What Does ‘Né?’ Mean in Brazilian Portuguese? A Guide to Natural Tag Questions
Né? often works like ‘right?’ or ‘isn’t it?’ Its meaning depends on the sentence and the speaker’s tone.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Né? is a shortened form of não é? and is common in informal Brazilian conversation. A speaker can add it after a statement to check whether the other person agrees or has the same information.
Use né? to invite a quick response
Think of it as a conversational invitation, not a translation that fits every sentence. Your intonation matters: a rising voice sounds like a direct check, while a softer ending can simply keep the listener included.
Hoje está quente, né?
It’s hot today, isn’t it?
Você mora perto daqui, né?
You live near here, right?
A gente se encontra às sete, né?
We’re meeting at seven, right?
Separate a check from a rhetorical comment
A real question gives the other person room to confirm or correct you. A rhetorical né? may show shared surprise, frustration, or warmth without asking for a detailed answer.
Listen to what follows. If the speaker pauses and waits, answer the check. If they continue their thought, né? may be a small interaction marker rather than the main question.
Você pediu sem cebola, né?
You ordered it without onion, right?
É difícil achar vaga aqui, né…
It’s hard to find a parking spot here, isn’t it…
Foi uma viagem longa, né?
It was a long trip, wasn’t it?
Put it into practice
Use né? in relaxed conversation to include the listener, then pay attention to intonation and whether the speaker is waiting for an answer.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “It was a long trip, wasn’t it”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.