Portuguese Phrase
Não falte sem avisar — respeite os outros convidados.
Meaning
‘Don’t be absent without giving notice — respect the other guests.’ The sentence is a polite but firm reminder that if you can’t attend an event, you should inform the host so the remaining guests aren’t left out or inconvenienced.
When to use
Use this phrase when sending invitations, confirming attendance in a group chat, or reminding participants of an upcoming gathering. It works well in both formal (e‑mail to colleagues) and informal (WhatsApp to friends) contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nãofaltesemavisar—respeiteosoutrosconvidados.
Negação + Imperativo
‘Não’ + verb in the affirmative imperative (or subjunctive) forms a negative command, e.g., ‘Não falte’ = ‘Don’t be absent.’
Falte (subjunctive/imperative)
‘Faltar’ in the 2nd‑person singular present subjunctive (falte) is used as a negative imperative in Brazilian Portuguese.
Gerúndio de propósito
‘Sem avisar’ uses the gerund ‘avisar’ after the preposition ‘sem’ to express ‘without notifying.’
Imperativo afirmativo
‘Respeite’ is the 2nd‑person singular affirmative imperative of ‘respeitar’, a polite way to give a command.
Artigos definidos
‘Os outros convidados’ – the definite article ‘os’ specifies a particular group of guests.
🗨In Conversation
Oi, vai ao churrasco amanhã?
Hey, are you coming to the barbecue tomorrow?
Ainda não sei, mas se não puder, não falte sem avisar — respeite os outros convidados.
I’m not sure yet, but if I can’t make it, I won’t be absent without letting you know — I’ll respect the other guests.
✕Common Mistakes
Não falta sem avisar.
‘Falta’ is the third‑person singular form; the correct negative command uses the subjunctive ‘falte’.
Não falte sem avisar — respeita os outros convidados.
‘Respeita’ is the informal affirmative imperative for ‘tu’; the standard polite form is ‘respeite’.
Não falte avisar — respeite os outros convidados.
Leaving out the preposition changes the meaning; you need ‘sem’ (without).
↔Alternatives
Não deixe de avisar se não puder ir — seja cortês com os demais convidados.
Don’t fail to let us know if you can’t go — be courteous to the other guests.
Se for faltar, avise antes; assim, os outros convidados não ficam no prejuízo.
If you’re going to miss it, inform us beforehand; that way the other guests aren’t left out.
Avisar com antecedência demonstra respeito pelos demais convidados.
Giving advance notice shows respect for the other guests.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, group events often depend on an accurate head‑count for food, seating and logistics. Not informing the host when you can’t attend is seen as rude because it can cause waste and inconvenience. Using a polite imperative like ‘Não falte sem avisar’ signals that you value the host’s effort and the comfort of the other participants.