"Nunca más" usage

Question

I was wondering if the usage of "nunca más" could come off stronger than intended (since it can be "anymore" and "ever again" in English) and if there was a "softer" alternative.

For context sake, let's say you had a kind co-worker that had a weird affection for you that kept knocking on your door everyday at the same time, but you never answered because you thought they'd stop. They continue doing it and one day you just decide "No puedo más". So, you answer the door when they knock and you say:

No toques la puerta nunca más. No quiero que vengas a mi casa nunca más

Would this sound rude, like "Don't knock on my door ever again!" or more like "Don't knock on my door anymore"? Or is it all based on the tone of deliverance?

Note to English learners: "Anymore" sounds a bit kinder, whereas "ever again" is more stern or forceful (I'm not sure "forceful" is the best word. Help me out English speakers ).

Por cierto, no tengo compañero de trabajo que siga tocando la puerta. Pero sí que quiero saber cómo decir esto con un poquito de amabilidad y sin que alguien se sienta horrible.

You have my sympathy, Goldie. :( Your grasp of the English nuance is right on - "anymore" is softer than "ever again," which is stern and could even be quite harsh depending on the tone and the other things said. - ajaks, Jan 19, 2012

I wish I could help you with the Spanish, but you already know more than I do. ¡Buena suerte! - ajaks, Jan 19, 2012

You could borrow my friend's "welcome" mat, it says "Go away"! - Sheily, Jan 19, 2012

good question! - Tasear, Jan 20, 2012

@ Ajaks: Thanks. I would appreciate *any* help and I'm sure there's some principle that you grasp better than me. Nobody's perfect ;) - Goldie_Miel, Jan 20, 2012

@ Sheily: Haha, that's pretty cool. I may need that one day. - Goldie_Miel, Jan 20, 2012

Answer 1

How about using ya no instead of nunca más_

I considered that but "ya no" is like "no longer" meaning at one point it was ok, but not anymore (in mind anyhow). "Hypothetically-speaking", I didn't want them knocking on my door in the first place. - Goldie_Miel, Jan 19, 2012

But I could be wrong... ;) - Goldie_Miel, Jan 19, 2012

nunca más conveys the same idea to me if you're saying at one point it was okay. how about jamás? - unMica, Jan 19, 2012

Oops, I meant "in my mind anyhow"*. @ unMica: What if I'm saying it was never okay? That's what I want to say but gently. :) - Goldie_Miel, Jan 19, 2012

prohibido siquiera tocar la puerta : P not even allowed to knock! - unMica, Jan 20, 2012

no but this is a difficult thing to say nicely - unMica, Jan 20, 2012

Answer 2

There's no other way , either you want them knocking or not.

Here we would not want to hurt their feelings so may something like ,

" Aw strewth mate iv'e had a gut full of you pull you're flaming head in you're a bigger

pest than Rabbits " It is forceful but with a gentle touch . But maybe better use your'e

first sentence aye.

Jeje, Ray. No sé lo que haría si viviera en Australia ;P I'm struggling so hard to understand your expression lol - Goldie_Miel, Jan 19, 2012

hehehe Thanks for the impromptu lesson in Aussie, Ray, but I do think Goldie should stick with the original! hehe - ajaks, Jan 19, 2012

Lo siento para estar confuso Goldie-miel, tú pregunta era divertido a me. - ray76, Jan 19, 2012

Incidentaly I did tone down the "Strine " so that you could understand it. - ray76, Jan 19, 2012

I hear what you are saying that it was never okay. But the prior knocking occurred and now what is important is that it stop. So the choices are nunca mas, ya no, jamas. I think ya no is the gentlest of the three. - gringojrf, Jan 19, 2012

Thank you gringirif you are quite correct , whereas i had both feet firmly encased in my voluminous mouth . - ray76, Jan 20, 2012

Ray76 jajaja. Tiny feet? - gringojrf, Jan 20, 2012

Jeje, no hay problema Ray. Diviértate hasta que te sacies. - Goldie_Miel, Jan 20, 2012

Thanks, Gringo. It does seem to be the softest term. - Goldie_Miel, Jan 20, 2012

Have I been got at here ? - ray76, Jan 21, 2012

No sé, Ray. I don't know that term either :( - Goldie_Miel, Jan 23, 2012

Answer 3

In my opinion " No quiero que vengas a mi casa nunca más" sounds better no matter what tone the person uses. Of course the tone is a importante factor.

Thank you, Torielisa. My main question though is whether "nunca más" makes it sound "meaner". If so, is there a gentler way to say "anymore"? - Goldie_Miel, Jan 19, 2012