What is "No creo para nada"

Question

In response to a question similar to this, where a man asked his wife, "qué las tres cosas que más te gustan" the response was: "no creo para nada".

A literal translation is nonsensical, what did she really mean?

Thank you.

qué + noun, cuál/es plus ser (as a general rule) So - Cuáles son las tres cosas .... - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 4, 2010

I wish that was what was said, but it wasn't :~( - Jack-OBrien, Oct 4, 2010

lol, sorry that's the subject I'm trying to master at the mo' so i was commenting on auto lol :) - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 5, 2010

Answer 1

First of all, a little more of context would surely help a lot.

All answers seem to be in the right path, but somehow I feel a bit skeptical about all of them. That phrase does not sound right to me: No creo para nada. its written form should be: ¨No creo. Para nada¨ (I don´t think so. Not at all.)

Now, that would be an appropiate answer for thousands of questions in a given context. However,

- ¿Cuáles son las 3 cosas que más te gustan? - No creo. Para nada.

is nonsensical.

Also, - ¿Cuáles son las 3 cosas que más te gustan? - No te creo para nada. (I don´t believe you at all)

is nonsensical.

So I think the only possible explanation for that answer is that she was still answering/replying to something said before the question ¿Cuàles son las 3 cosas que más te gustan?

- Quizás deberías hacer algo conmigo hoy. ¿Cuáles son las 3 cosas que más te gusta (hacer)? - No creo. Para nada. (replying to Quizás deberías hacer algo conmigo hoy, that is: No way, I don´t think I should do anything with you.)

Answer 2

Grammatically incorrect? Maybe technically. But it sounds like fine conversation to me.

What three things do you like the most?

I don't believe in vain (for nothing).

Without any other context, I'd say she knew all along her fellow would do something quite nice for her...though it may have appeared he would not do so for quite some time. However, with context it could be almost anything. The woman's statement may have nothing to do with what the man asked. Often, in movies (and sometimes in real life), people say what they want and it may not have any bearing on what was just said or asked.

Husband: Do you want to go out to eat tonight?

Wife: I'm so sick of our neighbor calling us every night!

I could just see someone who barely knows English catching this one little tidbit out of a movie and thinking "What kind of sense does the wife's response make? He's asking about dinner!"

Answer 3

Para nada - At all.

So she could be saying "I don't believe you at all"

Answer 4

Or, if it's like some relationships that I know (thankfully not mine) the conversation could be something like,

He: "What 3 things would you like the most?

She: "I don't believe in vain." (In other words, it's not worth answering because then I'd get my hopes up that you'd actually do them and the chances of you actually doing them is less than zero.)

In that case, the answer would not be nonsensical at all, just jaded.

Just a thought....

Answer 5

Ireynolds is correct about the question... and the response, otherwise it wouldn't make sense.

To me that means the response translates to "I dont believe at all..."

But that doesn't make sense in reply to the question...

The question should ask "Cuáles son las tres cosas que más te gustan?"

I wish I could change the question but I can't. Thanks for your thoughts. - Jack-OBrien, Oct 4, 2010

Answer 6

The problem is that you're question : que las tres cosas que mas te gustan" is grammatically incorrect, youre missing a verb... I think you mean " What are the three things you like the most". Are you sure about the answer because " no creo para nada" literally means " I dont believe at all" ... maybe the answer should be " no te creo para nada" which means "I dont believe you at all", so she is implying hes never going to do anything nice for her?

Im not sure there could be a better answer.

Hi there I hope you don't mind a couple of suggestion as we're really making an effort for those members whose first language is not English :) your / not you're in the first instance, then missing the ' in the second you're and the he's and I'm. - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 4, 2010

It may be grammatically incorrect, but that's what they said. There was more context, and is was said in a joking way. Like I said, the literal meaning is useless. - Jack-OBrien, Oct 4, 2010

I meant to say 'and it was said' - Jack-OBrien, Oct 4, 2010

Answer 7

No creo para nada= I don't believe that at all/one bit.

Then I would say "No lo creo para nada" - jeanpm, Oct 4, 2010