Saying no
No, and the double negatives nada, nadie and nunca.
To make a sentence negative, put no before the verb. Object pronouns, words like lo "it" and me "me" (Object pronouns), stay between no and the verb.
- I don't speak French.
- I don't know.
- Are you coming? —No, I can't.
Answering a question, the first no is "no" and the second "not".
Double negatives
Spanish negative words need no before the verb when they come after it. The double negative is correct, and required.
| Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| nada | nothing, anything |
| nadie | nobody, anybody |
| nunca | never, ever |
| ninguno, ninguna | none, not one, not any |
| tampoco | not either, neither |
| ni... ni | neither... nor |
- I don't see anything.
- There's nobody at home.
- I never eat meat.
- I don't have any problem.
When the negative word comes before the verb, no is left out:
- I never eat meat.
- Nobody knows the answer.
ninguno becomes ningún before a masculine noun: ningún problema. It's nearly always singular.
Not either, not yet, no longer
- I don't smoke. —Me neither.
- I haven't eaten yet.
- I don't live here anymore.
Cards from this guide
9 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Sentences cards.
Where does no go in a sentence?
Right before the verb, and before any object pronoun.
How do you say 'I don't see anything'?
No veo nada.
How do you say 'nobody knows'?
Nadie sabe.
Give two ways to say 'I never eat meat'.
Nunca como carne and No como carne nunca.
What does ninguno become before a masculine noun like problema?
ningún: ningún problema.
How do you say 'me neither'?
Yo tampoco.
How do you say 'I don't live here anymore'?
Ya no vivo aquí.
In No, no puedo, what does each no mean?
The first is 'no', the answer; the second is 'not', before the verb.
How do you say 'neither tea nor coffee'?
ni té ni café