algunovsninguno
/al-GOO-noh/
/neen-GOO-noh/
💡 Quick Rule
Alguno = 'some' or 'any' (positive). Ninguno = 'none' or 'not any' (negative).
Alguno Adds (it's positive). Ninguno Negates (it's negative).
- Both shorten before a masculine noun: 'algún amigo', 'ningún amigo'.
- Spanish uses double negatives: 'No quiero ningún problema' is correct.
- In questions, use 'alguno' for 'any': '¿Tienes algún libro?'
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | alguno | ninguno | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| In a question | ¿Necesitas algún libro? | (Not used in questions) | Use 'alguno' (or its forms) to ask about 'any'. 'Ninguno' is for negative answers. |
| As a pronoun | Alguno de ellos lo sabe. | Ninguno de ellos lo sabe. | 'Alguno' means 'one of them' (at least one). 'Ninguno' means 'none of them' (zero). |
| Before a masculine noun | Tengo algún dinero. | No tengo ningún dinero. | Both words shorten to 'algún' and 'ningún' right before a masculine singular noun. |
| Before a feminine noun | Compré alguna fruta. | No compré ninguna fruta. | The feminine forms 'alguna' and 'ninguna' do not shorten. |
✅ When to Use "alguno" / ninguno
alguno
Some, any, one (positive, refers to one or more from a group)
/al-GOO-noh/
To mean 'some' or 'any' (adjective)
¿Tienes alguna pregunta?
Do you have any questions?
To mean 'one' or 'somebody' (pronoun)
Alguno de mis amigos vendrá.
One of my friends will come.
Shortens to 'algún' before a masculine noun
¿Hay algún médico aquí?
Is there any doctor here?
ninguno
None, no, not any (negative, refers to zero from a group)
/neen-GOO-noh/
To mean 'no' or 'not any' (adjective)
No tengo ninguna pregunta.
I don't have any questions.
To mean 'none' or 'nobody' (pronoun)
Ninguno de mis amigos vendrá.
None of my friends will come.
Shortens to 'ningún' before a masculine noun
No hay ningún médico aquí.
There is no doctor here.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "alguno":
Alguno de mis amigos habla alemán.
One/Some of my friends speaks German.
With "ninguno":
Ninguno de mis amigos habla alemán.
None of my friends speaks German.
The Difference: 'Alguno' confirms that at least one person in the group does the action. 'Ninguno' confirms that zero people in the group do it.
With "alguno":
Tenemos que encontrar alguna solución.
We have to find some solution.
With "ninguno":
No encontramos ninguna solución.
We didn't find any solution.
The Difference: 'Alguna' expresses the hope or need for one solution out of many possibilities. 'Ninguna' expresses the result of finding zero solutions.
🎨 Visual Comparison
'Alguno' points to 'at least one', while 'ninguno' points to 'zero'.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
No quiero alguno postre.
No quiero ningún postre.
In negative sentences, you must use the negative word 'ninguno' (or 'ningún') to mean 'not any'.
¿Tienes ninguno plan?
¿Tienes algún plan?
To ask 'do you have any...?', always use 'alguno' (or 'algún'). 'Ninguno' is never used in questions like this.
Ninguno de mis padres son de aquí.
Ninguno de mis padres es de aquí.
Even when talking about a group, 'ninguno' is grammatically singular. The verb must also be singular ('es', not 'son').
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Alguno vs Ninguno
Question 1 of 2
Which word correctly fills the blank? 'No tengo ___ idea de qué hablas.'
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'alguno' become 'algún' but 'alguna' doesn't change?
This is a special rule in Spanish called 'apócope' that only applies to a few words (like 'uno' -> 'un', 'bueno' -> 'buen'). 'Alguno' and 'ninguno' drop the final '-o' only when they come directly before a masculine singular noun. The feminine and plural forms never change.
Is the double negative 'No... ninguno' always necessary?
Yes, it's a standard rule in Spanish. If you put 'no' before the verb, any other negative words (like 'ninguno', 'nada', 'nadie') must be used after the verb. Saying 'No tengo alguno' is incorrect. Think of it as reinforcing the negativity, not cancelling it out like in English.