De nada
/de nada/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'your welcome' is translated into Spanish as De nada.
De nada is the most common and standard way to respond to 'thank you' in Spanish. Other ways to respond include Es un placer to say 'It's a pleasure', or No se preocupe to say 'Don't worry', which is used in some Latin American countries.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase De nada literally translates to 'of nothing' or 'it is of nothing'.
Which one should you use?
While De nada is the standard response, No hay de qué is a slightly more formal or elegant alternative meaning 'Don't mention it' or 'It's nothing'. For informal situations, you can use No hay problema to mean 'No problem' or 'No worries'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you may hear the informal phrase No hay rollo to mean 'No problem'.
How do you pronounce it?
/de nada/
Did you know?
- The word nada in the phrase De nada traces back to the Latin concept of 'not a soul born', an expression originally used to describe 'nobody'.
- In some regions, people respond to a thank you with A ti or A usted meaning 'to you'. This flips the gratitude back to the other person.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, it is considered more polite to use No hay de qué than De nada when speaking to an elderly person or a superior.
Examples in context
- Gracias por su ayuda. De nada. Fue un placer poder asistirle.Thank you for your help. You're welcome. It was a pleasure to be able to assist you.
- De nada, es un placer.You're welcome, it is a pleasure.
- De nada, no hay de qué.You're welcome, don't mention it.
Example conversation
Lucía thanks Daniel for holding the door open for her.
- DanielPermiso, Lucía.After you, Lucía.
- LucíaMuchas gracias, Daniel.Thank you very much, Daniel.
- DanielDe nada.You're welcome.
- LucíaQue tengas un buen día.Have a good day.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, nada, CC BY-SA 4.0.
