Italian Phrase
No, non ho niente da dichiarare.
Meaning
Literally ‘No, I have nothing to declare.’ The speaker is telling a customs officer, police officer, or any authority that they are not carrying any items that need to be reported.
When to use
Use this sentence at border control, customs checkpoints, police questioning, or any situation where you are asked if you have something to declare, report, or disclose. It is a polite, concise way to answer negatively.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nononhonientedadichiarare
No
A standalone negation used to answer a yes/no question; equivalent to 'no' in English.
non
Negation particle placed before the verb; required when the verb is present.
ho
First‑person singular present of *avere* (to have).
niente
Indefinite pronoun meaning ‘nothing’; after *non* it forms a standard double‑negative construction.
da + infinitive
The preposition *da* followed by an infinitive expresses purpose or obligation, similar to ‘to …’ in English.
dichiarare
Infinitive of the verb *dichiarare* ‘to declare’; used here in the idiom *avere niente da dichiarare*.
🗨In Conversation
Ha qualcosa da dichiarare?
Do you have anything to declare?
No, non ho niente da dichiarare.
No, I have nothing to declare.
✕Common Mistakes
No, ho niente da dichiarare.
The verb must be negated with *non*; *ho niente* sounds ungrammatical.
No, non ho niente di dichiarare.
The preposition *di* is incorrect here; the idiom uses *da* + infinitive.
No, non ho non niente da dichiarare.
Italian already uses a double negative (*non…niente*); adding a second *non* is redundant and sounds unnatural.
↔Alternatives
No, non ho nulla da dichiarare.
No, I have nothing to declare.
No, non ho niente da segnalare.
No, I have nothing to report.
No, non ho nulla da segnalare.
No, I have nothing to report.
Cultural Tip
In Italy customs officers usually ask *‘Ha qualcosa da dichiarare?’* rather than a direct ‘Do you have anything to declare?’ Answering with *‘non ho niente da dichiarare’* is perfectly natural. *Niente* is more colloquial, while *nulla* sounds slightly more formal. Avoid adding extra particles (e.g., *‘non ho non niente…’*) – the single *non* before the verb already creates the required negation.