nos
“nos” means “us” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
us
📝 In Action
Ella nos llama todos los días.
A1She calls us every day.
El profesor nos dio la tarea.
A2The teacher gave us the homework.
¿Nos puedes ayudar, por favor?
A1Can you help us, please?
ourselves
Also: each other
📝 In Action
Nos levantamos a las siete.
A1We get up at seven.
Nos lavamos las manos antes de comer.
A2We wash our hands before eating.
Nos conocemos desde la escuela.
B1We've known each other since school.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: nos
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'nos' to mean 'to us'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'nos', which meant 'we' or 'us'. It has kept its core meaning for thousands of years.
First recorded: Before the 10th 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
What's the difference between 'nos' and 'nosotros'?
Think of it like this: 'nosotros' is the star of the show ('Nosotros hablamos' - 'We speak'). 'Nos' is the supporting actor that receives the action ('Él nos habla' - 'He speaks to us') or shows the action bounces back to the star ('Nos hablamos' - 'We speak to ourselves/each other').
Why do you say 'nos lavamos las manos' and not 'nos lavamos nuestras manos'?
It's a key difference from English! In Spanish, the 'nos' in 'nos lavamos' already makes it clear whose hands you're washing (our own). So, you just use 'las manos' (the hands) instead of 'nuestras manos' (our hands). It sounds more natural in Spanish.
Can 'nos vemos' mean both 'we see ourselves' and 'we see each other'?
Yes, it can mean both, but 99% of the time it means 'we see each other'. It's also the most common way to say 'See you later!' to someone.