Portuguese Phrase
Não liga.
Meaning
Literally 'don't turn on', but in colloquial Brazilian Portuguese it means 'don't worry', 'never mind', or 'it's not a big deal'. It is a friendly, informal way to tell someone not to stress about something.
When to use
Use it in casual conversation with friends, family, or peers when you want to dismiss a minor mistake, reassure someone, or tell them not to get upset about something trivial.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nãoliga
Não (negation)
The adverb 'não' negates the verb that follows, equivalent to 'not' or 'don't' in English.
Ligar (imperative)
Here 'liga' is the informal affirmative imperative of 'ligar' used in a negative construction, meaning 'don't care' or 'don't worry'.
Colloquial meaning
In everyday Brazilian Portuguese 'ligar' can mean 'to care about' (e.g., 'não ligar' = 'to not care').
🗨In Conversation
Eu deixei o celular cair na água.
I dropped my phone in water.
Não liga, ainda dá pra consertar.
Don't worry, it can still be fixed.
✕Common Mistakes
Não liga a TV agora.
When you actually mean 'don't turn on' (e.g., a TV), use the imperative 'não ligue' instead of the colloquial 'não liga'.
Não liga, senhor.
Avoid using it in formal writing or with strangers; it sounds too casual.
↔Alternatives
Deixa pra lá.
Leave it.
Não se preocupe.
Don't worry.
Relax.
Relax.
Esquece.
Forget it.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil 'não liga' is a very common, informal expression. It can sound dismissive if said with a sharp tone, so use it with people you know well and keep the tone light. In more formal settings you would choose 'não se preocupe' or 'não se importe'.