How to Use Nem in Portuguese: “Not Even,” “Neither,” and “Nor”
Nem adds a negative idea and often means “not even,” “neither,” or “nor,” depending on the sentence.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Nem often adds emphasis to a negative statement. In English, the closest translation may be “not even,” especially when the sentence says that an expected or small action did not happen.
Use nem for “not even”
The word itself signals the addition, so a separate não is not always needed immediately before it. Learn the whole phrase and listen for how the negative idea is structured.
Ele nem respondeu à mensagem.
He didn’t even reply to the message.
Não tenho nem cinco minutos agora.
I don’t even have five minutes right now.
Ela saiu sem nem dizer tchau.
She left without even saying goodbye.
Use nem eu to agree with a negative statement
Nem eu means “me neither” or “I don’t either.” It is a short, natural response when someone says they do not have, know, or want something and you share that negative situation.
For a fuller reply, repeat the relevant verb phrase. The short response is enough when the earlier sentence makes the meaning clear.
— Eu não conheço esse lugar. — Nem eu.
— I don’t know that place. — Me neither.
— Não quero sobremesa. — Eu também não.
— I don’t want dessert. — I don’t either.
Nem a Ana sabia o horário.
Ana didn’t know the time either.
Join two negative options with nem… nem
Nem… nem joins alternatives in a negative list and usually translates as “neither… nor.” The construction helps you say that both options are outside the situation.
If the alternatives are nouns, repeat nem before each one. In speech, the pause and emphasis also help listeners follow the pair.
Hoje eu não quero nem café nem chá.
Today I want neither coffee nor tea.
Nem sábado nem domingo funciona para mim.
Neither Saturday nor Sunday works for me.
Ele não ligou nem mandou mensagem.
He neither called nor sent a message.
Put it into practice
Think of nem as adding a negative point: it can emphasize “not even,” respond with “me neither,” or connect alternatives as “neither… nor.”
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I don’t even have five minutes right now”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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