negativa
/neh-gah-TEE-bah/
refusal
A polite gesture of refusal represents the noun 'negativa'.
negativa(noun)
refusal
?saying no to a request
denial
?an official rejection
,rejection
?not accepting an offer
📝 In Action
Ante la negativa del director, no pudimos entrar.
B1In the face of the director's refusal, we couldn't enter.
Recibí una negativa por respuesta.
B1I received a 'no' as an answer.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Negativa' as a Noun
Even though it looks like an adjective, when you put 'la' or 'una' in front of it, it means 'the act of saying no' or 'a refusal'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs Informal
Instead of just saying 'él dijo que no' (he said no), using 'su negativa' (his refusal) makes your Spanish sound more sophisticated and professional.
A gloomy scene illustrates the adjective 'negativa'.
negativa(adjective)
negative
?describing a feminine noun
pessimistic
?referring to a person's attitude
,unfavorable
?referring to results or news
📝 In Action
Ella tiene una actitud muy negativa hoy.
A2She has a very negative attitude today.
La respuesta fue negativa.
A1The answer was negative.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Gender
Use 'negativa' only when the person or thing you are describing is feminine (like 'la respuesta' or 'una persona'). Use 'negativo' for masculine things.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The 'O' vs 'A' trap
Mistake: "Un resultado negativa."
Correction: Un resultado negativo. Because 'resultado' is a masculine word, the ending must match.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: negativa
Question 1 of 1
Which of these phrases correctly uses 'negativa' as a noun meaning 'refusal'?
📚 More Resources
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'.