cero
/ˈθeɾo/masculine
The English word zero is translated into Spanish as cero.
cero is the cardinal number before 1, used to denote nothing. It can also be used as a noun to refer to the digit zero. In some informal contexts, the adjective cero is used to mean virtually none. In certain contexts, you might use the word nada to represent zero, as it translates to 'nothing'.
Meaning: cardinal number before 1, denoting nothing (num)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase cero coma is commonly used to mean 'zero point' when discussing fractions or decimals.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθeɾo/
When do people say it?
To emphasize the total absence of something or to express that there is absolutely zero of something, you can informally use the phrase nada de nada.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, calling someone cero a la izquierda means they are completely useless or ignored, because a zero placed to the left of a whole number has no mathematical value.
- The Spanish word cero is a distant cousin of the English word 'cipher'. Both words share the same linguistic root through the Arabic term for 'empty'.
- A common Spanish idiom is empezar de cero, which means to start from scratch. It is used exactly like the English phrase but literally translates to 'starting from zero'.
Examples in context
- Mi cuenta está a cero.My account is at zero.This sentence is useful for describing a bank account balance with cero.Tatoeba #7679340 by arh, translation #12585850 by deniko
- Hay diez grados sobre cero.It's ten degrees above zero.This sentence is useful for describing temperatures above cero.Tatoeba #1449667 by marcelostockle, translation #12847946 by rul
- El cero viene antes del uno.Zero comes before one.This sentence is useful for describing the numerical order of cero.Tatoeba #1326196 by marcelostockle, translation #682520 by Source_VOA
- El resultado de la ecuación es cero.The result of the equation is zero.
- No tengo nada de dinero.I have zero money.
- Esa idea no vale nada de nada.That idea is worth absolutely nothing.
- La tasa de interés es de cero coma cinco por ciento.The interest rate is 0.5 percent.
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are checking the score of a game.
- DanielEl marcador está cero a cero.The score is zero to zero.
- LucíaSí, ninguno de los dos ha anotado.Yes, neither of them has scored.
- Daniel¿Cuánto tiempo queda para el final?How much time is left until the end?
- LucíaQuedan solo dos minutos, Daniel.There are only two minutes left, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “zero” translations and entries cero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
