No Entanto vs. Porém: How to Say ‘However’ in Portuguese — Practice

Use no entanto to qualify the previous idea

No entanto means however or nevertheless. It links a new point to the sentence before it, often showing that the second fact limits or contrasts with the first. In writing, it commonly appears after a full stop or between commas.

A connector does not erase the first idea; it tells the reader how the next one relates to it.

Use porém in a similar contrast

Porém also means however. It can begin a contrasting sentence or appear after a comma. It often sounds more formal than mas in everyday speech, though speakers use it in conversation too.

Avoid stacking several contrast words in the same clause. Choose mas, porém, or no entanto according to the tone and sentence structure you want.

Choose punctuation that makes the contrast easy to follow

Use a full stop when the second idea can stand alone. Use a comma around a mid-sentence connector when it interrupts the sentence. A semicolon may connect two closely related independent clauses in more formal writing.

For a short spoken contrast, mas is usually the simplest choice. No entanto and porém help vary a written explanation without changing the core meaning.

Remember: Use no entanto or porém to introduce a limitation or contrasting fact, and punctuate the sentence so the relationship is clear.

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.

1. The report is clear. However, some data is still missing.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O relatório está claro. No entanto, ainda faltam alguns dados.

2. The trip was short; it was, however, very special.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A viagem foi curta; foi, no entanto, muito especial.

3. I wanted to stay longer; however, I needed to return to work.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Queria ficar mais tempo, porém precisava voltar ao trabalho.

4. The restaurant is small. The food, however, is excellent.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O restaurante é pequeno. A comida, porém, é excelente.

5. The proposal is interesting. However, we need to review the budget.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A proposta é interessante. Porém, precisamos revisar o orçamento.

6. The deadline is tight; nevertheless, the project is still feasible.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O prazo é apertado; no entanto, o projeto ainda é viável.

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 no entanto or porém to introduce a limitation or contrasting fact, and punctuate the sentence so the relationship is clear.

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 No Entanto vs. Porém: How to Say ‘However’ 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.