Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| no | /ˈno/ |
| no pues | /no pwes/ (from spelling rules) |
The word no can be used as a standalone response to a question to express negation, just like in English. It can also function as a particle placed before a verb to negate an action, acting similarly to the English word "not". For example, you might say "Lo siento, pero no puedo asistir a la reunión" to mean "I'm sorry, but I can't attend the meeting" or "Lamentablemente, no puedo ayudarte con ese favor" to mean "Unfortunately, I can't help you with that favor".
Which one should you use?
While no is used for both disagreement and negation in English, in Spanish, no is the standard way to negate a verb. If you want to express "none" or "not any" when referring to nouns, you should use ninguno or ninguna instead of no.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form no pues is a colloquial filler phrase used to express resignation or emphasis, or to begin a response, often translated as "well, no" or "well, then".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase no pues is used in certain dialects as a colloquialism.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To negate a verb, place the particle no directly before it, functioning as the English word "not".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈno/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a soft no can actually be a polite yes or a 'maybe' depending on the social context and the speaker's tone.
- Spanish has a unique double negative structure where no is used twice in one sentence, such as no quiero nada, which is grammatically correct and does not cancel itself out.
- The word pues in the phrase no pues comes from the Latin post, which means 'after'.
Examples in context
- No, aún no sé.No, I still don't know.This sentence shows how to use no to express that you do not know something.Tatoeba #1502230 by marcelostockle, translation #9966252 by DJ_Saidez
- Esto y no más.This and no more.This sentence uses no to express that something is limited to a certain amount.Tatoeba #2268897 by cueyayotl, translation #2268896 by _undertoad
- Yo ya dije no.I already said no.This sentence demonstrates using no as a direct response to indicate a prior statement.Tatoeba #4563333 by ecorralest101, translation #4562444 by Hybrid
- No, gracias.No, thank you.
- ¡Ni hablar! No pienso hacerlo.No way! I'm not doing it.
- Nada, no voy a la fiesta.Nope, I'm not going to the party.
- 3432 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro asks Elena if she wants to go to the cinema.
- Alejandro¿Quieres ir al cine conmigo, Elena?Do you want to go to the cinema with me, Elena?
- ElenaNo, no puedo ir hoy.No, I cannot go today.
- Alejandro¿Estás muy ocupada?Are you very busy?
- ElenaSí, tengo mucho trabajo.Yes, I have a lot of work.
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.
