Negation: no, nunca, nada (+ nadie, tampoco)
Put no before the verb to make a sentence negative. Words like nunca, nada and nadie add meaning, and double negatives are correct.
The rule at a glance
no + verb
No hablo francés = I don't speak French
Never
nunca
never
Nunca llego tarde.
I never arrive late.
Nothing
nada
nothing, anything
No quiero nada, gracias.
I don't want anything, thanks.
Nobody
nadie
nobody, anybody
No conozco a nadie aquí.
I don't know anybody here.
Neither
tampoco
neither, not either
¿No te gusta? A mí tampoco.
You don't like it? Me neither.
- Double negatives are correct. No quiero nada means "I don't want anything".
- If the negative word comes before the verb, drop no: Nadie viene = No viene nadie.
Forms
The negative words, each the opposite of a positive word (algo → nada, alguien → nadie, siempre → nunca):
| Negative word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| no | not, no |
| nunca | never |
| jamás | never (emphatic) |
| nada | nothing, anything |
| nadie | nobody, anybody |
| ningún / ninguna | not any, no |
| tampoco | neither, not either |
| ni... ni | neither... nor |
Pattern: before the verb, no no is needed; after the verb, use no + verb + negative word.
When to use it
1. No before the verb
Simply put no directly before the verb. If there is an object pronoun, no goes before the pronoun.
No hablo español – I don't speak Spanish
No tengo tiempo – I don't have time
No me gusta – I don't like it
No lo entiendo – I don't understand it
2. Negative word before the verb: no no needed
A negative word can go before the verb on its own, or after the verb with no in front: Nunca estudio = No estudio nunca.
Nunca estudio – I never study
No estudio nunca – I never study (double negative)
Nadie viene – Nobody is coming
Nada es fácil – Nothing is easy
3. Double negatives are correct
In Spanish, negatives reinforce each other: No quiero nada means "I don't want anything", not "I want something". You can even stack several for emphasis.
No quiero nada – I don't want anything
No conozco a nadie – I don't know anybody
No compro nada nunca – I never buy anything
Nadie dice nada nunca – Nobody ever says anything
4. Tampoco: neither, not either
Don't confuse it with también (also, too), the positive word: Yo voy también (I'm going too), Yo tampoco voy (I'm not going either).
Yo tampoco – Me neither
No voy tampoco – I'm not going either
Tampoco quiero café – I don't want coffee either
Common mistakes
Not this (incorrect): No quiero algo
But this (correct): No quiero nada. Spanish uses double negatives: "algo" becomes "nada" with "no".
Not this (incorrect): No conozco alguien
But this (correct): No conozco a nadie. "Alguien" becomes "nadie" in negative sentences (with the personal a).
Not this (incorrect): Hablo nunca español
But this (correct): Nunca hablo español / No hablo nunca español. Put "nunca" before the verb, or use the "no... nunca" structure.
Quick check
8 questions1. How do you say 'I don't speak English'?
'No' goes directly before the verb. 'No hablo inglés' is correct.
2. Which is correct in Spanish?
Spanish uses double negatives: 'No quiero nada' (I don't want anything) is correct.
3. How do you say 'I never eat meat'?
Both 'Nunca como carne' and 'No como carne nunca' are correct. The negative word can go before or after the verb.
4. What does 'Yo tampoco' mean?
'Tampoco' means 'neither' or 'not either'. 'Yo tampoco' = 'Me neither'.
5. Which sentence uses double negative correctly?
'No conozco a nadie' (I don't know anybody) correctly uses the Spanish double negative.
6. How do you say 'Nobody comes to class'?
Both are correct: 'Nadie viene a clase' or 'No viene nadie a clase'. The negative word can go before or after the verb.
7. What's the difference between 'también' and 'tampoco'?
'También' means 'too/also' (positive), 'tampoco' means 'neither/not either' (negative).
8. Complete: 'No quiero ___ más' (I don't want anything else)
'No quiero nada más': use 'nada' (nothing/anything) with 'no' for the double negative.
Practise using no and negative words in Spanish.
Going further
Negation in everyday situations and common expressions
At a restaurant
No quiero postre – I don't want dessert
No me gusta la pizza – I don't like pizza
No tengo hambre – I'm not hungry
Nunca como carne – I never eat meat
Shopping
No tengo dinero – I don't have money
No compro nada – I'm not buying anything
Nadie me ayuda – Nobody helps me
No necesito nada más – I don't need anything else
Tampoco me gusta esto – I don't like this either
Common expressions
¡No pasa nada! No worries! / It's fine!
No hay problema – No problem
No me importa – I don't mind / I don't care
¡De nada! You're welcome!
No es nada – It's nothing
To turn a negative sentence into a question, see forming questions.