English only uses "not" and "never" for basic negation. Spanish has seven core negative words, each with a precise meaning. Learn all seven — they are all high-frequency in GCSE reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
| Word | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| no | not | No hablo francés. | I don't speak French. |
| nunca | never | Nunca como carne. | I never eat meat. |
| jamás | never (emphatic) | Jamás lo haré. | I will never do it. |
| nada | nothing | No tengo nada. | I have nothing. |
| nadie | nobody | No hay nadie en casa. | There is nobody at home. |
| ningún / ninguna / ninguno | no (adjective) / none (pronoun) | No tengo ningún libro. | I have no book. |
| tampoco | neither / not either | A mí tampoco me gusta. | I don't like it either. |
⭐ Key fact: Spanish has more negative words than English — and using double negatives IS correct! "No tengo nada" literally means "I don't have nothing" — this is exactly right in Spanish, not a mistake.
This introduction covers Las palabras negativas — The Negative Words within Negation (no/nunca/jamás/nada/ninguno) for GCSE Spanish. Revise Negation (no/nunca/jamás/nada/ninguno) in Core Grammar for GCSE Spanish with 13 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 1 of 4 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Negation (no/nunca/jamás/nada/ninguno)
Quick recall flashcards
Basic negation: 'no' comes immediately before the conjugated verb
No hablo alemán. (I don't speak German.)
No tengo hermanos. (I don't have brothers/sisters.)
No me gusta el pescado. (I don't like fish.)
Place 'no' directly before the verb — never between the subject and any object pronoun.
• No hablo ✓ · Hablo no ✗
• No me gusta ✓ · Me gusta no ✗
If there is a reflexive or object pronoun before the verb, 'no' still comes first: No me levanto tarde.
Basic 'no' negation — more examples
No voy al cine. (I'm not going to the cinema.)
No soy francés. (I'm not French.)
No estoy cansado. (I'm not tired.)
No como carne. (I don't eat meat.)
No tiene razón. (He/She is not right.)
All five examples follow the same rule: no + conjugated verb.
Note: 'no' is always written without an accent — do not confuse with ¿no? (the question tag, which can carry one in some texts).