Portuguese Phrase

Não, não tenho nada pra declarar.

/nãw̃ ˈnãw̃ ˈteɲu ˈnadɐ pɾa dʒekɐˈɾaɾ/

Meaning"No, I have nothing to declare."

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Meaning

Literally, “No, I have nothing to declare.” It is the standard reply when a customs officer or authority asks if you have anything to declare, such as goods, money, or information.

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When to use

Use this phrase at airports, border crossings, police stations, or any situation where you are asked to declare items, money, or information. It works both in formal settings (customs) and informal ones (a friend asking if you have news to share).

✦Grammar Breakdown

Nãonãotenhonadapradeclarar

Double Negation

In Portuguese, using two negatives (não ... nada) is required; the sentence means 'I have nothing' rather than a positive.

Verb Conjugation

‘tenho’ is the first‑person singular present of ‘ter’ (to have).

Contraction ‘pra’

‘pra’ is the colloquial contraction of ‘para’, used before infinitives in informal speech.

Infinitive ‘declarar’

The verb ‘declarar’ stays in its infinitive form after ‘para’ (or ‘pra’).

🗨In Conversation

Tem algo a declarar?

Do you have anything to declare?

Não, não tenho nada pra declarar.

No, I have nothing to declare.

✕Common Mistakes

Eu tenho nada para declarar.
Portuguese requires double negation; you must say ‘não tenho nada’ not ‘eu tenho nada’.
Não, não tenho nada declarar.
The preposition ‘para’ (or its informal form ‘pra’) must precede the infinitive.
Não, não tenho nada pra declarar.
In very formal contexts, use ‘para’ instead of the colloquial ‘pra’. Both are understood, but ‘para’ sounds more polite at customs.

↔Alternatives

Não, não tenho nada a declarar.
No, I have nothing to declare.
Não, nada a declarar.
No, nothing to declare.
Não, não há nada a declarar.
No, there is nothing to declare.

Cultural Tip

In Brazil, customs officers always ask “Tem algo a declarar?” Even if you are traveling with only personal items, you must answer truthfully. The informal ‘pra’ is common in everyday speech, but in a formal setting (e.g., at the airport) you might prefer the full ‘para’. Double negation is grammatical and expected; saying ‘Eu tenho nada’ would be incorrect.