How to Say "Something Is Better Than Nothing" in Spanish

algo es mejor que nada

/alɡo es mexoɾ ke nada/from spelling rules

The phrase "something is better than nothing" in Spanish is algo es mejor que nada.

This phrase is used to say that a small or imperfect advantage is preferable to having no advantage at all.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of algo (something), es (is), mejor (better), que (than) and nada (nothing).

In this phrase, the word mejor is the comparative form of bueno (good) and is used here to express 'better'.

/alɡo es mexoɾ ke nada/

The word nada is a linguistic curiosity that evolved from the concept of 'something not born'. It stems from the Latin 'nāta', meaning 'born', and originally referred to a 'nothingness' that had never even come into existence.

Algo es mejor que nada.
Something is better than nothing.
This sentence shows the use of algo es mejor que nada.
Tatoeba #606778 by Leono, translation #460046 by saasmath
Para mitigar los problemas económicos, incluso una pequeña ayuda es mejor que nada.
To alleviate financial difficulties, even a small help is better than nothing.
En esta situación, es preferible tener algún resultado a no tener nada para mostrar.
In this situation, it is preferable to have any result rather than having nothing to show.
Oye, ¿quieres venir al concierto? Puedo conseguir solo dos entradas, pero algo es mejor que nada.
Hey, do you want to come to the concert? I can only get two tickets, but something is better than nothing.
No tengo mucho tiempo para cocinar, pero mejor algo que nada. Haré una pizza rápida.
I don't have much time to cook, but better something than nothing. I'll make a quick pizza.
No tengo mucho dinero, pero algo es mejor que nada.
I don't have much money, but something is better than nothing.

Mateo and Lucía are discussing a small gift they received.

Mateo

¿Te gusta este regalo tan pequeño?
Do you like this very small gift?
Lucía

Sí, para mí algo es mejor que nada.
Yes, for me something is better than nothing.
Mateo

Tienes razón, Lucía.
You are right, Lucía.
Lucía

Al menos tenemos un detalle.
At least we have a small gesture.

Sources

IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries algo, es, mejor, nada, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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