What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "it doesn't have sense" because Spanish uses the verb tener (to have) instead of "make" in this context.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain Latin American countries, you may hear the expressions No le encuentro la lógica (I don't find the logic in it) or No le veo sentido (I don't see the sense in it). In Spain, an alternative way to express that something doesn't make sense is No tiene ni pies ni cabeza.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the third-person singular form of the verb tener (to have) to refer to the abstract concept of "it".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying no hace sentido. This is a common error where English speakers translate the verb "make" literally, but no tiene sentido is the correct idiomatic way to express this in Spanish.
When do people say it?
For more informal situations, you can use No tiene pies ni cabeza to express that something lacks logic or coherence. If you want to say that something "doesn't fit" or "doesn't add up" in an informal context, use No cuadra.
Did you know?
- When using no cuadra to say something doesn't add up, you are using a verb that means 'to square'. It imagines the facts as geometric shapes that fail to fit together perfectly.
- The word sentido comes from the verb sentir, meaning 'to feel'. In Spanish, the concepts of 'meaning' and 'physical sensation' are linked through the same root word.
- The phrase no tiene ni pies ni cabeza literally means 'it has neither feet nor head'. This vivid image suggests that the idea is so nonsensical it lacks a basic human anatomy.
Examples in context
- Sé que no tiene sentido.I know it doesn't make sense.This sentence is useful for expressing awareness that something lacks meaning.Tatoeba #2908835 by teskmon, translation #2361615 by CK
- Deberías reescribir esta frase, no tiene sentido.You should rewrite this sentence. It doesn't make sense.This sentence is useful for suggesting a correction because a sentence lacks logic.Tatoeba #6564532 by arh, translation #57230 by CK
- No tiene sentido criticar a alguien por hacer algo que haríamos nosotros si estuviésemos en su caso.It doesn't make sense to criticize someone for doing something that we would do if we were in their situation.This sentence is useful for expressing that a specific criticism is illogical.Tatoeba #3053382 by wallebot, translation #3123404 by chajadan
- Le expliqué mi punto de vista, pero su respuesta simplemente no tiene sentido.I explained my point of view, but his/her response simply doesn't make sense.
- Escuché su argumento, pero sinceramente no tiene pies ni cabeza. No entiendo por qué lo defiende.I heard his/her argument, but honestly, it doesn't make sense at all. I don't understand why he/she defends it.
- Las pruebas que presentó el acusado no cuadran con los hechos del caso.The evidence presented by the defendant doesn't make sense with the facts of the case.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing a confusing instruction manual.
- LucíaEsta parte del manual no tiene sentido.This part of the manual doesn't make sense.
- JavierTienes razón, es muy confuso.You're right, it's very confusing.
- LucíaNo entiendo qué quiere decir.I don't understand what it means.
- JavierBusquemos otro manual, Lucía.Let's look for another manual, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries no, sentido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
