Não saio sem travões, nem que perca o passeio.

Saio is the 1st person singular form of the verb sair, which means to go out, to leave, or to set off, depending on context.

So:

• sair = to go out / to leave
• eu saio = I go out / I leave / I set off

In this sentence, Não saio... means something like I’m not going out... or I won’t set off...

A useful detail: Portuguese often uses the present tense to express a firm decision about the near future, so Não saio can sound like I’m not going or I’m not setting off.

Because Portuguese often drops the subject pronoun when the verb ending already makes the subject clear.

Here, saio clearly means I go out / I leave, so eu is unnecessary.

Compare:

• Eu não saio sem travões.
• Não saio sem travões.

Both are correct, but the second is more natural unless you want emphasis on I.

In Portuguese, the present tense is often used for:

• habits
• current actions
• firm decisions
• near-future plans

So Não saio sem travões is literally present tense, but in natural English it may be better translated as:

• I’m not going out without brakes
• I won’t go out without brakes
• I’m not setting off without brakes

It sounds like a firm rule or decision.

Sem means without, and travões means brakes.

So:

• sem = without
• travões = brakes
• sem travões = without brakes

In context, this is most likely about a bicycle, motorbike, car, or some other vehicle.

Portuguese normally uses the plural when talking about a vehicle’s brakes as a system.

So travões = brakes, just as in English we usually say the brakes, not the brake, when speaking generally.

Even if you are thinking of one braking system, Portuguese still commonly uses the plural.

Yes, travões is the normal word in European Portuguese.

In Brazilian Portuguese, people more commonly say freios.

So:

• European Portuguese: travões
• Brazilian Portuguese: freios

A learner of Portuguese from Portugal should definitely recognize travões as the standard word.

Nem que is a very common expression meaning something like:

• even if
• not even if
• even if it means that...

In this sentence, it introduces a condition that still would not change the speaker’s decision.

So:

• Não saio sem travões, nem que perca o passeio.

means:

• I’m not going out without brakes, even if I miss the ride/outing.

It expresses strong determination.

Because after nem que, Portuguese normally uses the subjunctive.

Here, perca is the present subjunctive of perder (to lose, to miss).

So:

• eu perco = I lose / I am losing (indicative)
• que eu perca = that I lose / even if I lose / even if I miss (subjunctive)

The subjunctive is used because this is a hypothetical or possible situation, not a plain statement of fact.

It comes from perder, which usually means to lose.

In context, it can also mean to miss, as in missing an event, trip, outing, or opportunity.

So nem que perca o passeio means something like:

• even if I miss the outing
• even if I lose the chance for the ride

Passeio can mean several things depending on context, including:

• walk
• stroll
• outing
• ride
• trip
• in some contexts in Portugal, sidewalk/pavement

But in this sentence, because it talks about going out without brakes, passeio most naturally means:

• outing
• ride
• trip

So perca o passeio is best understood as:

• miss the outing
• miss the ride
• miss the trip

It does not mean sidewalk here.

Portuguese often uses the definite article where English may or may not use one.

So o passeio literally means the outing / the ride / the trip.

In natural English, you might translate it as:

• the ride
• the outing
• or simply my ride / the trip, depending on context

Portuguese uses articles very naturally in these cases.

This structure is used to express a firm refusal or decision, followed by an extreme condition that still won’t change it.

Pattern:

• Não + verb..., nem que + subjunctive

Meaning:

• I won’t..., even if...

Examples:

• Não vou, nem que me paguem.
  I’m not going, even if they pay me.

• Não cedo, nem que insistam.
  I won’t give in, even if they insist.

So in your sentence:

• Não saio sem travões, nem que perca o passeio.
  I won’t go out without brakes, even if I miss the ride.

Yes. Both can work, depending on how natural you want the English to sound.

Possible translations include:

• I don’t go out without brakes.
• I’m not going out without brakes.
• I won’t set off without brakes.
• I won’t go out without brakes, even if I miss the ride.

The best English version depends on context, but the Portuguese clearly suggests a firm personal rule or refusal.

It is most naturally literal: someone refuses to go out in a vehicle without working brakes.

But it could also be used figuratively, to mean something like:

• I’m not taking risks
• I’m not doing this unprepared
• Safety comes first

Even so, without extra context, a learner should assume the literal meaning first.

The comma separates:

1. the main statement: Não saio sem travões
2. the concessive clause: nem que perca o passeio

It helps show the rhythm and logic of the sentence:

• I’m not going out without brakes, even if I miss the ride.

The sentence would still be understandable without the comma, but with it, the structure is clearer and more natural in writing.