nin sequera
Not Even: Nin Sequera
Nin sequera means not even: Nin sequera me saudou (he did not even say hello to me). Short nin also works, especially before a noun or number: Non ten nin un euro.
How It Works
Three forms, one meaning.
- nin sequera: the usual form. Nin sequera chamou para dicir que chegaba tarde.
- nin tan sequera: a slightly stronger version. Pasou ao meu lado e nin tan sequera me mirou.
- nin: short and very common before a noun or a number. Non dixo nin unha palabra.
Before or after the verb. Galician treats nin sequera like nunca or ninguén (see double negation):
- Before the verb, no non: Nin sequera me saudou.
- After the verb, non comes first: Non tivemos tempo nin sequera para tomar un café.
In relaxed speech you may hear nin sequera non before the verb, but standard Galician leaves non out: Nin sequera me saudou.
Pronoun position. Because it is negative, nin sequera placed before the verb pulls an object pronoun in front of it: Nin sequera me saudou, Nin o mirou. See pronouns before the verb after negatives.
Sequera alone. Without nin, sequera means at least, like polo menos: Come sequera un pouco (at least eat a little).
Spelling. Galician writes nin and sequera. Ni and siquiera are Spanish.
Not the same as nin ... nin. To say neither ... nor, repeat nin before each item: see neither ... nor.
Examples (6)
- Nin sequera me saudou.
He did not even say hello to me.
Word by Word: Not even me greeted.
Before the verb, nin sequera needs no non and pulls me in front of the verb.
- Non ten nin un euro.
He does not have even one euro.
Short nin before a number, with non before the verb.
- Nin sequera chamou para dicir que chegaba tarde.
She did not even call to say she would be late.
- Non tivemos tempo nin sequera para tomar un café.
We did not even have time for a coffee.
After the verb, the sentence starts with non.
- Pasou ao meu lado e nin tan sequera me mirou.
He walked right past me and did not even look at me.
Nin tan sequera is a slightly stronger version.
- Non dixo nin unha palabra en toda a noite.
She did not say a single word all night.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out non when nin or nin sequera comes after the verb.
Dixo nin unha palabra en toda a noite.Non dixo nin unha palabra en toda a noite.When nin or nin sequera follows the verb, put non before the verb.
Putting the pronoun after the verb.
Nin sequera saudoume.Nin sequera me saudou.A negative word before the verb pulls the pronoun in front of it.
Using the Spanish forms ni and siquiera.
Non tivemos tempo ni siquiera para comer.Non tivemos tempo nin sequera para comer.The Galician forms are nin and sequera.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Nin sequera emphasizes that even a minimal expected event did not happen.
Related Patterns
- nin ... ninNeither ... nor
Repeated nin means neither ... nor, a different structure.
Level 3 - Pronouns Before the Verb After Negatives
Explains why the pronoun goes before the verb in nin sequera me saudou.
Level 2 - nonNegation with Non
The basic negative word that comes first when nin sequera follows the verb.
Level 1 - tamén / tampoucoToo and Neither
Tampouco (neither) is another negative word that adds to what was said.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice nin sequera in Bubblegum
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