ninguna
“ninguna” means “no” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
no, not any
Also: none of the
📝 In Action
No tengo ninguna hermana.
A1I don't have any sisters.
Ninguna persona puede entrar sin permiso.
A2No person can enter without permission.
No me diste ninguna razón para quedarme.
B1You didn't give me any reason to stay.
none
Also: not one
📝 In Action
¿Cuántas camisetas te gustan? - Ninguna.
A2How many t-shirts do you like? - None.
De todas las opciones, ninguna me convence.
B1Of all the options, none of them convince me.
Buscaba una solución, pero no encontré ninguna.
B1I was looking for a solution, but I didn't find one.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ninguna
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is correct? You are talking about 'las llaves' (the keys).
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin phrase 'nec unus', which literally means 'not one'. Over many years, these two words blended together to form the modern Spanish word.
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I say 'No tengo ninguna pregunta' instead of 'ningunas preguntas'?
It's a key difference from English! In Spanish, when you negate something with 'ninguno/a', you almost always use the singular form. It's like saying 'I don't have even one single question'. This rule applies even when the English translation would be plural ('any questions').
What's the difference between 'ninguna' and 'ningún'?
`Ninguna` is used for feminine nouns (e.g., 'ninguna casa'). `Ningún` is used for masculine nouns (e.g., 'ningún problema'). You have to match the word to the gender of the noun it's describing.
Can 'ninguna' ever be plural ('ningunas')?
It's extremely rare, but yes. You would only use 'ningunas' with nouns that are always plural and don't have a singular form, like 'gafas' (glasses) or 'tijeras' (scissors). For example, 'No tengo ningunas ganas de salir' (I have no desire to go out). However, as a learner, it's safest to stick to the singular 'ninguna' 99.9% of the time.