Portuguese Phrase
Não ande sozinho à noite.
Meaning
A warning or piece of advice telling someone not to walk alone after dark. It carries a tone of concern for safety and is often used by parents, friends, or authorities.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to caution someone about nighttime safety – for example, when a teenager wants to go out late, when a tourist asks for directions, or when a police officer gives a public safety reminder.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nãoandesozinhoànoite
Negation (Não)
In Portuguese, the negation word ‘não’ is placed directly before the verb.
Negative Imperative (ande)
The negative command uses the present subjunctive form. For the informal ‘tu’ you say ‘não ande’, not ‘não anda’.
Adjective Agreement (sozinho)
‘sozinho’ agrees with a masculine singular subject. If the subject were feminine, it would be ‘sozinha’.
Preposition + Article (à noite)
‘à’ is the contraction of the preposition ‘a’ + the feminine singular article ‘a’, meaning ‘at’ or ‘in the’. It is the standard way to say ‘at night’.
🗨In Conversation
Vou sair para encontrar meus amigos às 22h.
I'm going out to meet my friends at 10 p.m.
Não ande sozinho à noite.
Don't walk alone at night.
✕Common Mistakes
Não anda sozinho à noite.
‘Anda’ is the affirmative form; the negative command requires the subjunctive ‘ande’.
Não ande sozinho no noite.
The correct preposition‑article contraction is ‘à noite’, not ‘no noite’.
Não ande sozin à noite.
The adjective must be fully written and agree with gender: ‘sozinho’ (masc.) or ‘sozinha’ (fem.).
↔Alternatives
Não vá sozinho à noite.
Don't go alone at night.
Evite andar sozinho à noite.
Avoid walking alone at night.
Não circule sozinho à noite.
Don't circulate alone at night.
Cultural Tip
In many Brazilian cities, especially after dark, it is common for parents and friends to give this kind of advice because street safety can be unpredictable. The verb ‘andar’ can mean ‘to walk’, ‘to go around’, or even ‘to be (in a place)’, so the phrase is versatile. Using the negative imperative (não ande) sounds caring yet firm, and it is appropriate for both informal and semi‑formal contexts.