Spanish Grammar · Basics
Spanish Negation: no, nada, nunca, nadie & double negatives
Learn how to make negative sentences in Spanish with no, nada, nadie, nunca, ningún and tampoco — with clear rules, examples, mistakes to avoid and practice exercises.
Quick answer: How does negation work in Spanish?
Spanish negation usually places no directly before the verb: No hablo español means “I do not speak Spanish.”
Unlike English, Spanish often uses two negative words in one sentence. No veo nada literally says “I do not see nothing,” but the correct English meaning is “I do not see anything.”
How do you form basic negation with no?
The most common way to make a Spanish sentence negative is simple: place no before the conjugated verb. This works with regular verbs, irregular verbs, reflexive verbs and compound expressions.
Positive: Hablo español. — I speak Spanish.
Negative: No hablo español. — I do not speak Spanish.
If there is an object pronoun, no still comes before the pronoun and the verb: No lo entiendo means “I do not understand it.”
Why does Spanish use double negatives?
Spanish allows and often requires double negation. When a negative word comes after the verb, no usually stays before the verb.
No tengo nada. — I do not have anything.
No conozco a nadie. — I do not know anyone.
No voy nunca. — I never go.
This is one of the biggest differences between Spanish and English. In Spanish, the sentence is grammatically correct; in English, it must usually be translated with “anything,” “anyone” or “ever.”
Which Spanish negative words should you know first?
| Spanish | English meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| no | not / no | No entiendo. — I do not understand. |
| nada | nothing / anything | No veo nada. — I do not see anything. |
| nadie | nobody / anyone | No hay nadie. — There is nobody here. |
| nunca | never | Nunca como carne. — I never eat meat. |
| ningún / ninguna | no / not any | No tengo ningún problema. — I do not have any problem. |
| tampoco | neither / not either | Yo tampoco. — Me neither. |
Can nunca, nadie or nada come before the verb?
Yes. When a negative word stands before the verb, no is normally not added.
No viene nadie. — Nobody is coming.
Nadie viene. — Nobody is coming.
No hago nada. — I am not doing anything.
Nada funciona. — Nothing works.
Both structures are common. For beginners, it is often easier to start with no + verb + negative word, then later learn fronted negative words.
How do ningún, ninguno and ninguna work?
Ningún is used before a masculine singular noun: ningún problema, ningún libro. Ninguna is used before a feminine singular noun: ninguna pregunta, ninguna idea.
No tengo ningún libro. — I do not have any book.
No tengo ninguna pregunta. — I do not have any question.
Ninguno funciona. — None of them works.
In everyday Spanish, ningún and ninguna usually stay singular, even when English would use a plural idea such as “any books” or “any questions.”
Typical mistakes with Spanish negation
- Leaving out no: Say No tengo nada, not only Tengo nada.
- Translating word for word into English: No conozco a nadie means “I do not know anyone,” not “I do not know nobody.”
- Using también instead of tampoco: For agreement with a negative sentence, use Yo tampoco.
- Forgetting gender: Ningún problema, but ninguna pregunta.
Practice: Spanish negation exercises
1. Turn the sentence negative
Write the negative version of each sentence.
- Hablo francés.
- Tengo dinero.
- Conozco a alguien aquí.
Show model answers
- No hablo francés.
- No tengo dinero.
- No conozco a nadie aquí.
2. Choose the correct negative word
- No veo _____. (nada / nadie)
- _____ viene a la fiesta. (Nadie / Nada)
- Yo no voy. — Yo _____. (también / tampoco)
- No tengo _____ pregunta. (ningún / ninguna)
Show answers
- nada
- Nadie
- tampoco
- ninguna
3. Translate into Spanish
- I do not understand anything.
- Nobody is at home.
- I never drink coffee.
- Me neither.
Show model translations
- No entiendo nada.
- No hay nadie en casa. / Nadie está en casa.
- Nunca tomo café. / No tomo café nunca.
- Yo tampoco.
4. Fix the mistake
- Tengo nada.
- Yo también no.
- No tengo ninguna problemas.
Show corrections
- No tengo nada.
- Yo tampoco.
- No tengo ningún problema. / No tengo problemas.
FAQ: Spanish negation
Where does no go in a Spanish sentence?
No normally goes directly before the conjugated verb: No entiendo, No tengo tiempo, No quiero café.
Is double negation correct in Spanish?
Yes. Spanish double negation is normal and often required. No veo nada means “I do not see anything.”
What is the difference between nadie and nada?
Nadie refers to people: nobody or anyone. Nada refers to things or ideas: nothing or anything.
When do I use tampoco?
Use tampoco to agree with a negative sentence: No voy — Yo tampoco.
What is the difference between ningún and ninguna?
Ningún is used before masculine singular nouns, while ninguna is used before feminine singular nouns: ningún problema, ninguna pregunta.
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