nada
/ˈnada/
The English phrase 'nothing' is expressed in Spanish as nada. Wiktionary also lists naca la piriznaca and naranjas.
Meaning: not any thing (pron)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nada | /ˈnada/ | |
| naca la piriznaca | /naka la piɾiθnaka/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /naka la piɾisnaka/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
|
| naranjas | /naˈɾanxas/ | |
| ni flores | /ni floɾes/ (from spelling rules) | |
| ni pum | /ni pum/ (from spelling rules) | |
| ni pun | /ni pun/ (from spelling rules) | |
| ninguna cosa | /ninɡuna kosa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| ni flowers | Spain |
There are several colloquial idioms used to emphasize that nothing happened or that something is completely absent: ni pum (meaning 'not a bit' or 'nothing at all') and ni flores (meaning 'not even flowers' or 'nothing at all').
Which one should you use?
While nada is the most common way to say 'nothing', ninguna cosa is a more emphatic or formal way to say 'not any thing'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the expression ni flowers is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using nada as the object of a negative verb, the sentence must also include the negative particle no before the verb (e.g., 'no … Nada').
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnada/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, you might hear the highly informal and rhythmic phrase naca la piriznaca to mean 'nothing at all'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, naranjas (meaning 'oranges') is used as a slang term to mean 'nothing' or 'not a chance'.
- The word nada comes from a phrase meaning 'not a born thing'. It stems from the idea of something that has never even entered the world of existence.
Examples in context
- Yo no vi nada.I saw nothing.Tatoeba #497573 by Shishir, translation #256395 by CK
- Él no es nada.He is nothing.Tatoeba #781319 by Shishir, translation #1388967 by marcelostockle
- O todo o nada.All or nothing.Tatoeba #1067413 by Shishir, translation #3344474 by arthurf
- 1260 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking about their weekend plans.
- Lucía¿Qué hiciste el sábado, Alejandro?What did you do on Saturday, Alejandro?
- AlejandroNo hice nada, me quedé en casa.I did nothing, I stayed at home.
- Lucía¿No saliste a caminar un poco?You didn't go for a short walk?
- AlejandroNo, prefiero no hacer nada hoy.No, I prefer to do nothing today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nothing” translations and entries nada, naranjas, 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 cosa, la, nada, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
