Negation in Spanish
In Spanish, negation is simple: put no before the verb. The surprise for English speakers is the double negative. In Spanish, it is not an error. It is the rule.
Quick answer
- Put no before the verb: No hablo francés.
- Negative words work with no: No veo a nadie. No tengo nada.
- Or go first, without no: Nunca como carne.
Basic negation with no
Put no directly before the verb. Object pronouns stay between no and the verb.
Examples
- No hablo francés.I do not speak French.No + verb.
- No me gusta el café.I do not like coffee.No before the pronoun.
- No lo tengo.I do not have it.No + pronoun + verb.
Negative words
Spanish negative words: nada (nothing), nadie (nobody), nunca / jamás (never), tampoco (neither), ningún / ninguna (no, none), ni… ni (neither… nor).
| Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
| algo (something) | nada (nothing) |
| alguien (someone) | nadie (nobody) |
| siempre (always) | nunca (never) |
| también (also) | tampoco (neither) |
| algún (some) | ningún (no) |
| o… o (either… or) | ni… ni (neither… nor) |
Examples
- No hay nada en la mesa.There is nothing on the table.Nada.
- Nadie sabe la respuesta.Nobody knows the answer.Nadie.
- Nunca bebo café.I never drink coffee.Nunca.
- Yo tampoco quiero ir.I do not want to go either.Tampoco.
The double negative
When a negative word comes after the verb, add no before it: No veo a nadie. If the negative word comes before the verb, drop no: Nadie me ve.
Examples
- No veo a nadie.I do not see anyone.Double negative.
- Nadie me llama.Nobody calls me.Negative first, no 'no'.
- No tengo nada que hacer.I have nothing to do.Double negative.
- No vengo nunca aquí.I never come here.Double negative.
Ninguno and ni… ni
Ninguno becomes ningún before a masculine singular noun. It is almost always used in the singular: No tengo ningún problema. Use ni… ni for “neither… nor”: No tengo ni tiempo ni dinero.
Examples
- No tengo ningún problema.I have no problem.Ningún.
- No quiero ni café ni té.I want neither coffee nor tea.Ni… ni.
- Ninguna de mis amigas vino.None of my friends came.Ninguna de.
Spanish around the world
- Double negatives work the same everywhere. In casual speech, some speakers say no… nunca jamás for emphasis.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Veo a nadie.
Correct: No veo a nadie.
After the verb, add no.
Incorrect: No nadie me llama.
Correct: Nadie me llama.
Before the verb, drop no.
Incorrect: Tengo no tiempo.
Correct: No tengo tiempo.
No goes before the verb.
Incorrect: No tengo algo.
Correct: No tengo nada.
Use nada, not algo, in a negative sentence.
Remember the rules
- No goes before the verb.
- Negative word after the verb: no + verb + nada/nadie/nunca.
- Negative word first: no no.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Is a double negative wrong in Spanish?
No. It is standard and required: No tengo nada.
What is the difference between nunca and jamás?
Both mean never. Jamás is stronger and a bit more formal.
When do I use tampoco?
To agree with a negative: — No quiero. — Yo tampoco.
How do I say ‘neither of them’?
Ninguno de los dos.
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