ningún
“ningún” means “no” in Spanish (before a singular noun, e.g., 'no problem').
no, not any
📝 In Action
No tengo ningún problema.
A1I don't have any problem / I have no problem.
Ningún estudiante sabía la respuesta.
A2No student knew the answer.
No hay ningún motivo para estar triste.
A2There is no reason to be sad.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ningún
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'I don't have any car'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
It comes from the Latin phrase 'nec ūnus', which literally means 'not one'. Over centuries of being spoken, these two words blended together to form the Spanish word we use today.
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between `ningún` and `ninguno`?
`ningún` is a special short form you must use right before a masculine noun (like `ningún libro`). `ninguno` is used when it stands alone, replacing a noun (for example, if someone asks `¿Cuántos libros tienes?`, you can answer `Ninguno.`)
Can I ever use `ningún` with a plural noun?
It's extremely rare. In over 99% of cases, you'll use `ningún` with a singular noun. This is a key difference from English, where we often say things like 'I have no problems.' In Spanish, you'd say `No tengo ningún problema` (singular).
Why do I sometimes see `ninguno` after a noun, like `amigo ninguno`?
This is a very old-fashioned or poetic way of speaking that you'll almost never hear or need to use. The modern, standard way is to always put `ningún` before the noun: `ningún amigo`.