no
/ˈno/
The English phrase "do not" is expressed in Spanish using no.
The word no is used to make a sentence negative or to issue a negative command. In specific contexts, you can use the phrase ya no to mean "not anymore" or "no longer".
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, which requires auxiliary verbs like "do" or "does" to create negative sentences, Spanish simply uses the particle no before the main verb.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make a sentence negative, place no directly before the conjugated verb. When you are giving a negative command to the "tú" form, no must be followed by the present subjunctive form of the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈno/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, shaking the head from side to side while saying no is less common than a slight upward tilt of the head or a clicking sound with the tongue.
- A double negative, such as no sé nada, which literally means 'I do not know nothing', is grammatically correct and standard in Spanish.
- In spoken Spanish, adding no to the end of a sentence often turns it into a question, similar to the English tag 'right?' For example, Vienes, ¿no? asks 'You're coming, aren't you?'
Examples in context
- No sé qué haré.I do not know what I will do.Tatoeba #1432087 by marcelostockle, translation #1432086 by Kikra77
- Ya no le quiero.I do not love him any longer.This sentence demonstrates how the phrase ya no expresses that an action is no longer occurring.Tatoeba #459170 by Shishir, translation #255796 by CK
- No tengo un duro.I do not have any money.Tatoeba #636813 by Leono, translation #253261 by CC
- No beba alcoholDo not drink alcohol
- No hable durante la películaDo not talk during the movie
- No llegue tarde a la reuniónDo not be late for the meeting
- No bebas tantoDo not drink so much
- No hables tan fuerteDo not speak so loudly
- No llegues tarde a la fiestaDo not arrive late for the party
- Es mejor que no hagas esoIt's better not to do that
- Te recomiendo que no tomes esa rutaI recommend that you do not take that route
- No tome el autobúsDo not take the bus
- 508 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are in a kitchen.
- MateoNo toques ese plato.Do not touch that plate.
- LucíaEstá muy caliente.It is very hot.
- MateoNo, no lo hagas.No, do not do it.
- LucíaEstá bien, no lo toco.Okay, I won't touch it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry no, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
