nunca-si

Macanese

Etymology

Literally, “no if”.

Adverb

nunca-si

1. never

   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.

References

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