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 bienHe doesn't eat nor sleep well
No quiero café ni téI 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 resistirloNot 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 fiestaNeither Juan nor Pedro came to the party
No tengo ni tiempo ni dineroI 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!