Inklingo

How to Say "invalid" in Spanish

English → Spanish

inválido

adjectiveB1general
Use 'inválido' when referring to something that is not officially recognized, accepted, or legitimate, such as a ticket, a document, or a person's status.

Examples

Lo siento, pero su billete de tren es inválido.

I'm sorry, but your train ticket is invalid.

nulo

/NOO-loh//ˈnulo/

adjectiveB1legal/formal
Choose 'nulo' when something is declared void, has no legal force, or is considered null and void, often in legal or contractual contexts.
A wooden gavel resting on a red cushion with a large red 'X' symbol hovering behind it.

Examples

El contrato fue declarado nulo por el juez.

The contract was declared null and void by the judge.

Hubo muchos votos nulos en las elecciones.

There were many invalid votes in the elections.

El gol fue nulo porque el jugador estaba fuera de juego.

The goal was cancelled because the player was offside.

Matching the Noun

Just like most Spanish adjectives, 'nulo' must change its ending to match what it's describing. Use 'nulo' for masculine things (voto nulo) and 'nula' for feminine things (oferta nula).

Using it with 'ser' vs 'quedar'

Use 'ser nulo' to describe a permanent state (The rule is void). Use 'quedar nulo' to describe the result of an action (The goal became void after the review).

Don't use it for 'Zero'

Mistake: “Tengo nulo dinero.”

Correction: No tengo nada de dinero or Tengo cero dinero. Use 'nulo' for validity, not usually for counting items.

Inválido vs. Nulo

Learners often confuse 'inválido' and 'nulo' because both relate to a lack of validity. Remember that 'inválido' is broader and can apply to many things, while 'nulo' is more specific to legal or official declarations of being void.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.