mbaʼeve / avave / arakaʼeve
Nothing, Nobody, Never
Ndaipotái mbaʼeve “I do not want anything”: the verb and the word are both negative.
How It Works
Guarani repeats the no, as in “I do not want nothing”. A word that means “nothing” or “nobody” needs a verb with the negative circle nd-…-i.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mbaʼeve | nothing, anything | ndaipotái mbaʼeve “I do not want anything” |
| avave | nobody, anybody | avave ndoikuaái “nobody knows” |
| arakaʼeve | never, ever | arakaʼeve ndaikatúi “I can never” |
| mamove | nowhere, anywhere | ndahaséi mamove “I do not want to go anywhere” |
These words can stand before or after the verb: avave ndoikuaái, ndaipotái mbaʼeve.
The one exception is neʼĩra “not yet”, which goes with a verb that is not negative: neʼĩra reikuaa “you do not know yet”.
Examples (4)
- Ndaipotái mbaʼeve.
I do not want anything.
The verb ndaipotái is negative, and mbaʼeve comes after it.
- Avave ndoikuaái che réra.
Nobody knows my name.
Avave comes first, and the verb is still negative.
- Arakaʼeve ndaikatúi ake nde rógape.
I can never sleep in your house.
Arakaʼeve “never” goes with the negative ndaikatúi.
- Ndahaséi mamove nendive.
I do not want to go anywhere with you.
Mamove “nowhere” needs the negative verb ndahaséi.
Common Mistakes
Using a “nobody” word with a verb that is not negative.
Avave oikuaa che réra.Avave ndoikuaái che réra.Avave needs a negative verb. Guarani says “nobody does not know”.
How It Connects
Learn This First
These words are built on question words and keep the verb negative.
- nd(a)- ... -iSaying No with Nd- and -i
Know nd(a)- ... -i, because these words keep the verb negative: Avave ndoikuaái che réra “Nobody knows my name”.
Level 1 - mbaʼeWhat
Know mbaʼe “what”, since mbaʼeve is the word for nothing: Ndaipotái mbaʼeve “I do not want anything”.
Level 1 - mávaWho
Know máva “who”, because avave says nobody in the same way that máva asks who: Avave ndoikuaái che réra “Nobody knows my name”.
Level 1 - arakaʼeWhen
Know arakaʼe “when”, because arakaʼeve is the word for never: arakaʼeve “never”.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- ndaipóriThere Is None
Ndaipóri “there is none” is a negative word too.
Level 1 - heẽ / nahániriYes and No
Heẽ and nahániri are the plain “yes” and “no”.
Level 1 - heta / mbovy / opa / ambueMany, Few, All and Other
These small words say “many”, “few”, “all” and “other”.
Level 2 - opavave / mayma / maymávaEveryone and Every
Opavave “everyone” is the positive match of avave “nobody”.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice mbaʼeve / avave / arakaʼeve in Bubblegum
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