Have you ever struggled to translate the word "ever" into Spanish? You're not alone! Unlike English, where "ever" has a fairly consistent meaning, Spanish uses several different words and expressions depending on the context. In a previous lesson, we explored the many ways to say "never" in Spanish. Today, we're taking a closer look at "ever" — from everyday questions like ¿Alguna vez has estado en España? ("Have you ever been to Spain?") to popular expressions like más que nunca ("more than ever"). Let's dive in!
To start, note that two of the very same formulas that were used to say "never" in Spanish can also be used to say "ever." This is due to the fact that sometimes an idea in English can be expressed with either of these two words. Let's take a look at these formulas to understand better.
Let's look at this formula where nunca has been translated as "never":
Oh... ¡Nunca voy a tener un novio!
Oh... I'm never going to have a boyfriend!
Caption 28, Extr@: Extra en español - Ep. 3 - Sam aprende a ligar
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However, this very same formula can also mean "ever" because an alternative translation of the sentence above into English would be:
Oh... ¡Nunca voy a tener un novio!
Oh... I'm not ever going to have a boyfriend!
The same can be said for the formula no + sentence + nunca, as in the following example:
No te has equivocado nunca.
You've never made a mistake.
Once again, this very same construction can also be used to convey the idea of "ever" since an alternative English translation for this sentence would be: "You haven't ever made a mistake." Let's view this same sentence in question form:
¿No te has equivocado nunca?
Haven't you ever made a mistake?
Caption 73, 75 minutos - Del campo a la mesa
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In addition, negative commands with the word nunca can be used to say the equivalent of "ever" in Spanish:
Y por favor, no me lo dejes solo nunca.
And please, for me, don't ever leave him alone.
Caption 5, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante - Capítulo 1 - Part 14
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Of course, "never leave him alone" would be another way to express the meaning of this Spanish sentence.
Let's examine some more ways to say the English word "ever" in Spanish in different contexts.
One of the most common and straightforward ways to say "ever" in Spanish in the sense of "at some point in time" is alguna vez, typically within a question with either the present perfect or preterite tense. Let's see some examples:
¿Se han preguntado alguna vez por qué es importante reír?
Have you ever wondered why it's important to laugh?
Caption 8, Mónica - La risa
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¿Alguna vez te pasó?
Has it ever happened to you?
Caption 32, Verano Eterno - Fiesta Grande
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Another very common way to say "ever" in Spanish is jamás. While it often appears in the expression nunca jamás ("never ever"), jamás can also be used on its own. In questions, it works just like alguna vez to mean "ever." In negative statements, it means "never" — and is actually stronger and more emphatic than nunca alone:
¿Has visto jamás algo tan hermoso?
Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?
No he visto jamás algo tan hermoso.
I have never seen anything so beautiful.
Jamás can also combine with nunca for extra emphasis, as you'll see in the expressions section below.
De todos los tiempos is yet another way to say "ever" in Spanish when the meaning is "of all time," which is, in fact, the literal translation of this phrase and could replace "ever" in the following example:
Hoy tenemos la fortuna de tenerlo entre nosotros,
Today we have the fortune to have him amongst us,
al más grande exponente de todos los tiempos, ¡al Señor Gardel!
the greatest example ever, Mister Gardel!
Captions 44-45, Yago - 1 La llegada
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Finally, let's check out how many common English expressions with "ever" such as "more than ever," "never ever," etc. are said in Spanish.
Y yo te amé, como nunca jamás lo imaginé
And I loved you, as I never ever imagined it
Caption 8, Muñeca Brava - 9 Engaños
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Ahora más que nunca, vas a hacer lo que yo te diga.
Now more than ever, you are going to do whatever I tell you.
Caption 10, Muñeca Brava - 7 El poema
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El tiempo ha estado mejor/peor que nunca.
The weather has been better/worse than ever.
In fact, any adjective or adverb can be used between más (more) and que nunca (than ever) to convey the equivalent of English phrases with "than ever." Let's see a few examples:
Hoy he corrido más rápido que nunca.
Today, I've run faster than ever.
En cambio vos no cambiaste nada;
On the other hand you haven't changed a bit;
estás más hermosa que nunca.
you're more beautiful than ever.
Caption 56, Yago - 11 Prisión
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¿No me quieres volver a ver nunca más?
You don't ever want to see me again?
Caption 2, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante - Capítulo 1 - Part 2
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Another translation for this sentence could be "You never want to see me again?"
Para siempre literally means "for always" and is the standard way to express "forever" or "for ever" in Spanish. You'll hear it constantly in songs, movies, and everyday speech:
pero luego esa tarjeta te sirve para siempre, a no ser que la pierdas. -Mm-hm.
but then that card works for you forever, unless you lose it. -Mm-hmm.
Captions 10-11, Isabel y Paula contigo Transporte público en Madrid - Part 3
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It also appears in the classic storybook ending Vivieron felices para siempre — the Spanish equivalent of "They lived happily ever after." Interestingly, another popular version of this fairy tale ending in Spanish is Vivieron felices y comieron perdices ("They lived happily and ate partridges"). A fun expression worth remembering!
y desde entonces se nos quedó adentro.
and it has remained within us ever since.
Caption 8, Región mundo - Paso a paso
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Here's a quick recap of the main ways to say "ever" in Spanish covered in this lesson:
• Alguna vez — Have you ever...? / at some point
• Jamás — ever (in questions) / never (in negative statements)
• De todos los tiempos — of all time / ever
• Nunca jamás — never ever
• Más que nunca — more than ever
• Nunca más — ever again
• Para siempre — forever / for ever
• Desde entonces — ever since
We hope this lesson has helped you get a clearer picture of how to translate "ever" into Spanish! Got a question about one of these expressions, or come across a use of "ever" in Spanish that puzzled you? We'd love to hear from you — feel free to send us your questions and comments. ¡Hasta la próxima!
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