Basic Negation with 'No'
The most common way to make a sentence negative in Spanish is by placing 'no' directly before the verb.
Simple Negation
Place 'no' immediately before the conjugated verb:
Hablo español. → No hablo español.
I speak Spanish. → I don't speak Spanish.
Comes mucho. → No comes mucho.
You eat a lot. → You don't eat a lot.
Vive aquí. → No vive aquí.
He lives here. → He doesn't live here.
Tenemos tiempo. → No tenemos tiempo.
We have time. → We don't have time.
Son estudiantes. → No son estudiantes.
They are students. → They are not students.
Negation with Object Pronouns
When object pronouns are present, 'no' goes before the pronouns:
Te veo. → No te veo.
I see you. → I don't see you.
Lo comprendo. → No lo comprendo.
I understand it. → I don't understand it.
Me gusta. → No me gusta.
I like it. → I don't like it.
Se levanta. → No se levanta.
He gets up. → He doesn't get up.
Nos hablan. → No nos hablan.
They talk to us. → They don't talk to us.
Negation with Compound Tenses
In compound tenses, 'no' goes before the auxiliary verb:
He comido. → No he comido.
I have eaten. → I haven't eaten.
Había llegado. → No había llegado.
He had arrived. → He hadn't arrived.
Habremos terminado. → No habremos terminado.
We will have finished. → We won't have finished.
Está hablando. → No está hablando.
She is speaking. → She isn't speaking.
Negative Words
Spanish has several negative words that can be used alone or with 'no' for emphasis.
Common Negative Words
Key negative words and their meanings:
nada
nothing, not anything
nadie
nobody, not anyone
nunca
never, not ever
jamás
never, not ever (stronger)
ninguno/a
none, not any
tampoco
neither, not either
ni
neither, nor
ni siquiera
not even
Using Negative Words Alone
Negative words can be used without 'no' when they come before the verb:
Nadie viene.
Nobody is coming.
Nunca llueve aquí.
It never rains here.
Nada funciona.
Nothing works.
Ningún estudiante llegó.
No student arrived.
Tampoco me gusta.
I don't like it either.
Double Negatives
Unlike English, Spanish allows and often requires double negatives for emphasis.
No + Negative Word
When negative words come after the verb, 'no' is required before the verb:
No viene nadie.
Nobody is coming.
No llueve nunca aquí.
It never rains here.
No funciona nada.
Nothing works.
No llegó ningún estudiante.
No student arrived.
No me gusta tampoco.
I don't like it either.
Multiple Negatives
Spanish can use multiple negative words in the same sentence:
No dice nada nunca.
He never says anything.
No viene nadie nunca.
Nobody ever comes.
No tengo ningún problema tampoco.
I don't have any problems either.
Nunca nadie dice nada.
Nobody ever says anything.
No hay nada para nadie.
There's nothing for anyone.
Negative Expressions
Common negative expressions and phrases used in everyday Spanish.
Common Negative Phrases
Useful negative expressions for daily conversation:
De nada
You're welcome (literally: of nothing)
Para nada
Not at all, absolutely not
Ni hablar
No way, out of the question
Ni modo
No way, too bad
En absoluto
Absolutely not
Qué va
No way, come on
Ni por asomo
Not by a long shot
Ni loco
No way, not crazy
Negative Questions
How to form and respond to negative questions:
¿No vienes? - No, no vengo.
Aren't you coming? - No, I'm not coming.
¿No te gusta? - Sí, sí me gusta.
Don't you like it? - Yes, I do like it.
¿Nunca has estado aquí? - No, nunca.
Have you never been here? - No, never.
¿No hay nadie? - No, no hay nadie.
Isn't there anyone? - No, there's no one.