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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/pt-pois-nao

A Brazilian clerk answers your request with 'Pois não.' What does it mean?

Certainly

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  1. Not at all
  2. Certainly ✔
  3. I don't know

Why: Pois não is a polite way to say certainly or of course, even though it sounds like no. This use is Brazilian, so do not expect it in Portugal.

Huh, didn't know that: The FSI course lists it as 'Certainly.'

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References

Answer: Certainly. Pois não is a polite way to say certainly or of course, even though it sounds like no. This use is Brazilian, so do not expect it in Portugal.

  1. FSI Brazilian Portuguese FAST, Volume 1 (Foreign Service Institute) fsi-language-courses-media.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/languages/Portuguese/FAST/Volume%201/FSI%20-%20Portuguese%20FAST%20-%20Volume%201.pdf
    Pois não
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. Wiktionary: pois não en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=pois_n%C3%A3o&action=raw
    {{lb|pt|Brazil|formal}} [[yes]]; [[of course]] {{q|used to confirm a request}}
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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