nunca

See also: ñunca

Asturian

Alternative forms

• ñunca

Etymology

From Latin numquam (“never”).

Adverb

nunca

1. never

   Synonym: enxamás

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Galician

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese nunca, from Latin numquam (“never”).

Adverb

nunca

1. never

   Synonyms: endexamais, xamais

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Portuguese

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese nunca, from Latin numquam (“never”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnũ.kɐ/

• Hyphenation: nun‧ca

Adverb

2. never (at no time; not ever)
   • 2005, J. K. Rowling, translated by Lia Wyler, Harry Potter e o Enigma do Príncipe (Harry Potter; 6), Rio de Janeiro: Rocco, →ISBN, page 139:

     Você nunca me deu a impressão de gostar tanto assim da matéria.

     You never gave me the impression of liking that subject so much.

   Nunca vi esse filme.

   I have never seen this film.

   Nunca tenha certeza do sucesso.

   Never be sure of success.

   Synonym: jamais

Quotations

For quotations using this term, see Citations:nunca.

Derived terms

• antes tarde do que nunca
• mais do que nunca
• nunca mais

 

Descendants

• Kabuverdianu: nunca

Noun

nunca m (plural nuncas)

1. (poetic) neverness (the quality of not ever being extant or present)

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Spanish

Etymology

From Old Spanish nunqua, from Latin numquam, from ne + umquam.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnunka/ [ˈnũŋ.ka]

• Audio (Colombia):

  (file)

Adverb

nunca

1. never

   Nunca he probado la langosta.

   I've never tasted lobster.

   • 2008, Fausto Ponce, Fuera de lugar, Lulu.com, page 7:

     Nunca te va a hacer una chingadera.

     He will never screw you over.

   Synonyms: jamás, en su vida

2. ever

   Estamos mejor que nunca.

   We're better than ever.

Derived terms

• de nunca acabar
• más vale tarde que nunca
• nunca digas de este agua no beberé
• nunca digas nunca
• nunca es tarde si la dicha es buena
• nunca jamás
• nunca mucho cuesta poco
• nunca segundas partes fueron buenas

 

Further reading

• “nunca”, in Diccionario de la lengua española (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy, 2023 November 28