Spanish Phrase
No tengo nada que declarar.
Meaning
Literally, “I have nothing to declare.” It is the standard answer when a customs officer asks if you are carrying items that need to be declared. The phrase can also be used figuratively, e.g., “I have nothing to say.”
When to use
Use this sentence at border control, customs desks, or any situation where you are asked if you have items, information, or statements to declare. It’s also handy in informal conversations when you want to say you have nothing to add.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Notengonadaquedeclarar.
Negación con No
‘No’ precede the verb to make the whole clause negative.
Verbo Tener + nada
‘Tener’ (to have) followed by ‘nada’ expresses the absence of something.
Nada que + infinitivo
The construction ‘nada que + infinitivo’ means ‘nothing to …’ and is very common in Spanish.
Que como pronombre relativo
Here ‘que’ introduces the infinitive clause and works like ‘that/which’ in English.
Infinitivo sin artículo
The verb ‘declarar’ stays in its infinitive form; no article is needed after ‘que’.
🗨In Conversation
¿Tiene algo que declarar?
Do you have anything to declare?
No, no tengo nada que declarar.
No, I have nothing to declare.
✕Common Mistakes
Tengo nada que declarar.
Missing the required negation ‘No’ before the verb.
No tengo nada para declarar.
‘Para’ is understandable but less idiomatic; native speakers prefer ‘que’.
No tengo nada de declarar.
‘de’ does not fit this construction; it should be ‘que’.
No tengo nada que declaro.
The verb after ‘que’ must stay in infinitive form, not conjugated.
↔Alternatives
No tengo nada que decir.
I have nothing to say.
No llevo nada que declarar.
I am not carrying anything to declare.
No hay nada que declarar.
There is nothing to declare.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries customs officers ask “¿Tiene algo que declarar?” It’s considered polite to answer clearly and truthfully. The construction ‘nada que + infinitivo’ is more natural than ‘nada para + infinitivo’, and remember that Spanish uses double negation (No tengo nada…) – dropping the ‘no’ makes the sentence ungrammatical.