Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| no | /ˈno/ |
| no pues | /no pwes/ (from spelling rules) |
The word no is used as a particle to express negation or disagreement. It can also function as an adverb to negate verbs, or as an adverb to mean "not any" in certain contexts, though other words like ninguno or ninguna may be used for that specific meaning.
Which one should you use?
While no is the standard way to express negation, no pues is used as a colloquial interjection or filler to express disbelief, resignation or to begin a sentence with a sense of "well, then…" or "well, no."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a simple and polite way to say "no, thank you," you can say No, gracias. In informal situations, you might use No, gracias, paso. to mean "No, thanks, I'll pass."
Is it said differently in some regions?
no pues is a common colloquialism in Mexican Spanish used as an interjection. Additionally, in some regions, especially in Spain, it is more common to say No voy a poder instead of No puedo to indicate that you are unable to do something.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To negate a verb, place the adverb no directly before the conjugated verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈno/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid placing no after the verb to create a negative sentence, such as saying Yo quiero no. Instead, place it before the verb, as in No quiero.
When do people say it?
When declining an offer, you might use the informal phrase No me da la gana. to mean "I don't feel like it," or Nada que ver, no me interesa. to mean "Nothing to do with it, it doesn't interest me."
Did you know?
- If you see the word no in a list of numbers, it is not a negation but a contraction of the Latin word for 'number', numero.
- Depending on the region, saying no can be accompanied by a slight upward tilt of the head or a click of the tongue to reinforce the negation.
- In certain dialects, repeating the word no twice, such as no, no, is used not to double the negation, but to sound more polite or insistent.
Examples in context
- No, aún no sé.No, I still don't know.This sentence shows how to use no in a negative response.Tatoeba #1502230 by marcelostockle, translation #9966252 by DJ_Saidez
- Esto y no más.This and no more.This sentence demonstrates the use of no to indicate a limit.Tatoeba #2268897 by cueyayotl, translation #2268896 by _undertoad
- Yo ya dije no.I already said no.This sentence illustrates a direct way to use no to express refusal.Tatoeba #4563333 by ecorralest101, translation #4562444 by Hybrid
- 3432 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo asks Lucía if she wants to go to a party.
- Mateo¿Quieres ir a la fiesta conmigo, Lucía?Do you want to go to the party with me, Lucía?
- LucíaNo, no puedo ir hoy.No, I cannot go today.
- Mateo¿Estás segura de que no quieres ir?Are you sure you don't want to go?
- LucíaSí, no tengo ganas de salir.Yes, I don't feel like going out.
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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries no, pues, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
