nunca

Nunca is an adverb meaning 'never' used in Spanish and Portuguese. It serves to negate actions or events across tenses and moods, and can appear with other negative elements for emphasis or in idiomatic expressions such as nunca más (never again).

Etymology: The form in both languages derives from Latin nunquam, a compound meaning 'not ever' and formed from non- 'not' plus quam 'when/how'. Over time nunquam migrated into the Romance vernaculars as nunca (Spanish) and nunca (Portuguese).

Spanish usage: Spanish uses nunca to negate verbs in present, past, and future tenses. It typically precedes the conjugated verb: Nunca voy a volver. In some contexts, especially in negative phrases, nunca can appear after the negative verb: No he visto nunca; however, the simple form Nunca voy a volver remains common.

Portuguese usage: Portuguese uses nunca similarly to Spanish, with comparable flexibility. Typical sentences include Ele nunca corre (He never runs) and Ela nunca chega tarde (She never arrives late). The expression nunca mais means 'never again', while jamais is a more formal or literary synonym.

Cultural notes: Beyond everyday speech, nunca appears in proverbs and media, and is a staple in exploring themes of negation, limits, or resolve, such as Nunca é tarde para tentar (It is never late to try) or Nunca diga nunca (Never say never).