Spanish · B1 · Everyday language
Neither One Today in Spanish
Helping your baby often involves a process of elimination. In Spanish, we use the structure 'ni... ni...' to express 'neither... nor...'. This guide helps you communicate these observations naturally.
What you'll learn
- Master the use of 'ni... ni...' for negative coordination.
- Understand verb agreement when using two subjects.
- Learn to use 'no' correctly when 'ni' follows the verb.
Spanish phrases for neither one today
Parece que no tienes ni hambre ni sueño ahora mismo.
You seem neither hungry nor tired right now.
In Spanish, we use 'tener hambre/sueño'. Since 'ni' follows the verb, we must include 'no' before the verb.
El agua de tu baño no está ni muy caliente ni muy fría.
Your bath water is neither too hot nor too cold.
Adjectives must match the gender of 'el agua' (feminine in this context: 'fría/caliente').
Ni tu biberón ni tu chupete están en el bolso cambiador.
Neither your bottle nor your dummy is in the changing bag.
When starting a sentence with 'ni', you do not need 'no', and the verb becomes plural.
Hoy no quieres ni las gachas ni el plátano machacado.
Today you want neither porridge nor mashed banana.
'Gachas' is the common term for baby porridge.
Ni cantar ni mecerte te está ayudando a calmarte.
Neither singing nor rocking is helping you settle.
Infinitives function as nouns here. 'Mecer' means to rock gently.
Este pijama no es ni apretado ni incómodo.
This sleepsuit is neither tight nor uncomfortable.
'Apretado' describes clothing that is too tight.
Ni mamá ni papá saben a dónde ha ido tu calcetín.
Neither Mum nor Dad knows where your little sock has gone.
Note the plural verb 'saben' because there are two subjects.
Durante tu siesta no necesitamos ni luces brillantes ni música fuerte.
During your nap, we need neither bright lights nor loud music.
Use 'ni' to link multiple items being ruled out.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Chupete
Dummy / Pacifier
A essential word for parents in Spanish.
Mecer
To rock
Used for rocking a baby or a cradle.
Gachas
Porridge / Mush
Often used for cereal-based baby food.
Bolso cambiador
Changing bag
Also known as 'pañalera' in some regions.
The 'Ni... Ni...' Structure
Spanish uses 'ni' to coordinate negative ideas. The placement relative to the verb changes the requirement for the word 'no'.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Before Verb | Ni [A] ni [B] + Verb (Plural) | Ni el perro ni el gato están aquí. |
| After Verb | No + Verb + ni [A] ni [B] | No quiero ni leche ni agua. |
More examples
No es ni rojo ni azul.
It is neither red nor blue.
Standard 'no... ni... ni' structure.
Ni el babero ni la cuchara están limpios.
Neither the bib nor the spoon is clean.
Agreement: The adjective 'limpios' is plural.