que nada
/ke nada/from spelling rules
que nada is a Spanish phrase used to express that something is not the case or to deny a statement.
How do you pronounce it?
/ke nada/
Did you know?
- The word nada traces back to the concept of 'not a born thing', stemming from a Latin phrase for 'no born thing'.
- In some contexts, using que nada can shift the tone from a simple denial to a strong expression of disbelief or irony, similar to saying 'yeah, right'.
- The phrase que nada is often accompanied by a dismissive wave of the hand in many Spanish-speaking cultures to emphasize the denial.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are discussing a misunderstanding.
- ElenaDaniel, creo que estás enojado conmigo.Daniel, I think you are angry with me.
- DanielQue nada, Elena, todo está bien.Not at all, Elena, everything is fine.
- ElenaSeguro que no quieres hablar?Are you sure you don't want to talk?
- DanielDe verdad, no pasa nada.Really, nothing is happening.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nada, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
