Nem eu

Using it is a breeze. You only use it after someone makes a negative statement. Look for the word não in their sentence. If they say Eu não gosto de café, you jump in with Nem eu. You don't need to add anything else. It stands perfectly fine on its own. It’s like a verbal high-five for things you both aren't doing or feeling.

You’ll use this everywhere. Use it at a restaurant when a friend says they can't decide what to eat. Use it at work when a colleague mentions they didn't understand the new memo. It’s perfect for texting when a friend complains about the rain. It shows you are listening and empathizing. It makes you sound much more natural than repeating the whole negative sentence back.

Never use Nem eu to agree with a positive statement. If someone says Eu gosto de pizza, don't say Nem eu. That would be like saying 'Me neither' to 'I like pizza'—it makes no sense! In that case, you’d use Eu também. Also, avoid using it if the subject isn't 'I'. If they are talking about their brother, you might need Nem ele instead. Don't use it to be argumentative; it's strictly for agreement.

Portuguese speakers love to find common ground. Agreement is a social lubricant in Brazil and Portugal. Nem eu is part of a family of 'neither' expressions. It reflects a culture that values shared sentiments. Interestingly, even in very formal settings, this phrase rarely changes. It’s one of those rare gems that fits almost any social layer. It’s the ultimate 'I feel you' for the negative side of life.

You might hear Nem eu também, though it’s technically redundant. Some people add Pois é, nem eu for extra emphasis. In very casual speech, you might just hear a sympathetic Nem... with a sigh. If you want to be more emphatic, you can say Nem eu, viu?. This adds a little 'I'm telling you' flavor to your agreement. Stick to the basic version first, and you'll never go wrong.