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negativa

neh-gah-TEE-bahne.ɣaˈti.βa

“negativa” means “refusal” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

refusal

Also: denial, rejection
NounfB1
A person gently holding their hand up in a stop gesture, declining a gift offered by another person.

📝 In Action

Ante la negativa del director, no pudimos entrar.

B1

In the face of the director's refusal, we couldn't enter.

Recibí una negativa por respuesta.

B1

I received a 'no' as an answer.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • rechazo (rejection)
  • denegación (denial)

Antonyms

  • aceptación (acceptance)
  • afirmación (affirmation)

Common Collocations

  • negativa rotunda – flat refusal
  • dar una negativa – to give a 'no'

negative

Also: pessimistic, unfavorable
A sad, drooping flower in a pot with a dark rain cloud above it.

📝 In Action

Ella tiene una actitud muy negativa hoy.

A2

She has a very negative attitude today.

La respuesta fue negativa.

A1

The answer was negative.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pesimista (pessimistic)
  • desfavorable (unfavorable)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • energía negativa – negative energy
  • respuesta negativa – negative response

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "negativa" in Spanish:

denial→refusal→rejection→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: negativa

Question 1 of 1

Which of these phrases correctly uses 'negativa' as a noun meaning 'refusal'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
negativo(negative (masculine form)) — Adjective
negar(to deny/refuse) — Verb
negación(negation) — Noun
negativamente(negatively) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
activapasivaalternativa
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'negativus', which comes from the verb 'negare' (to say no). It shares the same roots as the English word 'negative'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: negativeFrench: négativeItalian: negativa

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'negativa' mean the same thing as the word 'no'?

Not exactly. 'No' is the word you say. 'Negativa' is the label for the answer itself. Think of it as the difference between saying 'Stop!' and receiving a 'command'.

Can I use 'negativa' to describe a man?

No. If you want to describe a man as negative, you must use the masculine form: 'Él es muy negativo'.