ni
/ˈni/
The Spanish word for 'nor' is ni.
In Spanish, ni is used to continue a negative statement, functioning as 'nor' or 'neither' in English. When used alone before a noun or a phrase, it can also mean 'not even'.
Meaning: nor (conj)
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English 'nor', which often follows 'neither', the Spanish ni is frequently used independently to introduce subsequent negative elements.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express 'neither… nor…' in Spanish, the word ni is typically repeated before each item in the list.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈni/
Did you know?
- While ni is a conjunction, it is often used in the common phrase ni modo, which translates to 'it cannot be helped' or 'oh well'. In this context, it functions as a shrug in word form.
- In Spanish, you can use ni in a positive sentence to create an emphatic negative. For example, saying ni hablar literally means 'nor speaking' but is used to mean 'no way' or 'out of the question'.
- The Spanish word ni is a direct relative of the English word 'nor'. Both descend from the Proto-Indo-European root *nekʷe, which combined the concepts of 'not' and 'and'.
Examples in context
- Ni una ni otra.Neither one nor the other.Tatoeba #13695477 by Seael, translation #13695466 by Orange
- Ni fumo ni bebo.I neither smoke nor drink.Tatoeba #761836 by Shishir, translation #258475 by U2FS
- Ni cerca ni lejos.Neither close nor far.Tatoeba #1151775 by Shishir, translation #11917728 by Atversch
- No tengo tiempo ni dineroI have neither time nor money
- No habla ni escribe inglésHe/she neither speaks nor writes English
- No quiero ir ni volverI neither want to go nor return
- No bebo té, tampoco caféI don't drink tea, nor coffee
- No le gusta jugar al fútbol, tampoco al baloncestoHe/she doesn't like to play football, nor basketball
- No estudio francés, tampoco italianoI don't study French, nor Italian
- No tengo amigos, ni amigasI have neither male friends nor female friends
- No quiero comer sushi, ni tampoco mariscosI don't want to eat sushi, nor seafood
- No me gusta el frío, ni el calorI don't like the cold, nor the heat
- No voy al cine, tampoco a conciertosI don't go to the movies, nor concerts
- No estudio ciencias, tampoco matemáticasI don't study science, nor mathematics
- No me gustan los gatos, tampoco los perrosI don't like cats, nor dogs
- No tengo tiempo, ni siquiera ganasI have neither time, nor the desire
- No come carne, ni siquiera pescadoHe/she doesn't eat meat, nor fish
- No tengo hermanos, ni siquiera primosI don't have siblings, nor cousins
- 164 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Mateo are discussing what to eat for dinner.
- MaríaNo quiero pasta ni pizza hoy.I don't want pasta nor pizza today.
- Mateo¿Entonces qué quieres comer, María?So what do you want to eat, María?
- MaríaNo tengo hambre ni ganas de cocinar.I have neither hunger nor the desire to cook.
- MateoPodemos pedir algo ligero entonces.We can order something light then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nor” translations and entries ni, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ni, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
