Double Negation in Portuguese

In Portuguese, like in other Romance languages, double negation is a very common feature.

What is double negation?

Double negation occurs when two negative elements are used in the same sentence, but instead of canceling each other out (as in English), they reinforce the negative meaning. 

In Portuguese, double negation is not only grammatically correct but is often required to convey a proper negative statement.

Most commonly, double negation combines the negative adverb “não” with any of these indefinite pronouns:

• nada (nothing)
• nenhum (none)
• ninguém (nobody)

Usually, “não” is followed by a verb and then the indefinite pronoun – [não → verb → indefinite pronoun]

Read on.

Nada

“Nada” is Portuguese for “nothing” and is used to talk about things or objects, not people. Here’s a simple example of a double negation:

Eu não sei nada.
I know nothing.

See, while the Portuguese sentence has two negative elements – “não” and “nada” – the English version has only one – “nothing.” 

Now, that wouldn’t work for Portuguese. The sentence “Eu sei nada” (with only one negative element) sounds off. The same applies to “ninguém” and “nenhum” in analogous structures as you will see in a moment.  

Here’s another example of a negative sentence with “nada”:

Ele estuda Japonês há mais de um ano mas ainda não fala nada.
He’s been studying Japanese for over a year but still doesn’t speak anything at all.

Ninguém

“Ninguém” means “nobody” and is used only to talk about people. Here’s an example of a double negation:

– Encontraste alguém no mercado hoje?
– Não, hoje não vi ninguém conhecido.
– Did you meet anyone at the market today?
– No, I haven’t seen anyone I know today.

Here’s another one:

Não quero falar com ninguém.
I don’t want to talk to anyone.

Again, the sentences “Hoje vi ninguém conhecido” or “Quero falar com ninguém” (one negative element only) sound off. These kinds of structures beg double negation for it to sound natural.

Nenhum

“Nenhum” is Portuguese for “none.” As opposed to “nada” and “ninguém,” it is a variable indefinite pronoun/determiner, i.e. it changes forms to agree in gender and number with the noun it is referring to: nenhum (m/si), nenhuma (f/si), nenhuns (m/pl), nenhumas (f/pl).  

Here’s an example of a double negation with this “nenhum”:

Tenho ido muito ao cinema mas ultimamente não vi nenhum filme interessante.
I’ve been going to the movies a lot, but lately, I haven’t seen any interesting films.

As pointed out before, the sentence “Ultimamente vi nenhum filme interessante” sounds unnatural – double negation is required here for it to properly convey negation.  

Double negations without “não”

Double negations with “não” followed by another negative element (usually an indefinite pronoun) are commonplace as we saw before. However, there are double negations without “não.” Here are a few examples:

Ninguém disse nada.
Nobody said anything.

Ninguém encontrou nenhuma solução para o problema.
No one has found a solution to the problem.

Nunca ninguém me fez frente.
No one has ever stood up to me.

Negatives at the beginning

There are single-negation constructions that sound natural. Accordingly, sentences starting with a negative element other than “não” do well without another negative element. Here are a few examples:

Ninguém foi capaz de me ajudar.
No one was able to help me.

Nenhum aluno chegou a tempo à aula.
No student arrived at class on time.

Nada me assusta.
Nothing scares me.

Nunca vi nada tão peculiar.
I’ve never seen anything so peculiar.

To sum up, double negation in Portuguese is very common, and it’s something you’ll want to get used to. Rest assured – with practice, it will become a natural part of your sentence structure. Stay positive! :)