Portuguese Phrase
Não deixe a comida sem supervisão.
Meaning
A direct warning that you should not leave food unattended. It is used to avoid accidents, spoilage, or contamination that can happen when food is left without someone watching it.
When to use
Use this sentence in the kitchen at home, in a restaurant, or any setting where food is being prepared or served and you want to remind someone to keep an eye on it.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nãodeixeacomidasemsupervisão
Não (negation)
The adverb ‘não’ placed before a verb makes the sentence negative.
Deixe (imperative of deixar)
‘Deixe’ is the affirmative imperative of ‘deixar’; when it follows ‘não’, it becomes a negative command: ‘don’t leave’.
a (definite article)
The article ‘a’ agrees in gender and number with the noun ‘comida’.
comida (noun)
‘Comida’ means ‘food’ and is feminine singular.
sem (preposition)
‘Sem’ means ‘without’ and introduces a noun phrase that indicates the missing element.
supervisão (noun)
‘Supervisão’ translates to ‘supervision, oversight’; together with ‘sem’ it forms ‘without supervision’.
🗨In Conversation
Vou ao banheiro, volto já. Precisa de alguma coisa?
I'm going to the bathroom, I'll be right back. Do you need anything?
Não deixe a comida sem supervisão.
Don't leave the food unattended.
✕Common Mistakes
Não deixes a comida sem supervisão.
The negative imperative uses ‘não deixe’; ‘deixes’ is a subjunctive form, not a command.
Não deixa a comida sem supervisão.
In formal Portuguese the imperative for ‘you (singular)’ is ‘deixe’; ‘deixa’ is informal and not used after ‘não’ in a command.
Não deixe comida sem supervisão.
Dropping the article ‘a’ makes the phrase less specific; it is still understandable but sounds less natural.
↔Alternatives
Não deixe a comida desacompanhada.
Don't leave the food unaccompanied.
Não deixe a comida sem atenção.
Don't leave the food without attention.
Não deixe a comida sem vigilância.
Don't leave the food without vigilance.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, leaving food out on the counter is often seen as careless because it can attract insects or cause the food to spoil quickly in hot weather. Parents, chefs, and even coworkers frequently use this phrase to remind others to keep an eye on dishes, especially during gatherings or when cooking for children.