What does it mean word for word?
The phrase no importa is composed of the negation no and the third-person singular form of the verb importar, literally meaning 'it does not matter'.
Which one should you use?
While the English 'nevermind' can sometimes sound dismissive or rude, no importa is generally neutral and indicates that a situation or request is no longer a concern.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
no importa can be used informally among friends. For a more informal way to say 'forget about it' in everyday conversation, you can use Olvídalo. If you are responding to someone who is apologizing and you want to be polite or friendly, it is often more natural and empathetic to use no te preocupes (don't worry) instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because importar is used here as an impersonal verb, the phrase remains no importa regardless of the specific thing that does not matter.
How do you pronounce it?
/no impoɾta/
Did you know?
- The verb importar is a 'psychological verb' like gustar, meaning it doesn't describe what the subject does, but how the subject affects someone else.
- If you want to tell someone 'it does not matter' in a more casual, almost breezy way, you can use da igual. This literally translates to 'it gives equal', implying that all options are of equal value to you.
- The word no used in this phrase shares a common ancestor with the English word 'none', both descending from the Latin 'non'.
Examples in context
- Si va a ser así, no importa.If it's going to be like that, nevermind.This sentence shows how to use no importa when a situation is being accepted as it is.Tatoeba #10067310 by manufrutos, translation #10067126 by shekitten
- No importa, ya lo arreglé.Nevermind, I already fixed it.
- ¿Me prestas tu libro? No importa, lo buscaré después.Can you lend me your book? Nevermind, I'll look for it later.
Example conversation
Sofía asks Alejandro for a pen but then finds one herself.
- SofíaAlejandro, ¿tienes un bolígrafo?Alejandro, do you have a pen?
- AlejandroSí, espera un momento.Yes, wait a moment.
- SofíaNo importa, ya vi el mío.Nevermind, I already saw mine.
- AlejandroEstá bien, no hay problema.That's fine, no problem.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry no importa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries no, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
