Inklingo

How to Say "nothing" in Spanish

English → Spanish

nada

/NAH-dah//ˈnaða/

pronounA1general
Use 'nada' for the general and most common meaning of 'nothing' when referring to the absence of something or as a standalone answer.
An empty open wooden box, representing the concept of 'nothing'.

Examples

¿Qué hay en la caja? —Nada.

What's in the box? —Nothing.

¿Qué quieres comer? —Nada, gracias.

What do you want to eat? —Nothing, thank you.

No hay nada en la nevera.

There is nothing in the fridge.

No entiendo nada de lo que dices.

I don't understand anything you're saying.

The Spanish Double Negative

In Spanish, it's correct to use two 'no' words together. If 'nada' comes after the verb, you must also put 'no' before the verb. For example, 'No veo nada' (I don't see anything).

Forgetting the 'no'

Mistake: “Veo nada en el cielo.”

Correction: No veo nada en el cielo. (I don't see anything in the sky.) When 'nada' follows the verb, you almost always need 'no' in front of the verb to make the sentence negative.

pelotas

/peh-LOH-tahs//peˈlotas/

interjectionC2informal
Use 'pelotas' as an informal and emphatic interjection to express 'absolutely nothing' or 'not at all,' often in response to a question implying ability or knowledge.
A simplified cartoon figure standing with both arms raised, palms open and facing forward, shrugging emphatically in a gesture of absolute emptiness and denial.

Examples

¿Entiendes algo de esto? —¡Pelotas!

Do you understand any of this? —Nothing!

¿Que si sabe cocinar? ¡Sabe pelotas!

Does he know how to cook? He knows nothing!

—¿Me vas a ayudar mañana? —¡Pelotas!

—Are you going to help me tomorrow? —No way! (or 'Nonsense!')

Intensifier

When used after 'no' or 'ni,' 'pelotas' acts as a strong intensifier, making the negation much stronger than just saying 'no' or 'nada'.

Confusing 'nada' with 'pelotas'

The most common mistake is using the informal interjection 'pelotas' in everyday situations where the standard 'nada' is appropriate. 'Pelotas' is very strong and used only for extreme emphasis, often sounding strange or overly dramatic if misused.

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