nunca-si

Macanese

Etymology

Literally, “no if”.

Adverb

nunca-si

1. never

   Near-synonym: nádi más

   Êle nunca-si vêm ― He never came

Usage notes

• Unlike the Portuguese word, nunca in Macanese usually does not mean "never"; nunca-si is used instead.
• Not to be confused with si nunca (“otherwise”).
• The term is generally used in the past tense (without requiring já); for expressing an ongoing habit in the present (progressive) tense, nôm têm fim (literally “not have end”) might be used instead. For negation in the future, nádi más (literally “not any more”) is used.

References

• https://www.macaneselibrary.org/pub/english/uipatua.htm
• https://belamaquista.wordpress.com/2017/01/20/nunca-si/