Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| no | /ˈno/ |
| no pues | /no pwes/ (from spelling rules) |
The word no is used to show disagreement or negation. It is the most straightforward and universal way to say 'no' in Spanish. For example, you can use it to express a lack of desire, such as in the phrase no quiero, which translates to 'I don't want'.
Which one should you use?
In English, 'no' can sometimes be used as an adjective (for example, 'no money'), but in Spanish, no functions as an adverb and cannot directly modify a noun. To express the meaning of 'not any' before a noun, you should use ninguno or ninguna instead.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While no is standard, the phrase no pues is a colloquialism used as a filler or reaction to express disbelief, resignation or to emphasize a point.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The expression no pues is very common in Mexican Spanish. In Mexico, the phrase De ningún modo can also be used as a synonym for 'No way'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, no is used as a particle to negate verbs and is placed directly before the conjugated verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈno/
Did you know?
- While no is a simple negation, Spanish uses the double negative no… nada or no… nadie to strengthen a statement, which is grammatically correct unlike in standard English.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a slight upward tilt of the head or a clicking sound with the tongue can act as a non-verbal no even if the person does not speak.
- In certain contexts, the word no can be an abbreviation for 'número', meaning 'number'.
Examples in context
- No, aún no sé.No, I still don't know.This example shows how to use no to express that something is not yet known.Tatoeba #1502230 by marcelostockle, translation #9966252 by DJ_Saidez
- Esto y no más.This and no more.This example demonstrates the use of no to indicate a limit or boundary.Tatoeba #2268897 by cueyayotl, translation #2268896 by _undertoad
- Yo ya dije no.I already said no.This example shows the use of no to express a decision already made.Tatoeba #4563333 by ecorralest101, translation #4562444 by Hybrid
- Gracias por invitarme a la fiesta, pero no quiero asistir.Thank you for inviting me to the party, but I don't want to attend.
- No quiero comer mariscos porque soy alérgico.I don't want to eat seafood because I'm allergic.
- ¿Quieres algo de beber? – No, gracias. No tengo sed.Would you like something to drink? – No, thank you. I'm not thirsty.
- Gracias por el regalo, pero no, gracias. No necesito otro libro en este momento.Thank you for the gift, but no, thank you. I don't need another book at the moment.
- ¿Quieres venir a la playa con nosotros? – Nah, no quiero. Prefiero quedarme en casa hoy.Do you want to come to the beach with us? – Nah, I don't want to. I'd rather stay home today.
- 3432 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are deciding whether to order pizza.
- María¿Quieres pedir pizza hoy, Daniel?Do you want to order pizza today, Daniel?
- DanielNo, prefiero comer algo más ligero.No, I prefer to eat something lighter.
- María¿Entonces quieres una ensalada?Then do you want a salad?
- DanielNo, hoy no tengo mucha hambre.No, I'm not very hungry today.
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.
