nada
“nada” means “nothing” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
nothing
Also: anything
📝 In Action
¿Qué quieres comer? —Nada, gracias.
A1What do you want to eat? —Nothing, thank you.
No hay nada en la nevera.
A1There is nothing in the fridge.
No entiendo nada de lo que dices.
A2I don't understand anything you're saying.
not at all
📝 In Action
No estoy nada cansado.
A2I'm not tired at all.
Esa película no me gustó nada.
B1I didn't like that movie at all.
Él no es nada tonto; es muy inteligente.
B1He is not at all stupid; he's very smart.
nothingness
Also: the void
📝 In Action
El universo surgió de la nada.
B2The universe emerged from nothingness.
Tenía miedo de caer en la nada.
C1He was afraid of falling into the void.
he swims / she swims / you (formal) swim
Also: swim!
📝 In Action
Mi hermano nada en el mar todos los días.
A1My brother swims in the sea every day.
La campeona olímpica nada muy rápido.
A2The Olympic champion swims very fast.
¡Hace calor! ¡Nada un poco!
A2It's hot! Swim a little!
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: nada
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'nada' to mean 'not at all'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word for 'nothing' comes from Latin 'res nata', which means 'born thing'. In negative sentences, it came to mean 'not a single born thing,' and eventually was shortened to just 'nada'. The verb form comes from the Latin 'natare', meaning 'to swim'.
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Spanish speakers say 'no... nada'? Isn't that a double negative?
Yes, it is! But unlike in English where double negatives are usually incorrect, in Spanish they are required and grammatically correct. Think of it as a rule: if you use a negative word like 'nada' (nothing) or 'nadie' (nobody) after the verb, you must put 'no' before the verb to 'activate' the negativity for the whole sentence.
How can I tell if 'nada' means 'nothing' or 'swims'?
Context is key! If the sentence is about a person or animal and an action, it probably means 'swims' (e.g., 'El perro nada' - The dog swims). If the sentence is about the absence of something, it means 'nothing' (e.g., 'No hay nada' - There is nothing). You'll get the hang of it quickly!
What's the difference between 'nada' and 'ninguno'?
Good question! 'Nada' means 'nothing' and refers to things in a general sense. 'Ninguno' (or 'ninguna') means 'none' or 'not a single one' and is used when you're talking about a specific group of countable things. For example, 'No hay nada en la mesa' (There's nothing on the table) vs. 'No me gusta ninguno de estos libros' (I don't like any of these books).