no
/ˈno/
The English word 'no' is translated into Spanish as no. Wiktionary also lists no pues.
Meaning: used to show disagreement or negation (particle)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| no | /ˈno/ |
| no pues | /no pwes/ (from spelling rules) |
no is used as a particle to show disagreement or negation. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'not' or as a determiner meaning 'not any'.
Which one should you use?
While no can be used as a direct response meaning 'no', it also serves as the primary way to negate an action. This differs from English, which often requires an auxiliary verb like 'do' to negate a sentence.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase no pues is a colloquial filler phrase used to express disbelief, resignation or to emphasize a point, functioning much like 'Well, no…' or 'Well, then…' in English.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a negative particle, no is placed before verbs to negate them, similar to how English uses 'do not' or 'does not'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈno/
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, no can be used as a question tag at the end of a sentence to seek agreement. This is similar to how English speakers use 'right?' or 'isn't it?'
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a simple no can be seen as too blunt or rude. People often soften the negation by adding no, gracias or using a phrase like lo siento to be more polite.
- The word pues in the phrase no pues comes from the Latin post, which is the same root as the English prefix 'post-'.
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
- Lo siento, pero no puedo aceptar su propuesta en este momento.I'm sorry, but I cannot accept your proposal at this moment.
- No es posible aceptar su oferta en estas circunstancias.It is not possible to accept your offer under these circumstances.
- No, gracias.No, thank you
- Lo siento, pero no me siento muy bien hoy.I'm sorry, but I don't feel very well today.
- 3432 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- María¿Quieres comer pizza hoy, Daniel?Do you want to eat pizza today, Daniel?
- DanielNo, prefiero comer una ensalada.No, I prefer to eat a salad.
- María¿Entonces no quieres queso?So you don't want cheese?
- DanielNo, solo quiero vegetales frescos.No, I only want fresh vegetables.
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.
