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 a particle used to show disagreement or negation.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, where "no" is primarily a response or an adjective, in Spanish no is also the standard way to negate a verb (e.g., no quiero for "I don't want").
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase no pues is a colloquial filler phrase used to express various nuances like resignation, emphasis or even mild annoyance depending on tone.
Is it said differently in some regions?
no pues is a very common colloquialism specifically in Mexican Spanish. Additionally, Nel is an informal way to say "no" in Mexico.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, no is used as a negation particle before a verb to mean "not".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈno/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a simple no can be seen as too blunt. People often soften the refusal by using phrases like no puedo or me es imposible to avoid appearing rude.
- In certain mathematical or old contexts, the word no can be a contraction of the Latin numero, meaning 'number'.
- While no usually means 'no', adding it to the end of a sentence as ¿no? transforms it into a tag question similar to the English 'right?' or 'isn't it?'
Examples in context
- No, aún no sé.No, I still don't know.This sentence shows the use of no as a response.Tatoeba #1502230 by marcelostockle, translation #9966252 by DJ_Saidez
- Esto y no más.This and no more.This sentence uses no to indicate a limit or amount.Tatoeba #2268897 by cueyayotl, translation #2268896 by _undertoad
- Yo ya dije no.I already said no.This sentence shows no being used as a direct response to express refusal.Tatoeba #4563333 by ecorralest101, translation #4562444 by Hybrid
- Le agradezco la oferta, pero debo declinar.I appreciate the offer, but I must decline.
- Disculpe, pero soy incapaz de ayudarle.I'm sorry, but I'm unable to help you.
- No, gracias.No, thank you.
- ¡Ni loco(a)! No cuenten conmigo.No way! Count me out.
- ¡Qué va! No me interesa.No way! I'm not interested.
- Le agradezco la invitación, pero no podré asistir debido a conflictos de horario.I appreciate the invitation, but I won't be able to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
- ¡Ni loco! Ya tengo otros planes, pero gracias por la invitación.No way! I already have other plans, but thanks for the invitation.
- 3432 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are deciding what to eat.
- JavierElena, ¿quieres comer pizza hoy?Elena, do you want to eat pizza today?
- ElenaNo, prefiero comer ensalada.No, I prefer to eat salad.
- Javier¿Entonces no vamos al restaurante italiano?So we aren't going to the Italian restaurant?
- ElenaNo, vamos a casa.No, let's go 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries no, pues, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
