nunca más
/ˌnunka ˈmas/
The English phrase 'never again' is translated into Spanish as nunca más. Wiktionary also lists más nunca.
Meaning: at no time in the future (adv)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| nunca más | /ˌnunka ˈmas/ |
| más nunca | /ˌmas ˈnunka/ |
Nunca más is a common way to say never again in Spanish, meaning at no time in the future.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase nunca más is composed of nunca (never) and más (more), literally translating to 'never more'.
Which one should you use?
While nunca más is the standard way to say 'never again', más nunca is a colloquial or regional variation used in certain Spanish-speaking areas.
How does it change in a sentence?
In a standard negative sentence, nunca más is often paired with the negative particle no.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌnunka ˈmas/
Did you know?
- The word más in nunca más shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'master', as both stem from the Latin 'magis'.
- Because nunca is a negative word, placing it after the verb requires a no before the verb to avoid a mistake called 'double negative' that is actually mandatory in standard Spanish.
- While nunca más translates to 'never again', it is also used as a dramatic farewell in Spanish literature and poetry to signal a permanent break.
Examples in context
- Nunca más la ha vuelto a ver desde aquel día.Never again did he see her after that day.Tatoeba #7203297 by arh, translation #6976156 by Hybrid
- Nunca más.Never again.Tatoeba #1476902 by marcelostockle, translation #1476573 by Spamster
- ¡Nunca más es ahora!"Never again" is right now!Tatoeba #12203642 by Adelpa, translation #12119050 by Adelpa
- Nunca más permitiremos que esto suceda.We will never allow this to happen again.
- Bajo ningún concepto volveremos a tolerar esta conducta.Under no circumstances will we tolerate this behavior again.
- Nunca más me meto en problemas así.I'll never get into trouble like this again.
- Nunca jamás vuelvo a comer ese postre.I'm never eating that dessert again, ever.
- Nunca más jamás te prestaré dinero.I'll never lend you money ever again.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are discussing a bad experience at a restaurant.
- DanielLa comida estaba terrible en este lugar.The food was terrible at this place.
- ElenaTienes razón, yo nunca más volveré aquí.You are right, I will never come here again.
- DanielYo tampoco, busquemos otro restaurante.Me neither, let's look for another restaurant.
- ElenaSí, ¡nunca más comeremos aquí!Yes, we will never eat here again!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “never again” translations and entries nunca más, más nunca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries más, más nunca, nunca, nunca más, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
