Inklingo

How to Say "never" in Spanish

English → Spanish

nunca

noon-kahˈnunka

AdverbA1general use
Use 'nunca' for the general meaning of 'never' in any context, as it is the most common and widely applicable translation.
A person with a look of disgust shaking their head 'no' at a plate of slimy snails, with a large red 'X' drawn over the plate to signify 'never'.

Examples

Nunca voy al gimnasio los lunes.

I never go to the gym on Mondays.

Nunca como mariscos.

I never eat seafood.

Ella nunca ha viajado en avión.

She has never traveled by plane.

No he visto nunca una película tan buena.

I have never seen such a good movie.

The 'Double Negative' Rule

In Spanish, it's perfect to use 'no' and 'nunca' together. If 'nunca' comes AFTER the action word (verb), you MUST add 'no' before it. Example: 'No voy nunca al gimnasio.'

Placement is Key

If you put 'nunca' BEFORE the action word (verb), you DON'T use 'no'. Example: 'Nunca voy al gimnasio.' Both ways mean the exact same thing!

Forgetting 'no'

Mistake: “Yo como nunca espinacas.”

Correction: Correct: 'Yo no como nunca espinacas' or 'Yo nunca como espinacas'. Remember the rule: if 'nunca' comes after the action, you need 'no' before it.

jamás

AdverbA2general use
Use 'jamás' when you want to add strong emphasis to 'never', suggesting 'never ever' or expressing disbelief or a more absolute negation.

Examples

Jamás pensé que llegaría a ser tan exitoso.

I never thought I would become so successful.

Choosing Between 'Nunca' and 'Jamás'

Learners often overuse 'jamás' because it sounds more emphatic. However, 'nunca' is the standard and most frequent translation for 'never'. Reserve 'jamás' for situations where you truly want to emphasize the absolute lack of something happening.

Related Translations

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