Spanish Phrase
No, no tengo ninguno.
Meaning
Literally, 'No, I don’t have any.' It is a firm negative answer to a question about possession, emphasizing that the speaker has zero of the item in question.
When to use
Use this phrase after a yes/no question like '¿Tienes lápices?' or when someone asks if you own something. It works in both casual conversation and more formal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nonotengoninguno
Double negative
Spanish commonly uses two negatives in the same clause; the first 'no' negates the verb and the second 'ninguno' negates the noun phrase.
tener (present)
The verb 'tener' means 'to have' and is conjugated as 'tengo' for the first‑person singular present.
ninguno / ninguna
An indefinite pronoun meaning 'none' or 'not any'. It agrees in gender with the implied noun (ninguno for masculine, ninguna for feminine).
Placement of 'no'
The adverbial 'no' always precedes the verb it negates.
🗨In Conversation
¿Tienes alguna idea para el proyecto?
Do you have any idea for the project?
No, no tengo ninguno.
No, I don’t have any.
✕Common Mistakes
No tengo ninguno.
Learners often drop the first 'no', but Spanish requires both negatives for this construction.
No, no tengo ninguno (referring to 'casa').
Using 'ninguno' without matching gender can sound odd; choose 'ninguna' if the implied noun is feminine.
Tengo ninguno.
The verb must be preceded by 'no' to negate it; 'tengo ninguno' is ungrammatical.
↔Alternatives
No, no tengo nada.
No, I don’t have anything.
No, no poseo ninguno.
No, I don’t possess any.
No, no cuento con ninguno.
No, I don’t count any.
Cultural Tip
The double negative is perfectly grammatical in Spanish and is actually required; omitting the second negative would sound ungrammatical. Also, 'ninguno' can stand alone when the noun is understood from context, but you can add 'de' + noun (e.g., 'ninguno de los libros') for extra clarity.