no
/no/
Just like shaking your head, 'no' is the simplest way to say something isn't true or won't happen.
no (Adverb)
📝 In Action
¿Quieres café? —No, gracias.
A1Do you want coffee? —No, thank you.
Yo no soy de España.
A1I am not from Spain.
Ella no habla inglés.
A1She doesn't speak English.
Hace buen tiempo, ¿no?
A2It's nice weather, isn't it?
💡 Grammar Points
Placement is Key
In Spanish, 'no' almost always goes directly before the verb. Think of it as guarding the action word. For example: 'Yo no como carne' (I don't eat meat).
Double Negatives are Good!
Unlike English, Spanish often uses double negatives. It's correct to say 'No veo nada' (literally 'I don't see nothing'). Using 'no' with words like 'nada' (nothing) or 'nadie' (nobody) makes the sentence stronger, not incorrect.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Putting 'no' After the Verb
Mistake: "Yo soy no alto."
Correction: Yo no soy alto. (I am not tall.) Remember, 'no' needs to come right before the action word ('soy' in this case).
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking for Agreement
You can add '¿no?' at the end of a sentence to ask for confirmation, just like '...right?' or '...isn't it?' in English. For example, 'Es un día bonito, ¿no?' (It's a beautiful day, isn't it?).
Sometimes 'no' isn't just a word, but a final decision or a refusal you receive, like a 'no' to a request.
no (Noun)
📝 In Action
Recibí un no rotundo como respuesta.
B1I received a firm no as an answer.
Es difícil aceptar un no.
B1It's hard to accept a no.
Su futuro depende de un sí o un no.
B2His future depends on a yes or a no.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
When you use 'no' as a thing (a noun), it's always masculine. So you'll say 'el no' (the no) or 'un no' (a no).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
This is used more in writing or slightly more formal speech. In casual conversation, you're more likely to hear 'Me dijo que no' (He/She told me no) instead of 'Recibí un no'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: no
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is grammatically correct in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Spanish speakers say 'no... nada'? Isn't that a double negative?
Yes, it is! But in Spanish, double negatives are not only correct, they're required. If you use a negative word like 'nada' (nothing) or 'nadie' (nobody) *after* the verb, you must also put 'no' *before* the verb. It reinforces the negative idea, rather than cancelling it out like in English.
What's the difference between 'no' and 'tampoco'?
'No' is the general word for 'not' or 'no'. 'Tampoco' is more specific; it means 'not either' or 'neither'. You use it to agree with a negative statement. If someone says 'No me gusta el frío' (I don't like the cold), you would reply 'A mí tampoco' (Me neither).
Can I just say 'No.' to answer a question?
Absolutely! Just like in English, 'No.' is a complete and perfectly polite answer to a yes/no question. You can add 'gracias' (thank you) to be extra polite, as in 'No, gracias'.