Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| no | /ˈno/ |
| no pues | /no pwes/ (from spelling rules) |
The word no is the most straightforward translation of 'no' in Spanish. It can be used to show disagreement or negation. If you want to politely decline a request while conveying regret, you can say No, lo siento, which means 'No, I'm sorry'.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, where 'no' is used for nouns (e.g., 'no money') and 'not' is used for verbs (e.g., 'I do not have'), Spanish uses no for both functions.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase no pues is a colloquial filler used to express emotions such as resignation or disbelief, or to begin a response. For a more informal way to express a negative response, you can use Para nada, which literally means 'for nothing'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The colloquialism no pues is very common in Mexican Spanish.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word no functions as a particle to negate verbs, much like the English word 'not'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈno/
Did you know?
- The word no can be used at the end of a sentence as a tag question, similar to 'right?' or 'isn't it?', to seek confirmation from the listener.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a slight upward tilt of the head or a quick click of the tongue can accompany no to express a more emphatic negation.
- Spanish uses the double negative construction, where no is used both before the verb and after it, such as in no sé nada, to simply mean 'I don't know anything'.
Examples in context
- No, aún no sé.No, I still don't know.Tatoeba #1502230 by marcelostockle, translation #9966252 by DJ_Saidez
- Esto y no más.This and no more.Tatoeba #2268897 by cueyayotl, translation #2268896 by _undertoad
- Yo ya dije no.I already said no.Tatoeba #4563333 by ecorralest101, translation #4562444 by Hybrid
- Mi respuesta es negativaMy answer is negative
- Para nada, tengo otros planes.No way, I have other plans.
- 3432 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía asks Daniel if he is tired.
- Sofía¿Estás cansado, Daniel?Are you tired, Daniel?
- DanielNo, me siento muy bien.No, I feel very well.
- Sofía¿Quieres salir a caminar entonces?Do you want to go for a walk then?
- DanielNo, prefiero quedarme en casa.No, I prefer to stay at home.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no” translations and entries no, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
