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) |
The word no is used to show disagreement or to express negation. In some Latin American dialects, the colloquial phrase no pues functions as a filler or reaction to express surprise, resignation or to emphasize a specific point.
Which one should you use?
The phrase no pues is used as a colloquial reaction meaning "well, no" or "well then".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase no pues is common in certain Latin American dialects.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a particle, no is used to negate verbs in Spanish. This differs from English, where "not" is typically used to negate adjectives or adverbs.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈno/
Did you know?
- If you hear a Spaniard say ¡No me digas!, they are likely not telling you not to speak, but are actually expressing 'You don't say!' or 'No way!' in surprise.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a slight upward tilt of the head or a subtle click of the tongue can accompany no to signal a firm refusal without needing to speak.
- The word no is a cognate of the English 'not', 'neither', and 'none', as they all descend from the same Proto-Indo-European root for negation.
Examples in context
- No, aún no sé.No, I still don't know.This sentence shows how to use no in a negative statement.Tatoeba #1502230 by marcelostockle, translation #9966252 by DJ_Saidez
- Esto y no más.This and no more.This sentence shows 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 demonstrates the use of no to express a refusal.Tatoeba #4563333 by ecorralest101, translation #4562444 by Hybrid
- No, graciasNo, thank you
- Lamentablemente, no puedoUnfortunately, I can't.
- Agradezco su oferta, pero debo declinarI appreciate your offer, but I must decline.
- Lo siento, pero no puedoI'm sorry, but I can't.
- No me va a ser posibleIt won't be possible for me.
- No quiero/No me apeteceI don't want to/I don't feel like it.
- Porque tengo otros compromisosBecause I have other commitments.
- No puedo porque estoy ocupado/aI can't because I am busy.
- 3432 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía asks Mateo if he is tired.
- Sofía¿Estás cansado, Mateo?Are you tired, Mateo?
- MateoNo, me siento muy bien.No, I feel very well.
- Sofía¿Quieres ir al parque ahora?Do you want to go to the park now?
- MateoNo, 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.
