negar
“negar” means “deny” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
deny, refuse
Also: reject, disown
📝 In Action
Ella niega haber estado en la fiesta.
A2She denies having been at the party.
El banco me negó el préstamo.
B1The bank refused me the loan.
La empresa le negó la entrada a la fábrica.
B1The company denied him entry to the factory.
refuse to, deny oneself
Also: be unwilling
📝 In Action
Me niego a trabajar horas extras.
B1I refuse to work overtime.
Se niega a creer la noticia, aunque es cierta.
A2He refuses to believe the news, even though it's true.
Los atletas deben negarse muchos postres.
B2Athletes must deny themselves many desserts.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "negar" in Spanish:
be unwilling→deny oneself→disown→refuse→refuse to→reject→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: negar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the reflexive form of 'negar' to mean 'She refuses to leave'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin verb *negāre*, meaning 'to say no' or 'to deny.' It is related to the English word 'negative' and the Spanish word 'no.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'negar' and 'negarse'?
'Negar' (transitive) means to deny a statement ('I deny the rumor') or refuse an object ('They refused the gift'). 'Negarse' (reflexive) means to refuse to perform an action ('I refuse to go') and requires the preposition 'a' afterwards.
How do I remember the stem change for 'negar'?
Think of it like 'Niego' (I deny) rhymes with 'tengo' (I have). The 'e' changes to 'ie' in most forms, except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros,' which stay regular.