ni
nor, not even
Basically means "also not that"
Encoding Strategies:
repetition
Ni is usually translated as nor and links something to a negative context. Think of it as "and not this either."
ni
nor, or
Adds an additional thing to an already negative context — "and not this either."
- No come ni duerme bien = He doesn't eat nor sleep well
- No quiero café ni té = I don't want coffee or tea
not even
Emphasizes the most extreme case — if even this doesn't apply, nothing does.
- Ni los más fuertes pudieron resistirlo = Not even the strongest could resist it
- ¡Ni soñarlo! = Not even in your dreams!
ni...ni
neither...nor
Not this and not that — both things are excluded.
- Ni Juan ni Pedro vinieron a la fiesta = Neither Juan nor Pedro came to the party
- No tengo ni tiempo ni dinero = I have neither time nor money
ni que
as if (with subjunctive)
Emphasizes an extreme case — if even this doesn't apply, nothing does. When paired with "que," it literally becomes "not even that I were stupid," but the subjunctive makes it hypothetical — "not even if I were stupid." Used sarcastically to reject an assumption.
- ¡Ni que fuera yo tonto! = As if I were stupid!
- ¡Ni que tuvieras razón! = As if you were right!