jamás

Jamás is a Spanish adverb meaning never or at no time. It is used to express a strong, emphatic negation and typically accompanies verbs, often replacing nunca in formal or emphatic contexts. For example, in declarative sentences one can say “Jamás he visto algo así” (I have never seen something like this), or in negative constructions it is common to say “No lo haré jamás” (I will never do it).

In addition to its ordinary use, jamas can appear as an interjection to convey a strong rejection or exclamation, as in “¡Jamás!” meaning “Never!” in response to a statement or suggestion.

Etymology and related forms: Jamás derives from the French word jamais, reflecting historical linguistic contact between Spanish and French. It has cognates in other Romance languages, notably Portuguese, which uses “jamais” with the same meaning. The accent in Spanish marks the stress on the last syllable.

Register and usage notes: Jamás tends to be more formal or emphatic than nunca and is common in writing, journalism, and literary Spanish as well as in careful speech. In everyday, casual talk, many speakers prefer nunca. The negative force of jamás can also be intensified when paired with accompanying negation, as in “No lo voy a hacer jamás.”

See also: nunca, de ninguna manera.