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 |
The most common way to say 'nothing' is nada. You can use it in various common phrases, such as No hay nada to mean 'there is nothing' or No tengo nada to mean 'I have nothing' or 'I don't have anything'. To say 'not at all' or 'for nothing', use Para nada. To express that there is absolutely nothing, the informal expression Nada de nada is used. If you want to say there is not even a trace of something, use No hay ni pizca.
Which one should you use?
While nada is the standard word for 'nothing', ninguna cosa is a more literal, though less common, way to say 'not any thing'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ni pum is a colloquial way to emphasize that absolutely nothing happened or was obtained. Nada de nada is an informal way to say 'absolutely nothing'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the phrase No hay caso is used to dismiss or say 'never mind'. In Spain, the phrase ni flowers is a known form.
How does it change in a sentence?
Spanish often employs a double negative structure where the verb is preceded by no and the word nada follows the verb, such as in the construction 'no … nada'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnada/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the word naranjas (oranges) is used as a slang term to mean 'nothing' or to indicate that something is not happening.
- To express that nothing happened, some speakers use the humorous, rhyming nonsense phrase naca la piriznaca.
- The word nada is etymologically linked to the concept of being born, deriving from the Latin term for 'not born'.
Examples in context
- Yo no vi nada.I saw nothing.This sentence shows how to use nada to mean 'nothing' in a negative sentence.Tatoeba #497573 by Shishir, translation #256395 by CK
- Él no es nada.He is nothing.This sentence demonstrates the use of nada to describe a person as being 'nothing'.Tatoeba #781319 by Shishir, translation #1388967 by marcelostockle
- O todo o nada.All or nothing.This sentence uses nada in the common idiom 'all or nothing'.Tatoeba #1067413 by Shishir, translation #3344474 by arthurf
- ¿Tienes alguna idea para la cena? No, no tengo nada.Do you have any idea for dinner? No, I have nothing.
- ¿Sabes qué hora es? No, no tengo ni idea. Nada de nada.Do you know what time it is? No, I have no idea. Nothing at all.
- 1260 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are sitting in a cafe.
- Sofía¿Qué hay en tu plato?What is on your plate?
- JavierNo hay nada, tengo mucha hambre.There is nothing, I am very hungry.
- Sofía¡Qué mal! ¿Quieres pedir algo?That's too bad! Do you want to order something?
- JavierSí, voy a pedir un sándwich.Yes, I am going to order a sandwich.
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.
