casi nada
/kasi nada/from spelling rules
The English phrase "not much at all" can be translated into Spanish as casi nada.
casi nada is used to indicate that a quantity or amount is very small.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase casi nada literally translates to "almost nothing".
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use this phrase followed by a noun, you must add the preposition de to the phrase. For example, casi nada de dinero means "hardly any money".
Did you know?
- While casi nada means 'hardly any', it is often used sarcastically to mean the exact opposite: 'a huge amount'.
- The word nada actually stems from the idea of a 'no born thing', derived from the Latin phrase meaning 'not a thing born'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying casi nada while gesturing with a pinched thumb and index finger emphasizes the tiny amount.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuánto te queda de tiempo?How much time do you have left?
- No tengo casi nada en la cuenta.I have almost nothing in my account.
- Queda casi nada de comida en la nevera.There is almost nothing left of food in the fridge.
- Él sabe casi nada sobre ese tema.He knows almost nothing about that subject.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are checking the supplies for a party.
- Alejandro¿Hay suficiente café para los invitados?Is there enough coffee for the guests?
- MaríaNo, queda casi nada en el bote.No, there is almost nothing left in the jar.
- AlejandroEntonces tengo que ir a la tienda.Then I have to go to the store.
- MaríaSí, por favor, trae mucho.Yes, please, bring a lot.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries casi, nada, CC BY-SA 4.0.
