nem que chovam canivetes

Portuguese

Etymology

Literally, “even if it rains knives”.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈnẽj̃ ki ˈʃo.vɐ̃w̃ ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃis/ [ˈnẽɪ̯̃ ki ˈʃo.vɐ̃ʊ̯̃ ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃis]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈnẽj̃ ki ˈʃo.vɐ̃w̃ ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃis/ [ˈnẽɪ̯̃ ki ˈʃo.vɐ̃ʊ̯̃ ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃis]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈnẽj̃ ki ˈʃo.vɐ̃w̃ ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃiʃ/ [ˈnẽɪ̯̃ ki ˈʃo.vɐ̃ʊ̯̃ ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃiʃ]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈnẽj̃ ke ˈʃo.vɐ̃w̃ ka.niˈvɛ.tes/ [ˈnẽɪ̯̃ ke ˈʃo.vɐ̃ʊ̯̃ ka.niˈvɛ.tes]

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈnɐ̃j̃ kɨ ˈʃo.vɐ̃w̃ kɐ.niˈvɛ.tɨʃ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈnɐ̃j̃ kɨ ˈʃo.vɐ̃w̃ kɐ.niˈvɛ.tɨʃ/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈnɐ̃j̃ kɨ ˈt͡ʃo.bɐ̃w̃ kɐ.niˈbɛ.tɨʃ/ [ˈnɐ̃j̃ kɨ ˈt͡ʃo.βɐ̃w̃ kɐ.niˈβɛ.tɨʃ]

• Hyphenation: nem que cho‧vam ca‧ni‧ve‧tes

Phrase

nem que chovam canivetes

1. (colloquial) whatever happens, happens

   Synonym: aconteça o que acontecer

Further reading

• “canivete” in Dicionário infopédia da Língua Portuguesa. Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2024.