ninguno
“ninguno” means “no” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
no, not any
Also: not a single
📝 In Action
No tengo ningún problema.
A2I don't have any problem.
Ninguna persona vino a la fiesta.
A2No person came to the party.
No hay ninguna razón para estar triste.
B1There is no reason to be sad.
none, no one
Also: not one
📝 In Action
¿Cuántos libros tienes? — Ninguno.
A2How many books do you have? — None.
Ninguno de mis amigos habla japonés.
B1None of my friends speak Japanese.
Le pregunté a varias personas, pero ninguna sabía la respuesta.
B1I asked several people, but no one knew the answer.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ninguno
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from Old Spanish 'neguno,' which is a blend of two Latin words: 'nec' (not) and 'ūnus' (one). So it literally means 'not one'!
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ninguno' and 'nada'?
Great question! 'Ninguno' means 'none' or 'no/not any' and refers to countable things or people (like books, friends). 'Nada' means 'nothing' and refers to uncountable things or concepts (like time, information, or just 'nothing' in general). Example: 'No tengo ningún libro' (I have no book) vs. 'No tengo nada' (I have nothing).
Why do I have to use 'no' and 'ninguno' in the same sentence? Isn't that a double negative?
It is a double negative, but in Spanish, that's the correct way to do it! Unlike in English where it's considered an error, in Spanish, you need to 'negate' the verb with 'no' if a negative word like 'ninguno' or 'nadie' comes after it. It helps reinforce the negative idea.
Can I ever use the plural 'ningunos' or 'ningunas'?
It's extremely rare. You would only use it for nouns that are always plural, like 'gafas' (glasses) or 'tijeras' (scissors). For example, 'No compré ningunas gafas de sol.' (I didn't buy any sunglasses). For 99% of situations, you should stick to the singular 'ningún' or 'ninguna'.