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"Nada" is a form of "nada", a pronoun which is often translated as "nothing". "Para nada" is a phrase which is often translated as "for nothing". Learn more about the difference between "nada" and "para nada" below.
nada(
nah
-
dah
)A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
1. (zero)
c. none
Déjame decirte que nada de esto te va a salvar.Let me tell you that none of this will save you.
d. zippo (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Y? ¿Te devolvió el dinero que te debe? - No, nada, cero.So? Did he gave you the money he owes you? - No, zippo, zero.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
a. at all
Personalmente, no lo aguanto nada; su voz molesta.I personally can't stand him at all; his voice is annoying.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
b. void
La nave espacial se dirigió poco a poco hacia la nada.The spaceship slowly approached the void.
c. nothingness
"El ser y la nada" es la obra maestra de Sartre."Being and Nothingness" is Sartre's masterpiece.
para nada(
pah
-
rah
nah
-
dah
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. for nothing
No vamos a hacer todo esto para nada. Por lo menos, que ganemos algo de dinero.We are not going to do all this for nothing. Let's at least make some money.
b. of no avail
Todos los esfuerzos de la tripulación no sirvieron para nada. El barco se hundió.All the crew's hard work was of no avail. The ship sank.
c. to no avail
Todo lo que intentaron los médicos fue para nada; Greta estaba ya muy grave.Everything the doctors tried was to no avail. Greta was very seriously ill.
d. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡Madre mía, Eugenio, verdaderamente no sirves para nada!Goodness me, Eugenio, you're utterly useless!
Estas herramientas no valen para nada.These tools are useless.
b. in the least
Bernabé no es para nada generoso; de hecho, es más bien tacaño.Bernabe is not in the least generous; in fact, he is rather stingy.
c. in the least bit
El personal del hotel no fue atento para nada.The staff at the hotel was not in the least bit helpful.
d. the least
Por mí seguimos caminando. No me encuentro para nada cansado.I can go on walking. I'm not the least tired.
e. the least bit
El profesor hablaba y hablaba, pero los alumnos no parecían para nada interesados.The teacher talked and talked, but the students didn't seem the least bit interested.
a. not at all
Tengo frío. ¿Te importa si cierro un poco la ventana? - Para nada.I'm cold. Do you mind if I close the window for a while? - No, not at all.
a. no reason
¿Para qué querías hablar conmigo? - Ah, para nada. Solo quería platicar un rato.Why did you want to speak to me? - Oh, no reason. I just wanted to chat for a while.
