
Show a Portuguese answer
Hoje não tenho nem tempo nem energia.
She eats neither meat nor fish.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ela não come nem carne nem peixe.
We visited neither the museum nor the market.
Show a Portuguese answer
A gente não visitou nem o museu nem o mercado.
He neither called nor sent a message.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ele não ligou nem mandou mensagem.
I know neither the neighborhood nor the station.
Show a Portuguese answer
Não conheço nem o bairro nem a estação.
— I didn’t see the ending. — Me neither.
Show a Portuguese answer
— Não vi o final. — Nem eu.
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.
Repeat nem before the alternatives you exclude. Keep items parallel and learn nem eu as a natural short reply.
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 Nem… Nem… in Portuguese: Say “Neither… Nor…” Clearly 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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