How to Say "not" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “not” is “no” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
¿Quieres café? —No, gracias.
Do you want coffee? —No, thank you.
Yo no soy de España.
I am not from Spain.
Ella no habla inglés.
She doesn't speak English.
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.
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).
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