Nem que chova, vamos fazer o churrasco.

Here nem que introduces a strong concession: even if, no matter if, or come what may.

In Nem que chova, vamos fazer o churrasco, it gives the idea of determination:

Even if it rains, we’re going to have the barbecue.

It is not the basic negative nem meaning nor/not even by itself. As a fixed expression, nem que means something like even if that happens.

Because nem que normally triggers the subjunctive when talking about a possibility, condition, or hypothetical situation.

• chove = present indicative
• chova = present subjunctive

Rain is being presented here as a possible event, not as a simple statement of fact. So Portuguese uses the subjunctive:

• Nem que chova...

This is very natural in Portuguese after expressions like nem que, mesmo que, and sometimes ainda que.

In this kind of meaning, yes, very commonly.

Examples:

• Nem que seja difícil, eu vou tentar.
• Nem que ele não goste, eu vou falar.
• Nem que tenhamos que sair tarde, vamos terminar isso.

So for learners, a good rule is:

nem que + subjunctive

That will usually keep you on the right track.

Se chover is more neutral: if it rains.

Nem que chova is much stronger and more defiant: even if it rains, rain or shine, no matter what.

Compare:

• Se chover, vamos cancelar o churrasco.
  If it rains, we’ll cancel the barbecue.

• Nem que chova, vamos fazer o churrasco.
  Even if it rains, we’re doing it anyway.

So nem que adds determination and a sense of ignoring an obstacle.

Yes, but there is a nuance.

• Mesmo que chova = very natural, and close to nem que chova
• Mesmo se chover = also possible, but often feels a bit less strong or slightly more neutral depending on context

Among these:

• Nem que chova often sounds the most emphatic and stubborn
• Mesmo que chova is also very common and natural
• Mesmo se chover is understandable and used, but many learners will hear mesmo que + subjunctive more often in similar sentences

So if you want to sound natural and emphatic, nem que chova works very well.

Because in everyday Brazilian Portuguese, the periphrastic future with ir + infinitive is extremely common:

• vamos fazer = we are going to do / we’ll do
• faremos = we will do

Both are correct, but vamos fazer sounds more conversational and natural in speech.

So:

• Nem que chova, vamos fazer o churrasco. = very natural spoken Brazilian Portuguese
• Nem que chova, faremos o churrasco. = correct, but more formal or less conversational

In Portuguese, the definite article is often used more than in English.

So fazer o churrasco can mean:

• have the barbecue
• do the barbecue
• hold the barbecue

It can refer to:

1. a specific planned barbecue event, or
2. the barbecue as the activity everyone already knows about

Dropping the article is sometimes possible in Portuguese in other contexts, but fazer o churrasco sounds very natural here.

Literally, yes, fazer often means to do or to make. But here the natural English meaning is something like:

• have the barbecue
• go ahead with the barbecue
• hold the barbecue

In Portuguese, fazer is used in many expressions where English would choose a different verb.

So don’t translate too literally word by word.

It can mean both, but very often in Brazilian Portuguese it refers to the whole social event: a barbecue gathering.

So in this sentence, o churrasco most likely means:

• the planned barbecue party/cookout
• not just the grilled meat itself

This is very common in Brazil, where churrasco often suggests both the food and the social occasion.

Yes. Portuguese allows some flexibility.

These are possible:

• Nem que chova, vamos fazer o churrasco.
• Vamos fazer o churrasco, nem que chova.

The version with Nem que chova first puts more emphasis on the obstacle and the determination from the start. It sounds very natural.

Putting it at the end also works, but it can sound a little more like an added afterthought or strong conclusion.

Yes, very natural.

It sounds like something someone would really say in conversation when they are determined not to cancel plans because of rain.

It has a slightly emphatic, stubborn tone, but not an unnatural one. It fits casual spoken Brazilian Portuguese well.

It often adds emphasis, yes.

It usually suggests:

• determination
• resistance to an obstacle
• willingness to continue despite a problem

So it is stronger than a neutral condition. It does not necessarily sound overly dramatic, but it definitely adds force.

For example:

• Se chover, vamos fazer o churrasco. = neutral
• Nem que chova, vamos fazer o churrasco. = emphatic, determined

A rough pronunciation guide for an English speaker is:

neng kee SHO-vuh, VAH-mooz fah-ZEHR oo shoo-HAHS-koo

A few notes:

• nem often sounds like neng at the end because final m nasalizes the vowel
• que here sounds like kee
• ch in chova and churrasco sounds like English sh
• rr in churrasco is the stronger Brazilian h-like sound in many accents

Pronunciation varies by region, but this will get you close.