An empty park bench on a sunny day, with no people around, symbolizing 'nobody'.

nadie

/NAH-dyeh/

PronounA1

nobody,no one

Also:anybody?in questions or negative sentences,anyone?in questions or negative sentences

📝 In Action

No hay nadie en la casa.

There is nobody in the house.

Nadie sabe la respuesta.

No one knows the answer.

No quiero hablar con nadie.

I don't want to talk to anyone.

¿Ves a nadie por ahí?

Do you see anybody over there?

Word Connections

Synonyms

ninguno (no one / none)

Antonyms

alguien (somebody / someone)
todos (everyone)

Common Collocations

casi nadie – almost nobody
más que nadie – more than anyone
nadie más – nobody else

Idioms & Expressions

no ser nadie – to be a nobody, to be unimportant
un don nadie – a nobody, an insignificant person

💡 Grammar Points

The Spanish Double Negative

In Spanish, it's correct to say 'No... nadie'. It might feel strange, but think of it as adding extra emphasis. 'No vino nadie' is the right way to say 'Nobody came'.

Starting a Sentence with 'Nadie'

If 'nadie' starts the sentence, you don't need to use 'no'. For example, 'Nadie vino' means 'Nobody came' and is just as correct as 'No vino nadie'.

Always Acts Singular

Even though 'nadie' means zero people, the verb that follows it is always in the 'he/she' form. For example, 'Nadie sabe' (Nobody knows), not 'Nadie saben'.

The 'Personal a'

When 'nobody' is the one receiving an action, you need to put 'a' in front of 'nadie'. For example, 'No vi a nadie' (I didn't see anyone).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the 'no'

Mistake: "Vino nadie a la fiesta."

Correction: No vino nadie a la fiesta. When 'nadie' comes after the verb, you almost always need 'no' before the verb.

Using 'Nadie' for Things

Mistake: "En la caja no hay nadie."

Correction: En la caja no hay nada. Use 'nadie' only for people. For things, use 'nada' (nothing).

Forgetting the 'personal a'

Mistake: "No conozco nadie aquí."

Correction: No conozco a nadie aquí. When 'nobody' is receiving the action from the verb (like 'knowing' them), you need to add the 'a'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Answering Questions Simply

A simple way to answer a 'who' question negatively is just with 'Nadie'. For instance, '¿Quién llamó?' 'Nadie.' ('Who called?' 'Nobody.')

The Opposite of 'Alguien'

Think of 'nadie' as the direct opposite of 'alguien' (someone). If someone asks '¿Hay alguien en casa?' (Is anyone home?), the negative answer is 'No, no hay nadie'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: nadie

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence is grammatically correct in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

nada(nothing) - pronoun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you say 'No... nadie'? Isn't that a double negative?

Yes, it is! In English, double negatives are usually incorrect, but in Spanish, they are required and perfectly normal. It's a key difference between the two languages. Think of it as reinforcing the negative idea.

What's the difference between 'nadie' and 'nada'?

'Nadie' is for people (nobody, no one). 'Nada' is for things (nothing). For example, 'No vi a nadie' (I saw nobody), but 'No vi nada' (I saw nothing).

When do I use 'a' before 'nadie'?

You use 'a' before 'nadie' when it's the one receiving the action from a verb. For example, 'Llamé a nadie' (I called nobody) or 'Ayudé a nadie' (I helped nobody). You don't use it when 'nadie' is the one doing the action, like in 'Nadie llamó' (Nobody called).