Yes and No in Brazilian Portuguese: Sim, Não, and Natural Replies
By Bruno Lopes · Brazilian Portuguese teacher
Host of I Speak Portuguese · Updated
Meet Bruno and the teaching teamThe short answer
Yes = sim and no = não. Both contain nasal vowels. Speakers may also answer by repeating a verb, confirming with claro, or using another phrase that fits the situation.
One natural way to answer: repeat the verb
One common way to answer a yes/no question in Portuguese is to repeat its verb. English often uses an auxiliary ("Did you eat?" "I did"); Portuguese can answer with the verb from the question:
| Question | Native answer | English |
|---|---|---|
| Você gostou? | Gostei. | Did you like it? — I did. |
| Você tem tempo? | Tenho. | Do you have time? — I do. |
| Você fala português? | Falo, sim. | Do you speak Portuguese? — I do, yes. |
| Vai chover? | Vai. | Is it going to rain? — It is. |
| Você viu isso? | Não vi. | Did you see that? — I didn't. |
Notice the pattern verb + sim ("falo, sim"). It can make an affirmative answer more emphatic; a bare sim is also natural in many contexts.
Ten ways to say yes
| Portuguese | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Sim | Yes | Neutral, slightly formal alone |
| Claro | Of course | Everyday, friendly |
| Com certeza | Definitely | Everyday, enthusiastic |
| Isso | That's it / exactly | Very common confirmation |
| Exato | Exactly | Neutral |
| Tá bom | Okay, fine | Casual agreement |
| Tá | Okay / got it | Very casual |
| Beleza | Cool, sounds good | Slang, friends |
| Uhum / aham | Mm-hm | Informal sound |
| Pois não | Certainly (service context) | Formal, shops and hotels |
Watch out for pois não. It contains the word for "no" but means "yes, of course" — a waiter answering "Pois não!" is agreeing to help you.
Eight ways to say no politely
| Portuguese | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Não | No | Direct; soften it in most situations |
| Não, obrigado / obrigada | No, thank you | Declining an offer |
| Acho que não | I don't think so | Softest everyday no |
| Infelizmente não | Unfortunately not | Polite, semi-formal |
| Nem | Nope / no way | Slang, friends |
| De jeito nenhum | No way at all | Emphatic refusal |
| Nada a ver | Not at all / unrelated | Disagreeing with an idea |
| Não dá | It's not possible | Declining a plan |
The Brazilian "maybe"
A speaker may soften a refusal or leave a decision open with phrases such as: pode ser (could be), talvez (maybe), vou ver (I'll see), se der (if it works out), sei lá (I dunno). Context and tone tell you whether it's a real maybe or a gentle no — which is exactly the kind of thing you only pick up from listening.
Pronunciation notes
- sim — the "m" isn't a real m; it nasalizes the vowel. Think "seeng" with the g swallowed.
- não — the "ão" is the classic Portuguese nasal diphthong: "nowng", again with no hard g.
- tá bom — often runs together as "tabom".
- claro — the Brazilian "r" here is a light tap, not the English r.
English summary for learners
- Yes = sim; no = não. Both are nasal.
- Repeating the verb is one natural way to answer: "Tem?" → "Tenho." A simple "sim" can also fit.
- Verb + sim ("falo, sim") can make a yes more emphatic.
- Use claro, com certeza, isso, tá bom to sound less robotic.
- Soften refusals with acho que não or infelizmente não.
- Remember the trap: pois não = yes, certainly.
Hearing these answers in context can help you notice how Brazilian speakers use them — the I Speak Portuguese podcast is full of unscripted Brazilian answers with examples of everyday responses.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say yes in Portuguese?
The usual word for yes is 'sim' (with a nasal vowel; English respellings are only approximations). Depending on the question and context, a Brazilian speaker may also repeat the verb — 'Você gostou?' 'Gostei!' — or say 'claro', 'com certeza', or 'tá bom'.
How do you say no in Portuguese?
'Não' has a nasal vowel, and English respellings such as 'nowng' are only rough guides. To make a refusal warmer when the situation calls for it, you can add 'obrigado/obrigada' (thank you) or say 'acho que não' (I don't think so). Tone and context affect how direct a bare 'não' sounds.
Can I answer with just sim?
Portuguese speakers often answer yes/no questions by echoing the verb. 'Você tem tempo?' can naturally be answered 'Tenho' (I have) or 'Sim'. A short 'sim' is also correct; the fuller answer depends on context and emphasis.
What does 'tá' mean?
'Tá' is a shortened 'está' used as 'okay' or 'got it'. 'Tá bom' means 'okay/fine', 'tá certo' means 'that's right', and 'tá' alone works as a quick agreement — extremely common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
How do you say maybe in Portuguese?
'Talvez' (maybe) is the standard word. In conversation Brazilians often prefer 'pode ser' (could be), 'acho que sim' (I think so), or 'sei lá' (I dunno) to leave the answer open.
Is 'uhum' used in Portuguese?
Yes — 'uhum' and 'aham' are common informal yes sounds, just like in English. 'Ãhã' works too. They're fine with friends but avoid them in formal or professional settings.
