Portuguese Phrase
Não, estou com minha família.
Meaning
The sentence means “No, I am with my family.” It is a polite way to decline an invitation, a request, or a suggestion because you are currently spending time with your family members.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to refuse something (e.g., a dinner invitation, a phone call, a plan) and want to explain that you are already with your family. It works in both formal and informal contexts, but the tone stays friendly.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Não,estoucomminhafamília.
Não (negation)
The adverb 'não' is placed before the verb to negate the statement, equivalent to 'no' or 'not' in English.
Estar (estou)
Estar is the verb 'to be' for temporary states or locations; 'estou' is the first‑person singular present form.
Com (preposition)
The preposition 'com' means 'with' and is used to indicate accompaniment.
Minha (possessive adjective)
‘Minha’ agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; here it means ‘my’ for the feminine noun ‘família’.
Família (noun)
‘Família’ is a feminine singular noun meaning ‘family’; it is often used in everyday conversation about personal life.
🗨In Conversation
Você quer sair para tomar um café agora?
Do you want to go out for coffee now?
Não, estou com minha família.
No, I am with my family.
✕Common Mistakes
Não, sou com minha família.
‘Sou’ is the permanent form of ‘to be’ (ser). Use ‘estou’ (estar) for temporary situations like being with someone.
Não, estou com minhas família.
‘Família’ is singular; the possessive must match in gender and number: ‘minha família’. ‘Minhas famílias’ would be plural.
Não, não estou com minha família.
This changes the meaning to ‘I am not with my family’, which is the opposite of what you intend.
↔Alternatives
Não, estou com a minha família.
No, I am with my family.
Desculpe, estou acompanhado da minha família.
Sorry, I’m with my family.
Não, estou junto da minha família.
No, I’m together with my family.
Cultural Tip
Family time is highly valued in Brazilian culture, especially on weekends and holidays. When you say you’re with your family, people usually understand it as a legitimate reason to decline other activities. Keep your tone warm; adding a brief apology (e.g., ‘Desculpe’) makes the refusal sound even more courteous.