Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Nem o rapaz nem a rapariga querem ir à rotunda hoje. - Neither the boy nor the girl wants to go to the roundabout today.

Nem … nem means “neither … nor.” When the nem … nem phrase is the subject, you do not add não: Nem o rapaz nem a rapariga querem… If nem … nem comes after the verb, you normally use não with the verb: Eles não querem ir nem à rotunda nem ao parque.

Why is the verb plural (querem) and not singular (quer)?

Because nem o rapaz nem a rapariga is a compound subject (effectively eles), so the verb agrees in the plural: querem. You may hear singular when the verb comes first in a negative sentence—e.g., Não quer ir nem o rapaz nem a rapariga—but the safest, most standard choice is plural agreement.

Could I say O rapaz e a rapariga não querem… instead?

Yes. O rapaz e a rapariga não querem ir à rotunda hoje is a natural paraphrase. It uses e (and) with one não before the verb. Nem … nem tends to sound a bit more emphatic.

What do o and a before rapaz/rapariga do? Can I drop them?

They’re definite articles (“the”). Portuguese uses them with specific people more often than English does. Dropping them (Rapaz e rapariga…) sounds generic or headline-like; keep them here.

Do I need to repeat the article with nem each time?

Normally yes: Nem o rapaz nem a rapariga… Repeating both nem and the matching article keeps the sentence clear and idiomatic. Omitting an article sounds colloquial and is best avoided in careful speech/writing.

Why is it à rotunda and not a rotunda? What is that accent?

À is the contraction of the preposition a (to) + the feminine article a (the), marked with a grave accent (called “crase”): a + a = à; plural: a + as = às. Masculine is ao (a + o). There’s no change in pronunciation; the accent just shows the contraction: ir à rotunda, ir ao parque.

Is ir a different from ir para?

Yes. Ir a is “go to” (often briefly or as a point on a route). Ir para leans toward going somewhere to stay or as a final destination. For directions in Portugal, you’ll also hear até (a/à): Vamos até à rotunda (“Let’s go as far as the roundabout”).

Why is it querem ir and not querem de ir?

Querer works like a modal and takes the infinitive directly: querer + infinitive (e.g., querem ir, quero estudar). No preposition. Compare: verbs that do take one—começar a estudar, gostar de ir.

Where can I put hoje?

Common options:

End: …à rotunda hoje (very natural).
Start (with comma): Hoje, nem o rapaz nem a rapariga…
After the verb: …querem hoje ir… (possible but less common).
End or start are most natural.

What do rapaz and rapariga mean in Portugal? Any regional notes?

In European Portuguese, rapaz = boy/young man; rapariga = girl/young woman. In Brazil, rapariga can be pejorative in many regions; Brazilians usually say garoto/garota or menino/menina. “Roundabout” is rotunda in Portugal; in Brazil it’s often rotatória.

How would I refer to them with a pronoun?

A mixed pair defaults to masculine plural: Eles não querem ir… If both were female, use Elas. The verb remains plural: não querem.

Any punctuation tips with nem … nem?

You may write it with or without a comma between the two parts: Nem o rapaz, nem a rapariga… or Nem o rapaz nem a rapariga… Both are accepted; with a short subject, most writers omit the comma.

Can I use a single nem to mean “not even”?

Yes. A single nem can mean “not even”: Nem o rapaz quer ir hoje (“Not even the boy wants to go today”). To mean “neither … nor,” use nem … nem.