Portuguese Phrase
Não, não consigo.
Meaning
Literally ‘No, I can’t.’ It is used to politely refuse or to state that you are unable to do something that has just been asked of you.
When to use
Use this phrase when someone asks you for a favor, a task, or a request that you cannot fulfill. The double ‘não’ adds a gentle emphasis, making the refusal sound more sincere and less abrupt.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Não,nãoconsigo.
Não (negation)
The word 'não' is the standard negation particle in Portuguese, placed before the verb or clause it negates.
conseguir (to be able to)
‘Consigo’ is the first‑person singular present indicative of ‘conseguir’, meaning ‘I can’ or ‘I am able to’.
Double negation for emphasis
Repeating ‘não’ before and after a pause (or a comma) stresses the refusal or inability, a common spoken pattern.
🗨In Conversation
Você pode me ajudar a mudar a mesa?
Can you help me move the table?
Não, não consigo.
No, I can’t.
✕Common Mistakes
Não consigo de levantar a caixa.
‘Conseguir’ does not take the preposition ‘de’; just use ‘não consigo’ followed by the infinitive.
Não consigo fazer isso, eu não.
Avoid trailing ‘eu não’; the subject is already implied in ‘consigo’. Keep the sentence concise.
Não consigo fazer isso, mas eu posso ajudar de outra forma.
If you want to contrast ability, use ‘mas eu posso…’ after a full stop or semicolon, not within the same clause.
↔Alternatives
Desculpe, não consigo.
Sorry, I can’t.
Infelizmente não consigo.
Unfortunately I can’t.
Não consigo fazer isso.
I can’t do that.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, refusing outright can be seen as rude, so speakers often soften the refusal with a pre‑apology (e.g., ‘Desculpa’) or an explanation. The double ‘não’ mimics a natural spoken pause and signals that the speaker really wishes they could help, which softens the impact of the denial.