A tiny green sprout attempting to push through the soil, but a massive, flat, impenetrable gray concrete slab rests firmly on the ground directly above it, symbolizing absolute prevention.

jamás

/ha-MAS/

AdverbA2

never?general use

Also:never ever?for emphasis,not ever?for emphasis

📝 In Action

Jamás he visto una película tan buena.

I have never seen such a good movie.

No te olvidaré jamás.

I will never forget you.

¿Has probado el helado de aguacate? — Jamás, ¡qué raro!

Have you tried avocado ice cream? — Never, how weird!

Prometo que jamás de los jamases volveré a llegar tarde.

I promise that I will never, ever be late again.

Word Connections

Synonyms

nunca (never)

Antonyms

siempre (always)
a menudo (often)

Common Collocations

casi jamás – almost never
por siempre jamás – forever and ever

Idioms & Expressions

jamás de los jamases – Absolutely never; never in a million years.

💡 Grammar Points

The Spanish "Double Negative"

In Spanish, it's correct to use 'no' with words like 'jamás'. If 'jamás' comes BEFORE the verb, you don't need 'no'. If it comes AFTER, you MUST use 'no'. Example: 'Jamás voy' and 'No voy jamás' both mean 'I never go'.

Jamás vs. Nunca

Think of 'jamás' as a stronger, more emotional version of 'nunca' (never). They often mean the same thing, but 'jamás' adds more emphasis, like saying 'never EVER'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the 'no'

Mistake: "Mi hermano come jamás verduras."

Correction: Mi hermano no come jamás verduras. (OR) Mi hermano jamás come verduras. If you put 'jamás' after the action word (the verb), you need to put 'no' in front of it.

⭐ Usage Tips

For Adding Emotion

Use 'jamás' when you feel strongly about something. 'No lo haré nunca' is 'I'll never do it.' 'No lo haré jamás' is more like 'I will NEVER EVER do it!'

In Questions to Show Surprise

You can use 'jamás' in a question to show disbelief. '¿Jamás has ido a la playa?' means 'You've never been to the beach?!'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: jamás

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

📚 More Resources

Words that Rhyme with jamás

más

demás

compás

verás

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the real difference between 'nunca' and 'jamás'?

They are very similar and often interchangeable. The main difference is intensity. 'Jamás' is stronger and more emotional than 'nunca'. Think of 'nunca' as 'never' and 'jamás' as 'never ever'.

Do I always need to use 'no' with 'jamás'?

No. You only need 'no' if 'jamás' comes *after* the main verb (e.g., 'No como jamás espinacas'). If you put 'jamás' at the beginning of the sentence, you don't use 'no' (e.g., 'Jamás como espinacas').

Can 'jamás' mean 'ever'?

Rarely. In some very specific, often literary or formal questions, it can imply 'ever'. For example, '¿Ha visto jamás cosa igual?' (Have you ever seen such a thing?). However, for learners, it's best and safest to always think of 'jamás' as meaning 'never'.