adverb

nunca

never

Se usa para decir que algo no pasa en ningún momento.

Nunca is a Spanish adverb meaning “never” or “at no time.” It expresses that something does not happen at any point in time.

It can refer to the past, present, or future depending on the verb tense.

Nunca is an invariable adverb, so its form does not change according to gender, number, or the subject.

When it comes before the verb, it normally makes the sentence negative by itself:

When it comes after the verb, Spanish generally uses no as well:

This is an example of Spanish negative concord, where multiple negative words reinforce one negative meaning.

The word comes from the Latin numquam, meaning “never.” It is not normally divided into meaningful parts in modern Spanish.

jamás — “never,” often more emphatic or dramatic than nunca.
- Jamás olvidaré ese día. — I will never forget that day.
en ningún momento — “at no moment,” a more explicit or formal expression.
en la vida — literally “in life,” used informally to mean “never” or “not in a million years.”

Nunca is the most neutral and common option. Jamás can sound stronger, while en ningún momento is more precise or formal.

siempre — “always,” the direct opposite of nunca.
a veces — “sometimes,” indicating that something occurs occasionally rather than at no time.
alguna vez — “ever” or “at some time,” often used in questions or conditional contexts.

nunca más — never again
- No volveré nunca más. — I will never come back again.
nunca jamás — never ever; a strongly emphatic expression
como nunca — like never before
- Trabajó como nunca. — He/She worked like never before.
mejor que nunca — better than ever
más que nunca — more than ever
por nunca — an uncommon or literary expression meaning “forever” or “for all time,” depending on context.