can nin gato

Galician

Etymology

Attested since the 16th century. Literally, “dog neither cat”. Compare Portuguese nem cão nem gato.

Pronoun

can nin gato

1. (idiomatic) absolutely no one

   Con este tempo non sae can nin gato

   With a weather like this absolutely no one will go out

   Febreiriño corto cos teus días vinte e oito, si duraras máis catro non paraba can nin gato (proverb)

   Short February with days twenty-eight; if you were four larger, no one would endure you

   • 1596, anonymous author, Diálogo de Alberte e Bieito:

     desa sorte
     pareze que todo e morte
     pois non queda can nen gato
     que mirando ben seu trato
     en todo non desconforte

     In this way
     it looks as it everything is death
     since there is no one
     that examining their own trade
     doesn't feel distressed

   • 1836, anonymous author, Diálogo da alameda (3º):

     non hai can nin gato que non o teña por un forte calrista

     there is absolutely no one that doesn't regards him as a strong Carlist supporter

Usage notes

Used in negative clauses together with verbs as quedar (“to remain”), haber (“to be”), saír (“to go out”).

References

• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “can nin gato”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “non saír can nin gato”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN