nada
/NAH-dah/
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The Spanish Double Negative
In Spanish, it's correct to use two 'no' words together. If 'nada' comes after the verb, you must also put 'no' before the verb. For example, 'No veo nada' (I don't see anything).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'no'
Mistake: "Veo nada en el cielo."
Correction: No veo nada en el cielo. (I don't see anything in the sky.) When 'nada' follows the verb, you almost always need 'no' in front of the verb to make the sentence negative.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Quick and Easy Answer
'Nada' is a very common one-word answer. If someone asks you what's wrong ('¿Qué pasa?') or what you're doing ('¿Qué haces?'), you can simply reply 'Nada' for 'Nothing'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: nada
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'nada' to mean 'not at all'?
📚 More Resources
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).